DIY Moving?
Our best DIY Moving Tips:
While we would not recommend DIY Moving, it is understandably a budget-friendly option. Similar to parents who discourage underage drinking but still provide safety tips to their children, we are here to assist with your DIY Move!
There are a few things that you will need to organize before being able to transition into your new home.
Renting a Truck
There are a few truck rental options, including U-Haul, Penske, and Budget. The best truck size that you need will depend on a few factors:
o The size of your home
o The number of items you have
o The distance between destinations
o Capability of Driver
Our personal favorite is the 20ft truck, especially when multiple trips are an option. A 20ft is a rather large truck that can still easily fit into driveways, and it can transport a lot of items. A 26ft truck is the largest non-CDL truck available, and while we recommend leaving that size to the professionals, it is an option for larger moves and is up to the capability and comfort levels of the driver.
Getting Packing Supplies
To safely transport your items, you will need some packing material. The obvious: markers, tape, boxes, scissors and bubble wrap. The not-so obvious:
Rachet Straps – for strapping bigger furniture pieces in the truck so it does not shift during transport.
Furniture Pads (moving blankets) – great for protecting furniture and appliances that are stacked in the truck. Should especially be used on wooden furniture that can be scratched easily and anything that is made of glass.
Dollies – can be rented. Necessary for transporting large appliances like a fridge, washer and dryer, but also helpful for carrying multiple boxes.
Shoulder Dolly – An inexpensive and useful tool for carrying heavy furniture with two people. Amazon, U-Haul, and Home Depot carry shoulder dollies.
Mattress Protectors – protect your mattress from dirt and grime during the moving process. Mattress protectors are cheap and can be found at Amazon, U-Haul, Walmart, or Home Depot.
TV Boxes – TVs are one of the most fragile pieces that are moved. TVs are notoriously known for breaking with the slightest touch, so TV Boxes are always recommended.
Packing Paper – We have found that packing paper is more effective when packing dishes and delicate decorations. We prefer using bubble-wrap on thicker glass and ceramic pieces.
Trash Bags – We have found that they are great for transporting clothing on hangers. They are much cheaper than wardrobe boxes, and way easier than packing every hanger into a box. Simply pull the trash bag over a stack of clothes, tie the bag shut at the bottom, and make sure the hangers are sticking out of the top. Easy peasy!
Plastic Bags – great for protecting packed liquids from spilling. Can be used on toiletries, cleaning products, pantry items, etc. Enclose the bottle of liquid in the plastic sack and tie it off tightly.
Back Brace – An important safety piece, especially if heavy furniture is being lifted.
Packing
It is important to properly pack all of your delicate items to avoid damage. Here are a few things to remember:
Use packing paper to provide cushion for plates, bowls, and lighter glassware.
Use bubble wrap to provide cushion for thicker glass items.
Wrap photo frames in bubble wrap before packing them in a box.
Always pack heavier items on the bottom and light items on the top to avoid anything being crushed.
Pack books and canned goods in small boxes – your back will thank you.
Secure all liquids in a zip-loc bag or plastic sack to avoid spilling.
When loading the moving truck, ensure heavier items are loaded on the bottom to evenly distribute weight and avoid crushing furniture and boxes. Heavier items, like dressers bookshelves, work great as a base.
Use moving blankets as a cushion on wood furniture, appliances, glass, artwork, and other delicate pieces to avoid scratches and dings.
Don’t forget to remove any glass shelves before moving furniture!
Use a TV box when moving a flatscreen TV (they are very delicate).
Keep TV Remotes in a designated box (or taped to the TV) to avoid a hectic search during unpacking.
Disassembly and Reassembly
Often, moving requires disassembling and reassembling furniture items. This could include gym equipment, tables, bed frames, etc. It is helpful to take photos during the disassembly process, so reassembly is not guesswork. Also, make sure to keep all screws and hardware separated with each piece of furniture! They can be kept in a zip-log bag and taped to the furniture.
Safety First
A very important part of moving is ensuring the safe delivery of household items – but the most important part is that everyone stays safe during the process. We recommend that anyone who wants to have a DIY move have some strong helpers. The helpers should properly stretch before lifting heavy items and should preferably wear back braces. Never attempt to lift heavy or awkward furniture on your own!
Do you have any favorite DIY moving tips that we did not include? Let us know in the comments!
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