Moving Supplies

On Mondays I like to write about something fun I’ve been up to and lately I’ve been up to PACKING! I am obsessed with organizing so any opportunity to exercise some OCD muscle is actually fun…but this move has had me wanting to settle down in one place! Here are the supplies that are a MUST for packing any home.

The most cost-effective way I found to move from Seattle to Los Angeles was with ABF U-Pack. They deliver a pod (we got a huge trailer/double pod size) and you can either choose to use their movers (kind of pricey) or find your own on Craigslist (what I did). This was THOUSANDS of dollars cheaper than other moving companies who bring a truck and movers but it is also more work for you. After your movers are done, ABF U-Pack picks up the pod. Their monthly storage fees are pricey but if it is short-term, this is a great option for overall savings. You can have the pod delivered to a storage facility if you like-just remember you have to set up movers either with them or get some yourself.

1. Boxes

Get more than you need. You can always return the unused ones. Go on Craigslist for listings for FREE moving boxes in your neighborhood. We saved a lot from our last move and stored them in our garage.

2. Packing Paper

A roll of foam dish packing sheeting is great too just for plates. Save those boxes for your set of 6 martini glasses for times like these.

3. Notebook

Number all of your boxes and make a quick record of contents. This will prevent any “loss in your inventory” in the moving and storing shuffle.

4. Stretch Wrap

Great for securing things you don’t want sticky tape residue on. It keeps things together like curtain rods and nicely secures furniture pads to furniture.

5. Stickers

Those fragile stickers make it so unmistakably easy to ID your breakables.

6. Sharpie

The click ones are great for a quick labeling.

7. Mattress Bag

Totally worth saving the most important piece of furniture you have!

8. Tape Dispenser

INVEST in this. The one we have was $10-$15 and it’s made this process a BREEZE. PLEASE buy this!

9. Bubble Wrap

Great for large/awkward sized art that won’t fit in a box and other fragile items.

**Use towels, fluffy robes and blankets as padding for framed photos in boxes, computer monitors or small TVs.

**Save original TV boxes! These are expensive! The cheapest one I could find for the 60″ behemoth we have was $75 and I had to order it. Plan ahead on this one.

**Home Depot has great prices for a lot of these materials. Some areas have bulk moving supply warehouses as well.

**Get the fabric Moving Pads from U-Haul for around $8 a piece. You can also rent them for a day if you need.

**You can find people to pack your things for you on Craigslist (we packed ourselves but I did see ads for $20 an hour per packer).

What are YOUR packing essentials?