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When You Have To Move In A Hurry: 6 Quick Tips And Tricks

3 December 2015

Zeynel Hofkamp

Whether it's an immediate job opening halfway across the country, a sick relative who needs you to move in, or some other circumstance, it's not unheard of to have to pack your things up in a hurry in order to move. While packing and moving should ideally take place over a few weeks, sometimes there just isn't that much time. If you've been told that you need to relocate within the next few days, there are some ways you can get through the hassle of packing up everything you own and getting it onto the moving truck without losing your mind. Check out these six quick tips and tricks for packing very quickly.

1. Make a big "to toss" pile. Moving is the perfect opportunity to get rid of all of the things you don't want, need, or use anymore. As you go through each room, have a big, heavy-duty garbage bag within an arm's reach. If you haven't used something in the last six months and it's not in the right condition to give away, toss it into the bag. Have a large box of these garbage bags on standby, as you might be surprised at how much you'll want to throw away.
2. Set up an appointment with your local thrift shop. Many thrift shops will pick up donations. Call the one in your area that you'd like to donate to, and set an appointment with them for the day before you have to move. As you go through your items to pack, place goods to be donated on the front porch, back patio, garage, or other out-of-the-way area. Resist the temptation to retrieve items from the pile!
3. Don't take clothes out of the dressers. Instead, make sure everything is folded neatly, and carefully slide the full drawers out of the bureau or dresser. Move the main part of the dresser into the moving van, then carry out the drawers, one or two at a time. (The entire dresser, with drawers still inside, is likely too heavy to carry safely.) Use masking tape to keep the drawers closed throughout the ride, or place another piece of furniture in front of the bureau to keep the drawers from opening.
4. Unplug your refrigerator more than 24 hours before the move. You should not move your fridge if it's been plugged in within the past 24 hours, so be sure to unplug this appliance with enough time to spare if you are taking it with you. Of course, you need to take out the perishables as soon as you unplug it; move them to a cooler or make plans to eat them quickly.
5. Set aside some necessities. When you're moving in a hurry, you aren't going to want to waste time searching for paper towels, cleaner, and other essentials that you're going to need at the last minute. Make sure you have a full roll of toilet paper in the bathroom, and keep an all-purpose cleaner and window cleaner set aside, along with your broom, dustpan, and a couple of extra garbage bags. This will help you get your final cleaning chores done quickly.
6. Make good use of your baskets and bins. Not everything has to go in a box. You probably have a few laundry baskets and perhaps some large plastic storage bins. Plan on using these to transport books, towels and other non-breakable items. You can stack these up in your trunk or in the moving van just as easily as you can stack boxes.

Hiring a moving company can help you if you have no time to spare. Professional last minute movers can do everything from boxing up your belongings to carrying each box into the appropriate room of your new home. Movers are also a great source for boxes, bins, and moving blankets, if you want to handle the packing on your own. Have a clear plan and try not to get bogged down by the details; as long as you're making headway, keep doing what you're doing until everything is packed in the truck. Soon enough, you'll be able to relax in your new home.

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