Your Stress-Free Moving Guide: Practical Advice from the Teasley Lane Storage Experts

Your Stress-Free Moving Guide: Practical Advice from the Teasley Lane Storage Experts

Let's be real – moving is right up there with getting a root canal and being audited by the IRS as a good time. But here's the good news, it doesn't have to be a nightmare. With all the families and businesses we've moved, we've learned what works (and what doesn't work at all). Keep reading for your behind-the-scenes cheat sheet for making your next move a breeze.

Start Smart, Stay Sane

Give Yourself Time to Breathe

We know – life is crazy, and moving somehow always manages to catch up with you. But listen to us on this one: giving yourself a head start on your packing at least 6-8 weeks in advance of move day will save your sanity. Do it as a kindness to yourself. You'll be thanking yourself for it later when you're not shoving various junk into trash bags at 2 AM.

Be a Decluttering Detective

Take a good hard look at your belongings before you begin boxing anything. That bread machine you promised to use? That exercise bike that has become an expensive clothes rack? Time to let them go. Each item you don't box is one less to move, unpack, and store. And you can even make money by having a yard sale or internet marketplace.

Gathering Your Supplies

There is nothing that will destroy packing momentum faster than running out of tape halfway through the kitchen. Get plenty of solid boxes of varying shapes and sizes, plenty of packing paper, bubble wrap, and good-quality tape. Tip: don't be stingy with the tape – your dishes will thank you. And, as it so happens, we carry all of these supplies at Teasley Lane Storage if you require them.

Mastery of Tagging

Your future self relies on you being stressed and tired on moving day. Give them a break by labeling each box with clear, descriptive labels. Instead of "kitchen stuff," for instance, "kitchen – everyday dishes and coffee stuff." Your morning coffee is depending on it.

Pack Like a Pro

Heavy Hitters First

In loading your truck, think of it as creating a foundation. Your heaviest things – appliances, furniture, and boxes that are filled – need to go first and in the front. This creates a good foundation and will keep your truck stable on the road.

Treat Your Treasures Right

Your grandmother's China deserves more than being swaddled in the paper of yesterday's news. Invest in proper bubble wrap or packing paper for fragile items. Wrap each item individually, and don't skimp on the bubble wrap – it is better to be safe than sorry.

Right-Size Your Boxes

Here's a beginner error we're noticing every day: filling big boxes with heavy things. Your back (and your movers) will despise you. Use the small boxes for heavy items such as books, and the big boxes for bulky, light things such as pillows and lampshades.

Fill the Gaps

Empty space in boxes enables articles to shift about and become damaged in transit. Fill empty space with packing peanuts, crumpled paper, or even with clean linens and towels. It's a question of embracing your belongings warmly and firmly.

Loading Day Strategy

Get Yourself a Dolly

Come on, this is not the time to show off how macho you are. A decent dolly or hand truck can relieve some stress from your back and make the entire thing so much simpler. Most truck rental facilities carry them, or we can borrow one from you.

Balance is Everything

Stack your heavier items towards the front of the truck and the load side to side as evenly as possible. That will keep your truck balanced and your items secure on the trip.

Secure the Fort

Once you have it all loaded up, don't just cross your fingers and hope for the best. Secure your load with straps, rope, or bungee cords. Tuck items in snug against each other with moving blankets or furniture pads so that nothing moves around (also your own bedding is coming with you so don’t back the blankets, use them as cushioning between items). It's kind of like working a puzzle where all the pieces fit together neatly into place.

When You Need Extra Room

Life also has a habit of throwing curveballs our way – perhaps your new place is not yet ready, or you're remodeling and need a safe place to keep your belongings.

That's where our Teasley Lane Storage team comes in. We have units that are small and perfect for just a few boxes to large ones that can hold whole families. Our climate-controlled units are a blessing for electronics, wood pieces, and anything else that can't handle the temperature changes. It does not have to be such a nightmare. With preparation, the right equipment, and possibly some pizza for your willing helpers, you really can make it a relatively easy event. And remember – we are always here for you if you need supplies, storage, or just some weary advice from folks who have been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt, etc.