*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own*
As y’all have heard I will be moving into a new apartment to Savannah, GA for grad school come late August. While I am very excited to explore a new city, have an entire apartment to myself, and pursue my dream master program, I have to be honest in the fact that I HATE moving. I mean who even likes it?
I have moved quite a few times due to the nature of my college experience- at least twice each year and sometimes more due to study abroad and COVID. While most of my trips to move for college were done in the back of my car (and add on my mom or dad’s car a few times), I know I will need a little more help for moving into my apartment. So today I am partnering with Moving Solutions to share a few of my moving tips for moving on your own, as well as how you can use a moving service to help move your belongings, including specialized items that are harder to move (aka let the professionals take it from there!)
// my moving tips (from experience) //
- Purge, clean out, and giveaway
Every time I move I try to clean out what I don’t need. Rather that be throwing away, taking to Goodwill, or selling items on places like Poshmark or Mercari, I highly suggest going through your closet and clutter to get rid of things you don’t need anymore. If you have the time to sell clothes and good-condition items like home décor or books, earn some money by selling it on apps. If you really need to purge your stuff, take it to Goodwill or a local donation center. And of course, throw away anything that you absolutely do not need and not another person wants (old papers, broken items, super ratty clothes, etc.)
- Make a list of everything you have and everything you need
If you are moving into a bigger space or even one with different amenities, make out a list of the big-ticket items you have as well as the ones you need. I find it helpful to go by each room and tackle the to-do list from there.
- Compartmentalize packing
Pack by room, then by section in room, then by whatever else you need to pack in that room. For example, I pack each kitchen item in a designated spot: wine and drink glasses together, spices and oils together, décor in one box, etc. Label EVERYTHING too. Organizing your stuff beforehand will cut down the time you spend after moving searching for items and moving around boxes that end up in the wrong area of the house.
- Start early
I’m sure this goes without saying, but do not procrastinate in packing. Every time I moved to and or out of college, I started about a week in advance (sometimes more) slowly packed up items and furniture as I had the time. I usually had everything packed up even in my car the night before moving, and I saved the big ticket and difficult-to-move items for the day of moving.
- Buy random and everyday items once you get to your new place
If you know you will need a lot of bits and pieces such as cleaning supplies, organizers, lamps, etc., wait until you arrive at your new location to buy so you can save space while moving. I guarantee you won’t need everything immediately.
- Store items in the furniture they will reside in
If you feel comfortable, consider keeping items in the storage units they will stay in. I usually organized my clothing and put them in dressers and closet storage bins ahead of time, that way everything was set up during the move and all I had to do was move the furniture into its new home. This obviously doesn’t work for everything (please don’t do this with a china cabinet), but it can help for storage items that hold clothes, books, jewelry, etc.
- Use compression bags to cut down on space
If you have a lot of clothes, linens, etc., invest in some compression bags and a pump to store and move your clothes. This can cut down on space and protect your clothes in the move.
// my biggest moving tip: hiring a moving company //
So maybe you’ve gone through this list of steps (and a few more of your own), and find you still need help. Trust me- when I move into an actual house someday, I will 100% use a moving service. If you are in Tennessee or plan to move to Tennessee soon, considering checking out the Nashville-based moving company, Moving Solutions. This company offers local, regional, cross-country, and even international moves. They offer a wide variety of moving services including shrink wrapping, art and antique moving, college student moving, residential relocation, and more! They can even move items such as pool tables in the Nashville area, pianos, and hot tubs! Aka, say goodbye to back pain and bruises from moving way-too-heavy furniture. They also can assist with commercial moving in the Nashville area.
Using a moving company can give you the peace of mind that your furniture and belongings will transit safely and be handled with care moving in and out of your place. Moving companies such as Moving Solutions often offer insurance to cover any broken or damaged items, which isn’t the case if you break your own items in the process of moving. If you have the means to use a moving company, definitely consider it as it will save you a ton of time in the moving process and ease your stress when it comes to the physical process of moving.
I’ll keep you updated as I prepare for and make my move to Savannah. Until then, you can bet I will be organizing my space, purging my unwanted items, and making to do lists!
xoxo,
Madison
