Moving yourself can be a challenge, whether it is the first time or the twentieth. Picking up everything you own and putting it somewhere else is stressful. It is almost considered a rite of passage, but it is generally dreaded by most. However, with a bit of planning and some specific moving items, it can be a lot easier. Here are 5 items that can make a big difference in your moving experience.
1. Moving Blankets
Moving blankets, sometimes called furniture pads, are one of the most overlooked moving items for new movers. They can be attached to TVs, wood furniture, stoves, refrigerators, and other large appliances. There is nothing worse than ruining a nice kitchen table with a giant scratch down the middle because someone thought a bow-flex would sit well on top of it.
2. Actual Packing Tape
It is not uncommon to be a part of a move where packing boxes was an afterthought and there was no tape, or maybe even worse, the only tape available is from the dollar store that never comes off the roll in one piece. Actual packing tape with a tape dispenser will take a lot of moving frustration away, and save you time. After just a few minutes with the tape dispenser anyone can look like a pro.
3. Stretch Wrap
Stretch Wrap is not something many people use to move, but it can be a real help in areas where tape is just not enough, or could ruin the surface. It is great for keeping dresser drawers in place, keeping couch cushions on, holding moving blankets on, or even for miscellaneous items like all the silverware someone forgot to box up earlier. There are different sizes with handles and dispensers that make using stretch wrap second nature.
4. Furniture Dolly
A furniture dolly, also called a carpeted dolly, can make the difference between a sore back the next day or feeling good enough to head to the gym. They are basic in function, just center the weight of the item over the wheels and go, but it means not having to support the weight of those heavy items for longer than necessary. This might become your best moving tool.
5. Ratchet Straps
Sometimes packing items together tightly in the truck can only get you so far. Ratchet Straps will hold things in place when you have run out of stuff to put in the moving truck, or you want to make sure your items stay in place. This can be very useful if you are utilizing a pickup truck. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to keeping your items off the side of the road.
Hopefully these 5 items will improve your moving experience and make it less stressful. Depending on who shows up to help you move, it might even be fun! If nothing else you will thank yourself for the preplanning to make the process smoother.
***This is a guest post from our friends at MovingBlankets.com.