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moving tricks

How to Make Your Long-Distance Move More Eco-Friendly

October 18, 2022
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Moving is often unavoidable. 

A new job, a family emergency, or just the itch to travel could prompt you to start loading up a U-Haul with your worldly possessions. If you’re relocating, you probably want it to be over as soon and painlessly as possible. As you rush around to pack up your belongings and double-check everything, it’s easy to lose sight of how your relocation impacts the natural world.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, greenhouse gas emissions in the United States are by transportation. Transportation has been the largest contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions since 1990. And if you’re moving to a state like Idaho, which has some of the most populated areas in the country, according to a 2019 State of the Air report, you’d want to be more careful about minimizing this impact.

Here are some ways you can make your move more eco-friendly.

Prefer Self Storage over Commercial Warehouse Storage

If you have some additional items you can’t find space for, we recommend using self-storage facilities to store them to make your move more eco-friendly. 

When you compare several aspects of self-storage with commercial warehouse services, it’s easier to understand the logic behind this advice. First, in a commercial setup, warehouses store the equipment of hundreds of customers in a controlled environment and consequently produce environmental pollution from lighting, heating, and cooling. Therefore, a commercial warehouse means more toxic gas emissions and a bigger carbon footprint. 

Self-storage, on the other hand, is a personalized storage space and thus has a smaller carbon footprint. You can easily find several storage options depending on anywhere you’re moving. 

So if you’re moving to Idaho and are going to be a Rathdrum resident, you can check out Rathdrum self storage. This facility provides all-out 24/7 security to your self-storage with digital access gates. It gives you the luxury of storing your belongings at your convenience and in an eco-friendly way. 

Opt for Backloading Moving Service

With a backloading moving service, you can share the moving truck with other customers and pay for the space you need. It is not only a cost-effective way of moving your stuff, but you can also help the environment by saving the number of trips from your state to another and therefore play your part in reducing carbon footprints. 

Adopt Eco-Friendly Ways of Packing Household Items

Paper and cardboard are among the main packaging waste material amounting to an average of over 82 million tons of municipal solid waste each year

Here are some packing materials and packing tips to decrease your packing expense and make your move greener and more sustainable:

  • Personal Containers

Instead of wasting your plastic and cardboard containers, it’s best to utilize them for packing your stuff. Pack as much of your stuff as possible in personal suitcases, plastic bins, grocery bags, and storage boxes. When you hire a professional moving company, they can easily transport filled drawers and cabinets, so try to fill up your dresser drawers with lighter, non-fragile items. You can also store boxes you have received throughout the year and use them for packing.

  • Recycled Moving Supplies

Using recycled material for packing is your first step towards a green move. Corrugated boxes and crates are the best alternatives to cardboard boxes. They are made from recycled material, are tougher, more durable, and cost-effective. Moving companies that offer green moves usually utilize corrugated boxes and crates to pack all types of items, regardless of weight and size. Corrugated boxes are not only less expensive than cardboard and plastics, but they also help you save fresh resources.

  • Towels and Cotton Sheets

To make your move greener, you can replace bubble wraps and Styrofoam sheets with your quilts, towels, old clothes, and cotton sheets to wrap your fragile items. Quilts and towels are best at absorbing shocks without costing you extra money.

  • Leverage Used Packing Material

Instead of purchasing new cardboard boxes, try to collect used ones wherever possible. For example, you can check out your local grocery stores or friends for spare boxes or purchase defective boxes from a local packaging manufacturer or supplier. In addition, try to find people giving away free moving boxes in your area.

Declutter and Donate

A long-distance move is a perfect time to eliminate all the extra stuff and reduce the number of boxes and packing materials you require. Fewer boxes mean less effort to pack and unpack your household items. Make a list of things you haven’t used in a while or worn-out items that you need to throw away. Donate unused clothing, accessories, furniture, and household items to a charity. If you have any items left even after decluttering and donating, think of ways to recycle them for other purposes. You can also check your area for eco-friendly recycling units to give away unused items. 

Sort Throwaway Items 

Before you get rid of the unused items, it’s best to sort them according to the type of material. For example, put paper-based materials, plastics, glassware, tin, and fabric in separate boxes before handing them over to the purge bin service or local recycling unit. Although recycling units are not always eco-friendly, you can minimize energy use by pre-sorting the materials instead of passing them through the electronic-belt sorting process. 

Recycle Packing Materials and Supplies after the Move is Complete

For an eco-friendly move, you need to keep the environment in mind through the whole process – from packing to moving and unpacking. Once your stuff is delivered to the destinated location, it’s time to adopt eco-friendly ways of recycling the packing materials and supplies. Recycle all the disposable materials or give them away for free to friends, acquaintances, or neighbors who need these packing materials. Avoid disposing of boxes, plastic materials, or non-environmental-friendly materials like bubble wraps, plastic sheets, packing peanuts, or Styrofoam balls. Instead, take them to the nearest recycling unit or give them away. 

Final Thoughts

Every action we take in our daily lives directly impacts the environment. With the climate change crisis soaring, we must adapt to eco-friendly ways in all areas of life, including long-distance moves. The tips mentioned above will help you plan an eco-friendly long-distance move and play your part in minimizing your carbon footprint.

Moving is one of the biggest and most stressful home duties there is. Though the thought of starting fresh seems like an exciting concept, it comes with its responsibilities. It requires significant time, work, and money to start a new phase of your life. To help you get started, we’ve compiled some tips in this article.

Scheduling Utilities

Once the dates are set, get in touch with your utility companies to arrange for service at your new residence. After a long road, you don’t want to arrive and find that the heat, water, or electricity aren’t working. Once you’ve established who your utility providers are, get in touch with them to let them know when you plan to move in and arrange for service to begin at your new residence one day beforehand. You allow your utility providers plenty of time to install the necessary hardware in your new residence by doing this. You must be sure of your move-in date because many service providers require one before they can assist you on time.

Get Rid Of Unnecessary Things

It can be difficult to fit all of your belongings into boxes, suitcases, and other spaces. Reduce clutter as much as you can to make your life a little bit easier. Get rid of any useless or unneeded items before you pack your boxes. This way, there will be less for you to pack, move, and unpack. You can also make use of storage units if you have any belongings that you aren’t ready to throw away yet but don’t need immediately, either. For example, if you are moving to Shreveport, Louisiana, you can keep such items in the best storage units shreveport has to offer.

Packers and Movers

Cutting corners on packers and movers while moving to a new house is a big mistake. You must compare the price of a professional and trustworthy mover’s services to the expense of replacing all the things a cheap packer and mover may break or damage. Get four or five of your friends to come and submit a thorough survey after asking them for recommendations on a reliable packer and mover.

You may estimate prices and the time it will take to pack, move, and unpack at the other end by conducting a survey. Also, keep in mind that you should show them 15% more items to move than you anticipate you’ll need to, rather than trying to convey the sense that there are fewer items to move. This saves you from having to bargain with them on the day of the move over extra boxes since you will probably end up taking more than you anticipated. 

Preparing Your New House Before Moving In 

There are some things you must do without a doubt before moving into your new house, including comprehensive estate planning. Examine the new home to determine the arrangement of the rooms, the locations of lighting and appliances, and whether more light points or extension boards are needed. Verify the load that the electricity meter and board are intended to support. In order for you to notify the landlord if any repairs need to be made, check all door and window frames and the plumbing in your home. Prior to being given to you, a house should ideally have been painted, the floors polished, thoroughly cleaned, and pest controlled.

Label Boxes

You should label each box with a description of its items and the room it is intended for. Knowing where each box goes in your new home will be easier for you, and your moving company will advantage from this as it will make things easier. An excellent technique to keep track of what you’ve packed and make sure you have everything when you unpack is to number each box and keep an inventory list in a tiny notebook.

Packing The Kitchen

There are several different items to consider when packing the kitchen. Each dish should first be wrapped in packing paper, and then several dishes should be bundled together. Always store plates on their sides; never flat. Also, use a lot of paper that has been scrunched up as padding above and below. Paper can be placed in between cups and bowls as they are stacked one inside the other to create a bundle of three or four. In dish barrel boxes, place them all.

When packing glasses for a move, use a box with cardboard dividers to preserve the glasses and wrap them in multiple layers of paper to protect them.

Packing Your Wardrobe

Folded clothing can be packed for a move in bags, cardboard boxes, or even a dresser, provided that the extra weight wouldn’t be a hinderance during transport. Use a dedicated wardrobe box so you may hang your things inside of it for hanging.

You must protect shoes from one another when putting them in a moving box. Separately cover each pair of shoes to protect them from buckles and sharp heels. and prevent dirt from one pair of shoes from dirtying the rest of your footwear. To help shoes maintain their shape, you can stuff socks inside of them. 

Packing Your TV

TVs can be moved like any other piece of furnishings by certain movers who wrap them in quilted furniture pads. However, because they can be damaged if you lay them flat, plasma TVs must be transported in special cargo containers if you don’t have the cardboard original box. Put your TV in two boxes if you’re doing your own packing by putting it inside of another box that has been foam-padded.

Conclusion

Moving into a new home, unpacking and rearranging everything might cause havoc with your daily routine. Now, you can either let the stress get to you or use these tips to make the process easier. In the end, all the effort and labor you went through will be more than worthwhile once your new home is ready for you to move in, preparing you for a new part of your life.

Buying a new home in this economy is no mean feat. A lot of hoops have to be jumped through to acquire the home-owner status, but for people who have achieved the milestone, it can be a dream come true. Even renting a property comes with its unique, often tedious, set of challenges. No matter the property attributes, moving is a big deal. Moving houses is a complicated process that demands your full attention, considerable effort, and a certain sum of money. But moving is not, nor should it be, spontaneous. Rather, it should follow a comprehensive thought process based on ground realities and current circumstances – whether personal, economic, or social. That is why we are here with this article discussing the essential questions you should ask yourself before committing to moving.

  • Why Am I Moving?

Why are you moving? Is it because of a wonderful job that is going to offer substantial career growth? Or perhaps the move is going to bring you closer to your friends and family. A lot of factors go into justifying a move and choosing a place to live, but still, it’s highly important to take out some time to figure out what you stand to achieve from the move, and whether it’s sustainable.

For example, if you are moving for a job, consider whether it offers enough security, benefits, and growth to justify such a huge commitment from you. Apply the same consideration to whatever other factors you may have, and then ask yourself if it’s realistic and sustainable enough to elicit this course of action.

  • Can I Afford to Move?

Buying a house is a whole different ballgame, but even before renting a property, You may be asking, how much rent can I afford? Daydreaming about your own place may be wonderful but the reality requires a certain degree of financial security and stability. Most apartment and mortgage management companies require your net income to be at least thrice the amount of rent you are supposed to pay.

This is not a blanket requirement but rather a general rule of thumb when it comes to figuring out the maximum number you should have before considering a move. Also, consider extra expenses that usually come with a move, like utility bills, commute charges, moving charges, etc. Having a realistic number in your mind will help you browse properties that fall under your affordability range.

  • Where Do I Want to Live?

After you identify your primary reasons to move, and also, take account of your assets, the next question to ask is where do you envision yourself living. Some people are inclined toward an urban lifestyle, full of city splendor, while some prefer more serene surroundings devoid of any hustle and bustle, like the suburbs. The decision concerning your next apartment or house should be taken after a lot of research and brainstorming since, once it is taken, you have to commit to it for at least a year.

The apartment or the house itself is a big deal, of course, but the neighborhood is also an equally important factor to consider when selecting your next location. Google the area and see what’s around. If you are into running, check for any nearby parks. If you have kids, it’s best to check whether the area has any good schools. Moving is expensive, but relocating right after moving inflicts a huge financial blow. Do your research, and select an area that suits your lifestyle, hobbies, and expectations.

  • How Will I Go to Work?

Although Covid has revolutionized the work environment, many people still do not have the luxury to work from home. For regular commuters, this question is highly important. After an 8-hour workday, no one wants to spend a minute more than absolutely necessary on the commute. To avoid any inconveniences, learn what the transportation scene is like in the area of your destination. If you do not own a car, consider checking out the public transport options near your apartment. The question here is not only associated with commuting but rather with the ease of mobility to and from your house. The easier it is to move around the city or the town, the better that house is.

  • Are There Any Rules?

Educate yourself about the community and apartment management rules before signing a lease. Some of the questions that you should ask before signing a lease are listed below:

  • What is their pet policy? Are there any restrictions regarding the breed, number, or weight of the pets?
  • Is there a visitor policy?
  • When is rent due? What is the late penalty? Is there a grace period?
  • What happens if I were to violate the terms of the lease?
  • Can the apartment be painted or re-decorated?

Asking the questions listed above will make for a smooth accommodation experience. It will also make sure that you choose the right place according to your needs and requirements.

  • How Should I Move?

Once you have finalized your plan to move and decided on your new apartment, the immediate next step should be to start packing. The more you delay it, the more stressful it will become. Start with cataloging everything that you have. Next, categorize them – make a list of all the necessary items that you plan to take with you. Also, make a list of everything that you plan to sell before your move. The fewer the items the easier will be the moving process.

If you move frequently and have reliable friends who can help you with the move, you can consider moving without employing any professional services. But if you lack the necessary experience or personnel then it’s better to stick with the pros. After all, they are equipped with the right tools and expertise to handle such matters.

The Bottomline

Moving in this economy is one of the hardest and most stressful experiences of any adult’s life. But it is equally exciting and promises a life that is in line with your future goals, dreams, and standards. Ask yourself the questions listed in this article to assess where you stand when it comes to making a life-changing decision like moving house.

Moving is a necessary evil. Just like going to the doctor’s or doing your errands, we don’t like to do it but we have to do it eventually. Moving is almost never fun, often exhausting and sometimes straight unpleasant, but it’s quite rewarding—you can finally live comfortably in your new space! If you need to move and want to make this endeavor as smooth and stress-free as possible, here are a few moving tips to follow: 

Declutter

One of the best things you can do to make your move easier is to examine all your belongings and select things you don’t want anymore. Take a few boxes or bin bags and start sorting things into toss, recycle and donate piles. This is much smarter than taking them to your new location just to realize you don’t have any place for them. Start from your closet and donate everything that doesn’t fit you in size or style and give it to someone in need. A great decluttering tactic is to ask yourself a question: “Would I buy this again?” If the answer is no, it means it doesn’t serve a purpose in your life and it can stay in the past. 

Start early

Most moves don’t come too suddenly and you’ll know about them weeks or even months before the big day. In that case, start packing as soon as you can. Start with seasonal items and items you know you won’t need any time soon. For instance, during a winter move, you can pack your bathing suits, shorts and sundresses and let them wait for the day of the move. 

Collect all necessary information

Grab a folder and start stacking it with new addresses, rental documents, purchase papers, contracts and utility information. If you need any of these during the moving process, you’ll know exactly where to look and manage to avoid a lot of stress. 

Stock up on supplies

A week before your move, visit your local DIY center or any similar store and buy plenty of boxes, bags, tape, stickers and packing paper and peanuts. When you’re in the middle of packing, you certainly won’t have time to jump to the store and get more tape! Other things you might also need are box cutters, markers, as well as larger moving equipment you can rent (if you’re planning to move everything on your own). If you hire movers, they will probably have dollies for moving furniture, pads and covers and rope for tying everything down. 

Book movers and storage

Hiring professionals is always a good idea, especially if you don’t have any type of vehicle at your disposal (and people in big cities like New York often don’t). Luckily, if you find experienced people who offer moving and storage services, you don’t have to worry about transport or heavy lifting. Just make sure to book in advance as much as you can, because you’ll end up with better prices and better timing. If you have some items you don’t want to throw away but also can’t move to your new place yet, renting a storage space is a great and cost-effective idea.

Label your boxes

Once everything is more or less ready for the move, it’s time to pack absolutely everything. Go room by room and label every box with a room sticker and a brief summary of the items inside (ex. Kitchen—plates, bowls, cutlery). If you have a labeling system like this one, your movers will know how to pack everything in the truck and where to place your boxes after you arrive. If you go from one room to the next one without mixing items, your packing and unpacking will be a breeze. 

Take care of your precious items

If you have any special items like paintings or sculptures, or even large plants, make sure to read about packing them properly. When moving paintings, use special paper that won’t stick. When moving mirrors, tape an ex over the glass to prevent breaking. Sculptures should go into the box with packing peanuts, etc. 

Pack an overnight box

You’re probably not going to start unpacking right after you arrive, so it’s a good idea to have an overnight box with necessities like bedding, pajamas, hygiene products, chargers and other things that will get you through the night, as well as important documents (keep this box with you). Also if something happens to your things, at least you have your essentials. 

With these tips, you will avoid a lot of anxiety, stress and even back pain when moving. And you’ll see that moving can be a pleasant experience with a very rewarding end.

At times, shifting could come up with an emotional setback. Because when you bid farewell to an old house, you tend to miss everything about the place. It is part and parcel of human nature. From your favorite spot in the house to its surroundings, it might take time to get over the nitty-gritty eventually. However, another aspect of relocating could prove to be far more demanding, namely, packing and moving stuff.

It could be a stressful task, especially if someone is doing it for the first time. Luckily, various ways can take a lot of burden off your shoulders and make the shifting process entirely hassle-free. So let’s get to the bottom of reliable packing and moving tricks without further ado:

Declutter

Decluttering will save you from packing unwanted baggage. While getting on with purging, do not get carried away by the emotional attachment with household objects. Because it can stimulate you to carry unnecessary items such as a worn-out table you used to celebrate your child’s first birthday.

Instead of throwing everything away, you should consider donating things that are still in decent shape or require marginal fixes. Selling might serve the purpose as well.

If you want to shift in the span of a few days and don’t have enough time to pack everything, you may outsource a storage company. It will keep your items secure in their lockers temporarily. Unlike in the past, it is not difficult to find suitable storage capacity. For example, if you live in Texas, all you have to type is self storage in Fort Worth, TX, and that is about it.

Buy quality boxes

Indeed, it is quite tempting to reach out to a nearby supplier and score boxes cheaply or even for free cost. On the surface, this might sound like a budget-friendly technique, but it can backfire quite badly. The reason behind this is that these boxes often lack durability. Before you have access to them, they have already past their prime due to excessive traveling and usage.

Therefore, you are better off investing in high-quality boxes. By opting for compact cartons, you will attain peace of mind. For example, if it starts to rain out of nowhere, you will not have to worry about the moisture wreaking havoc on superior boxes.

Don’t forget other moving supplies

moving tricks

Boxes alone will not ensure reliable packing. You will require a variety of supplies such as adhesive bandages, cutters, paper towels, permanent markers, packing tape, etc. to get the job done. Sometimes utilizing packing material could be a tough to nut crack, more so, if the household items are easily breakable. In that case, calling a moving company is the best bet.

Start packing as early as possible

It is not uncommon for people to miss out on several important things when they relocate. The reason being, many of us try to assemble everything at the 11th hour. Shifting is no small event. The majority of us know months or at least weeks before we are about to move. One should exploit this time to pack stuff bit by bit. That way, you will not forget anything which must make it to your new destination.

Spare one hour daily to pack. If you get occupied during the weekdays, do it on the weekends for multiple hours.

Use plastic wrap to cover leaks

packing plastic wrap

You have to be more cautious while packing anything having the remotest possibility to spill. Take the case of your shampoo bottle. If a heavy substance squeezes it more, the shampoo will be leaked and eventually get wasted. You can get away with this issue by using plastic wraps. The internet is full of different methods that teach you how to put plastic wraps into practice like a pro.

Color code boxes

Once you finish the packing, there will be umpteen boxes at your disposal. And by the time all the boxes get shifted to the particular place, you will forget which box contains which items. Hence, you must put a unique color code on every cardboard box. For instance, you can go red for books, green for toiletries, yellow for kitchen appliances, etc. That way, you will save a lot of time during the arrangement process.

Get the details

A truck or any other type of vehicle is mandatory for moving all the essentials. It would be an excellent move to sort the details beforehand so that you can have a clear idea of the parking limitations and the parking spot convenient from your home.

The final verdict

You can readily come across homeowners who have faced nightmares while switching their living spaces. But you do not need to lose your sleep after listening to their stories. Just walk the tight line of the turns as mentioned earlier and tricks, and the shifting process will come to an end without any hiccup down the road whatsoever.