While relocation to an entirely different Bay Area town requires a lot of careful planning, having access to some good moving tips will allow you to have a very successful move. Follow all the advice we mention here, and you should be able to plan the entire thing from start to finish without any problems.
How Can I Make Moving Out Easier?
Relocating from one Bay Area town to another is not always as easy as one might think, mainly when doing it on your own. Although planning the entire thing might feel overwhelming, using some proven tips and tricks can help you move out much more easily. These usually cover every aspect of your relocation, allowing you to prepare everything almost as if you were a professional. Without further ado, let’s go over how you can make your move significantly easier.
#1 Make a Plan Right Away
Every relocation starts with a good plan, which is precisely why creating a to-do list should be your top priority. Not only will it keep you from forgetting anything, but it will also allow you to organize your entire relocation from start to finish. While it doesn’t have to include every single task, the list should have all the crucial details regarding your move, like how you’re going to:
- Create a budget – Although local relocations aren’t that expensive, you will still need a lot of resources to cover all the potential expenses, including hiring a mover and getting supplies.
- Hire a professional mover – Getting professional assistance will certainly do a lot to make your entire relocation experience significantly more manageable.
- Organize packing – Considering that you’ll have to move almost all your belongings, try to spread out all your obligations over a certain period.
- Get insurance – No matter how confident you might be in your skills as a packer, getting insurance is the only thing that will reimburse your losses in case damage occurs during transport.
- Set up utilities – Unless you don’t mind staying in a place with no electricity, contact some utility companies and set up all the essential utilities at your new home.
- Change the address – If you want your mail to be delivered to the new residence, don’t forget to file a change of address.
#2 Book a Bay Area Moving Company in Advance
If you ask a few random people, “what is the most efficient way to move?” – hiring Bay Area movers is very likely going to be one of the top answers. Professional movers and packers can complete all the things you have to do before a move much more quickly, allowing you to avoid a ton of relocation stress in the process. Unless you have to move in a hurry, it’s best to book a mover at least two months in advance. If you have limited relocation expenses, looking for moving companies in the Bay Area this early will allow you to find a mover that suits your budget much more quickly. Considering you’ll certainly need at least a truck to transport all the belongings, you might as well hire a professional to assist you with everything.
How to Save Some Money While Still Booking a Professional Move?
Besides looking for local movers in the Bay Area in advance, there are several other neat ways to save money on professional services. For starters, unless you book a relocation well in advance, as we mentioned, don’t plan to move anywhere from April to September.
This is the peak relocation season, meaning that most companies will either be completely booked or have higher rates for all their services. Although it might be inconvenient, try to avoid weekends, as you’ll have significantly fewer offers to choose from. It’s also good to move in the middle of the month, as considerably more people relocate at the end or right at the beginning of the next.
Ready to Move Around the Bay?
Free Quote#3 Declutter Your Home Before You Pack Anything
Although you might be tempted to start boxing things up left and right, you’ll move more efficiently by decluttering your home first. Besides cutting down the time it takes to finish all the preparations, getting rid of everything you don’t need will significantly reduce your relocation expenses. If you’re not sure what’s not worth keeping, avoid adding the following items to your packing list:
- Stuff you don’t use – There’s no reason to pack clothes that are just going to continue occupying space in your closet. The same can be said about all the unnecessary fragile items you bought on a whim.
- Belongings you have in abundance – If you have a few sets of dishes in the cabinets, avoid boxing up plates and glass that are only used on special occasions.
- Things that don’t work – While collecting retro electronics might be an interesting hobby, why box up a TV that’s not working. It’s simply a waste of your time and effort.
- Expired and dangerous goods – Don’t carry over medicine and food that are clearly past their expiration date. The same can be said for hazardous chemicals and some more potent cleaning agents, as they can make a lot of mess if spilled over the rest of your belongings. That’s precisely why these are some of the more common items movers won’t move.
If you’re still unsure how to declutter, the video below should give you some insights into what to keep and what to give away.
Decide What to Do With All the Unnecessary Belongings
Throwing away everything you’ve decluttered would simply be a waste of precious resources. Fortunately, there are more than a few ways to deal with unwanted belongings without leaving them in the trash. If you’re not sure what to do with a particular item, try to:
- Store it – Although keeping everything is not recommended, anyone who doesn’t want to give away their belongings can simply place them in storage. If you’re not already renting a unit, our San Francisco movers have excellent storage lockers you could use.
- Sell it – While you can sell almost anything at a garage sale, many furniture pieces and large items can easily be sold for a reasonably good price if they are still in good shape.
- Donate it – Charity organizations like Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity accept all sorts of donations, but the objects and goods have to be in good condition.
- Recycle it – If you can’t find a way to reuse some of the belongings, feel free to take them down to a nearby recycling center. There’s one in almost every major Bay Area town, so you won’t have to carry anything for too long.
#4 Get All the Supplies You Need to Wrap and Pack Your Belongings Correctly
Although it’s hard to guess the exact amount of supplies you need to secure all the remaining belongings, getting all the essential tools and materials will allow you to start packing right away. While you’ll probably have to resupply at one point, it’s better to get the following supplies as soon as you’re done with decluttering:
- Boxes
- Packaging paper,
- Bubble wrap,
- Plastic covers,
- Plastic zip lock bags,
- Blankets,
- Tape,
- Labeling kit,
- Scissors or a box cutter,
- Screwdrivers,
- Dolly.
Where to Find Boxes and Other Supplies from This Checklist for Free?
While many of the supplies we mentioned above are relatively inexpensive on their own, the costs can quickly pile up once everything is taken into consideration. This means someone relocating for the first time will probably have trouble saving enough money to move. Fortunately, there are several ways you can find some common supplies for free. For starters, ask the people in your inner circle if they have any leftovers you could borrow.
If that doesn’t bear fruit, stop by a few local bookstores, liquor stores, and supermarkets. These deal with a ton of packaging materials every day, meaning they might allow you to take a bit of it with you. Just make sure that everything you take is relatively new, or you’ll only end up contaminating your belongings. Additionally, be aware that you’ll mostly find boxes and some paper, or perhaps even some bubble wrap. You have a much better chance of finding the other stuff on Freecycle or Craigslist.
Use Some Home Alternatives and Save Money
If you’re looking for more ways to save money on supplies, know that many everyday household objects can be used as alternatives. For example, instead of using a ton of paper when securing glasses, simply stuff them with socks. Clothes, towels, linens, and pillows are also perfect for padding a box and wrapping all sorts of delicate objects, allowing you to save both money and a ton of space.
#5 Start Packing Everything You Want to Move on Time
Many are wondering when is the appropriate time to start boxing up all the belongings. Truthfully, the answer will depend on the size of your home and whether or not you’ve decluttered the place. However, starting the preparations two months in advance should be enough to secure all your stuff. Anything less, and you’ll likely have to skip some steps, which could leave a lot of your more delicate objects damaged by the end of the move.
So what should you move first when moving? If you’re not sure where to start, deal with all the non-essentials first. These usually include everything you have in your utility rooms, as well as all the decorations. Once all the rarely used belongings have been packed, continue boxing up smaller objects until all the surfaces have been cleared. Most of the furniture should be disassembled a few days before the move, leaving only the bed and other essential pieces for the very last day.
Box up All the Essentials the Evening Before Relocating
If you want to avoid unpacking after a move, it’s important to box up all the essentials separately the evening before relocating. This will allow you to set up the new place almost immediately, as you won’t have to open up every container just to find some everyday household items. If you’re unsure what to prepare separately, check if you’ve packed:
- Personal toiletries,
- Daily medication,
- Common cleaning supplies,
- Towels, toilet paper and other bathroom supplies,
- Bedding, pillows, and blankets,
- A change of clothes,
- Snacks and water,
- Phone chargers,
- Important documents.
Using The Following Packing and Moving Tips Will Help You Prepare Everything Quickly
Seeing how long it takes to prepare all your belongings, it’s only natural to want to speed up the process. If you’re interested in learning some neat relocation hacks that will allow you to box up everything much more quickly, try to:
- Create a detailed checklist of everything you have to pack in each room,
- Box up similar objects together,
- Store smaller belongings inside pots and pans,
- Leave clothes on hangers or move them with the dresser,
- Use original packaging when boxing up shoes,
- Pack books and other heavier objects inside suitcases,
- Secure coiled up cables and cords with twist ties.
#6 Label All the Boxes Correctly
Finding a particular thing is much easier if you labeled everything appropriately. That’s precisely why you should label all the boxes as soon as they are full. While some prefer to simply write down the box’s contents and where it’s supposed to go, others prefer to keep a detailed inventory of everything inside each container. Color coding is another popular labeling method, as it allows you to distinguish what goes where quickly. Simply designate one color per room and place corresponding stickers on all containers.
Labeling Will Keep Your Fragile Belongings Intact
If you did all the boxing up yourself, but you’re letting professionals load the truck, it’s crucial to place a label on at least two sides of each container. This is particularly important for those with a lot of delicate belongings, as these can easily get broken when mismanaged. Placing a sticker that says “FRAGILE,” “THIS SIDE UP,” or something similar will notify anyone handling these packages to be very careful. If done correctly, you won’t have to worry about replacing anything after the move.
#7 Have a Plan for Your Children and Pets
The last couple of weeks are the most intense part of the entire relocation, so if your children aren’t old enough to help with the preparations, it’s best to find someone to look after them until everything is over. Relocation is rarely not stressful, so it’s better to leave the little ones with a close friend or a family member. The same can be said for anyone relocating with pets, as they also require a lot of love and attention.
Now That You Know About These Moving Tips and Tricks, Hire the Best Movers in San Francisco to Assist You
These were some of the best tips for moving we had to share with you today, which will surely enable you to move to a new Bay Area town without too many problems. Now that you learned everything you needed to know, it’s time to choose a date and book one of the local Bay Area moving companies to assist you with the move.
If you’re looking for a San Francisco moving company in the Bay Area with decades of experience in the field, Golden Bay Relocation should be your first choice. Serving the Greater Bay since 1992, we have provided countless clients with top-notch commercial moves and even better residential relocation services. With the help of our incredible team, your move will almost certainly feel like a true Bay Area staycation. If you contact us right away, we’ll provide an excellent free quote just for you.