Resources Blog

June 10, 2021

You never thought you owned a lot of stuff before, but now that you've learned you have two weeks to move, your three-bedroom house probably feels like it's a never-ending hole or more, more, more. 

How are you supposed to pack it all up in time?

Take a deep breath.

With the right packing tips, you can have everything out before the deadline and keep your sanity. We've put together this guide to show you how to pack for a move when you don't have a lot of time to spare, so keep reading below! 

Rent a Moveable Storage Container

Packing for a move is much easier if you can take the boxes out of your house and load them up in a storage container as you go. Our team at The Storage Box will drop off a portable container in your driveway (or somewhere else on your property) so you can pack it up quickly and easily. When you're finished, we'll pick it back up and move it to your new home for you. 

This will help you save a lot of precious time during your home. 

You won't have to rent a truck or a moving team to transport all your belongings to a self-storage facility. Because of this, you're cutting out travel time two and from the unit, which can suck up a lot of time. 

A portable storage container will also take all your belongings to your doorstep. This means you won't have to make several more trips unloading everything from the facility when you get to your new home. 

While this isn't the right fit for everyone during a move, it can make the entire process less overwhelming. 

Don't Do It Alone 

Trying to pack up your entire house on your own is a massive chore, especially if you're in a time crunch. Everything will be much more manageable if you have help. 

This doesn't mean you have to hire a moving team (although this is a smart choice for many homeowners). You can also call up your friends and family and ask them for a favor. Set up a packing day where you treat your loved ones to a meal after a day of work. 

You can always return the favor when they need it. 

Write a To-Do List (And Stick to It!)

Thinking about all the chores you have to do to prepare for a move can be overwhelming. It's easy to get distracted and end up not being able to finish anything on time. 

Don't let yourself get carried away. 

Instead, write a to-do list the includes everything you need to get done before you leave. Then focus on one step at a time. Tackling small tasks one at a time will keep you on track and speed up the process. 

Sort as You Pack 

Keeping things you don't need will take up space in your storage container or moving truck. This means you'll have to pay extra money for more space and spend more time moving useless boxes. 

You should try to get rid of as many items as possible while you're packing. 

Don't let go of anything you'll regret, though.

Saving space and money is important, but it's not worth losing precious keepsakes. If you're having trouble deciding whether or not you should let something go, keep it for now. You can always get rid of it later when you have more time to think about it. 

Throwing things away too quickly could bring about a lot of heartaches, and it will defeat the purpose if you have to buy new replacements later. 

Label EVERYTHING 

Do your best to write a list of everything you put inside a box. Then tape this list to the outside so you know where to find everything when you're unpacking in the future. If you can, label every box with a room, such as "kitchen," "bathroom," "master bedroom," "laundry room," etc. 

This will make it easier to put every box in the right room, and it will reduce your risk of losing anything during the move. 

However, if you need to be out of your house fast, you might not have time for such organized packing. In this case, do your best to just get everything in a box. Although it will be harder, you can sort it all out again later. 

Pack a To-Go Bag 

As you pack for a move, you should always load a to-go bag with some basic essentials and keep it with you during your travels. The storage container you rented might get delayed (unlikely), or the moving team might not show up at your new home on the same day as you. A to-go bag will ensure you have enough with you to survive a day or two without your belongings. 

Here's what you should pack in your bag: 

• Wallet 
• Keys 
• Medications 
• Important paperwork (such as your SSN, birth certificate, passport, etc.) 
• Phone charger 
• Toiletries 
• Change of clothes 
• Roll of toilet paper 
• Food and water 
• Pet supplies (if necessary) 
• Kid supplies (if necessary) 
• Bedding (if you have space) 

If you have any expensive jewelry or other belongings, you should keep these with you, too. It's a good idea to pack valuables in your to-go bag to ensure they don't get lost or damaged during the move. 

How to Pack for a Move When You Have No Time 

There are a lot of steps involved with a move, but figuring out how to pack up your home is one of the hardest. It sucks up a lot of time, and if you aren't careful, you could end up losing or breaking things along the way. 

That's why it's important to have the right tools. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us today to learn about how we can help take the stress out of your move!