estimated the number of boxes you will need for your belongings ? Well , multiply that number by 20 percent , just to be safe , and start hitting up your local appliance or department stores . You might try your local grocery or package store as well , but avoid boxes that carried frozen foods or produce as they may have water damage or food stains . Ask someone when the store expects shipments . They may even volunteer to set some boxes and packing paper aside for you . After a few trips to the right store , you ' ll have all of the boxes , packing paper and bubble wrap you need without the high price tag . And as you ' re unpacking your boxes in your new home , be sure to flatten out each piece of packing paper to ensure you find every little piece , especially if you had help packing boxes .
Plan New Rooms as You Pack the Old
You won ' t be able replicate everything in your new home exactly the way it was in your old one , and who would want to anyway ? Your new place is a fresh palette for new ideas . But taking pictures of every room before you start to pack up your old home will help you plan how to unpack . It will save you a lot of time , too . You can see what worked and remember what may be hidden in an unpacked box . Don ' t forget to take pictures of complicated electronic hook-ups to help you put them back together . If you can find a floor plan for your new home , you ' ll have an even more detailed plan .
Line Up Professional Movers
If you ' re short on time or you just hate the idea of walking up and down stairs with countless boxes -- or you ' re moving across the country -- you might want to look into hiring a professional moving company . While professional movers can be expensive , they don ' t have to be . Be sure to get quotes from several companies , and don ' t be shy about the fact that you ' re shopping around . Making companies aware that you ' re checking out the competition might just result in a lower quote . If you have flexibility on your moving date , ask if you can