Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Label the box with a room number, not John's room, and put a pice of paper next to each room entrance with the # that room is.

NP here: To add on to PP's suggestion, label the box with the room it is going INTO (in your new home), not the room it came out of (in your old home). For instance, stuff that came out of your home office (for example) in your old home may not be going into your home office in your new home.

We also kept a running inventory of what was in each box... Doesn't have to be too detailed, but that way if you know you need X, you can figure out which box it's in, even if you haven't upacked everything yet. (I'm not talking about the "open first" box stuff, but stuff you'll need later on but before everything is unpacked.)

To add, I labeled boxes with where I knew it came from from the old house. So, upon move-in I was looking the stapler or the ziploc baggies I would know the box labeled "junk drawer" and "pantry dry goods" would where I look b/c that is where those items were in the old house.

Yes, hire packing help for the non breakable stuff which I personally did myself and watched someone I trusted carefully.
Label moving boxes as outlined above and with a number, keep the list and make a copy for the moving company. They will not account for every box unless you do this.
Have "moving treats" for the kids to both keep them occupied and alleviate the emotional nature of moving.
Don't worry about spending too too much. We ordered in many nights and paid more for packing help than budgeted and saved our sanity in doing so.
Hard to do: stay present to what is happening, say good-bye to your old place (maybe a ritual?) and hello to your new home. This will really help the kiddos.

Anonymous wrote:If you're moving a pet, make sure you travel with duplicate keys to the car/truck. If you're renting a truck, get a duplicate key made. That way, when you stop for meals, you can leave the pets in the car/truck with the heat or AC safely running and the doors still locked. Yes, it's bad for the environment to leave the engine running. But it's safer for the pets than running them into and out of truck stops/restaurants, or God forbid leaving them alone in a car that doesn't have the heat or AC running. (Make sure it's in Park, make sure the parking brake is on, and make sure you have your duplicate key before you lock it.)

Personally I think this is bad advice, but if you are going to follow this advice, please, please review the state laws of every state that you expect to pass through. There are many states where this is illegal and truck stops get enough police traffic that you'd hate to have your moving day interrupted, delayed or set back because you got a ticket for running an unattended vehicle.

If you're moving a pet, make sure you travel with duplicate keys to the car/truck. If you're renting a truck, get a duplicate key made. That way, when you stop for meals, you can leave the pets in the car/truck with the heat or AC safely running and the doors still locked. Yes, it's bad for the environment to leave the engine running. But it's safer for the pets than running them into and out of truck stops/restaurants, or God forbid leaving them alone in a car that doesn't have the heat or AC running. (Make sure it's in Park, make sure the parking brake is on, and make sure you have your duplicate key before you lock it.)

The best tip my mother ever gave me was to pack one box with all of the bedding that you'll want the first night. Make sure to make it distinctive (I usually put lots of colored tape on it so that I can pick it out no matter what room it ends up in). When you first arrive, as soon as the beds are moved into the rooms, make the beds for everyone. Then, go about the rest of the moving in process. Then, no matter how long the first day ends up, whenever anyone is ready to stop and crash, the beds are made. I've had good move-in days and bad move-in days and just knowing that whenever the day ends, the beds are already made and welcoming and I don't have to make them to go to sleep is very comforting.

Don't go cheap on the movers, we did and we paid with our furniture. If you are a AAA member you can get a decent discount there. Also the Uhaul dish packs are the best! Home dept has the best prices on boxes

Do not underpack boxes. That means, don't leave empty space in the top--the boxes can lose their integrity--movers advise against this. Definitely hire someone to help you. Moving is stressful. It is worth shelling out to get help. Unpacking, no problem, but packing is a drag and you need to stay rested and sane. You will need to be calm and rested after the move. The move will be a big change for your baby, so s/he will need your attention and energy. Usually you don't have to pack the clothes in your dressers. Movers will move them as is. Best wishes to you in Chicago. You will love it there! (Where are you moving in Chicago? Did you follow the recent thread on transfer to Chicago?)

We found that shipping and receiving at the local hospital is always eager to give away boxes. They are extremely sturdy and many sizes. We literally picked up over a 100 hundred over the course of a few days. You need to call to see when would be a good time to pick up since you want o get them before they are put into the shredder.

Another NP: I wish we could pin this thread, it's great.

Anonymous wrote:9:48 again, if you get desperate for help, post on craigslist offering to pay $10/hour. I did this in college and two women came over and packed up my whole apartment for me- it came to like $200 total. Movers would have been waaay more expensive.

I like this idea but weren't you nervous about strangers stealing your stuff?

OP here, we're in Arlington!!! Thanks PP.

Please email me:

chicagoapt@ymail.com

Thanks to all for your suggestions, I really really appreciate it!

We're getting a few quotes and most of the movers are saying it may take 14 business days to get our stuff all the way to Chicago. I believe we'll pack pretending we're going on vacation, and live out of take out for a while...

If you're interested in boxes, I have a few of various sizes. 3-4 for sure, maybe more. I'm in Arlington.

1) DECLUTTER. The less you have to move, the cheaper and easier it is. Get rid of low quality cheap stuff that you haven't used in a year. Look at gorgeous minimalist family homes in magazines to get inspired. Now is the time to purge.

2) Get free boxes from your neighborhood listserv.

3) Hire a babysitter to watch the baby while you pack.

4) Have an "open first" box with toilet paper, diapers, wipes, changes of clothing, paper towels, bedding, flashlight, trash bag, paper plates, plastic cups, plastic utensils. This is your survival box for the first day or two until you get your real stuff.

5) Make sure your utilities (water, electricity, internet) are set up before your arrive. Call them, don't use the internet. For some reason, internet activation of utilities is still full of kinks.

To save money on moving boxes, check Craigslist for free moving boxes.
We just moved and I scored free moving boxes and rolls of packing paper off Craigslist. Only had to buy tape.