Tips for Packing and Making Your Move: The excitement of a new home comes with the hassles of packing your stuff and moving in. And that means one more decision: Do it yourself or hire movers. You will want to consider both budget and logistics such as distance and time as you weight your options. A little prep now will help prevent difficulties later on.
Estimate your costs
Professional moving prices vary significantly, so make sure you get two or three estimates from moving companies recommended by friends or trustworthy consumer sites. You will want to make sure the company is licensed and insured. It is helpful to use an online calculator, to get a rough idea how much a professional move will cost.
If you are thinking of DIY, factor in these costs:
• Rental truck (with fees typically based on hours used and km travelled)
• Boxes and tape
• Packing paper and bubble wrap
• Moving blankets
• Trolley, hand truck, moving straps
And then there is the implied cost of “free help,” which you will have to repay with beer, dinner, or agreeing to help with their DIY move. If five friends help you move once, you will feel obligated to help each of them when they move.
Clear the decks – and closets
Do you really want to move those decade-old cooking magazines or that T-shirt from a better-forgotten weekend in Malaysia? Removing what you do not need will lighten your load and cost you less when you move. You can donate stuff or give things away and make someone else’s day. Either way, it is one less thing to pack. Speaking of packing…
Packing pointers
Pack one room at a time, making it easier to unpack in your new home. Some tips:
• Wrap all items carefully and keep each box cushioned inside.
• Mark all boxes according to the room they will be moving to.
• Limit box weight to about 20 kilograms.
• Keep all of your important items in boxes labelled “essentials.”
Thinking ahead about what you will want to unpack first may help you strategize about what to put in those “essentials” boxes.
Packing supplies
Start stockpiling boxes way before the professional or DIY move so you do not have to pay for them at the last minute. Neighbourhood online chat rooms are great sources of free packing material. Here is what you will need:
- Boxes (variety of sizes and styles)
• Packing paper
• Bubble wrap and/or cushioning foam
• Packing tape
• Moving blankets
• Plastic wrap
• Paper towels
• Scissors
• Screwdriver set
• Markers for marking boxes
Share your info
It is easy to get caught up in the move itself, but you will want to share your new address with important people in your life: friends, employers, creditors!
A good place to start is the Singapore Post. Fill out a change of address request at your local post office or at the Singpost official website to have your mail forwarded to your new place. Even with mail forwarding, you should still update your address with individual organisations and companies.
You need to inform your utilities and service providers about your relocation plans, to prevent service lapses and past-due bills. Contact telephone, cable, Internet, electricity, gas, water and other government services. Arrange for the utilities at your old home to be disconnected on moving day and have them reconnected at your new residence by the time you move in. Other must-updates include your bank, credit card companies, stockbrokers and other relevant financial institutions.