Apartment Moving: The Grown Up Edition

I'm a veteran mover. I've moved apartments over 10 times in the past 10 years. I know all the ins and outs and pains and sufferings of packing, moving, unpacking by yourself.

During undergrad, the Malaysian student community was tight knit and it just goes without saying that you would help each other move apartments. Post-college was a bit tricky, but Adam was always there to help. If that wasn't tricky enough, post-relationship-dependent-stage was more difficult to move. I had managed with the help of good friends (bribing them with pizza and beer). This year, I called it quits. I've been a grown-up for a while now, it's time I do it the grown-up way, which is called paying-someone-else-to-do-it-for-you. I hired professional movers.

Although the real grown-up way is to buy-a-condo-and-never-look-back-at-rentals... I'm not ready for that yet.

Moving can be a crazy ordeal. Here are some measures you can take to maintain your sanity.

Step 1: Planning
Avoid confusion, tears, hair-pulling scenarios by thinking ahead:

• Make an inventory of your possessions. Do this by rooms and categories. Makes it easier to pack/unpack and for movers to estimate.
• Find out the cost of movers. I looked up reviews on yelp (or similar online reviews) of movers and advertisements on craigslist, sent a few emails, called them and gave them my inventory and made a comparison. Shop around
• Check that your movers are legit business not just a couple of inexperienced college kids looking to make a quick buck. That is okay too if you're on a budget. But expect the unexpected. Make sure they have a record of showing up on time.
• Have a backup plan. Can you call friends? Do you know if you can get a truck rental at last minute if you had to move yourself.

Step 2: Downsizing

• Cleansing is good for you
• Anything that has not seen the light of day for the last 8-12 months must GO.
• Sell your gently used clothing or things on craigslist or thrift stores. Donate the rest to Salvation Army or Goodwill.
• Moving objects from point A to point B consumes energy, time and money. 
• Downsizing makes your moving more efficient and cheaper, and will help cover some of the costs of moving. Hey kill 2 birds.

Step 3: Packing

• Pack heavy things in smaller boxes (books, canned food, weights)
• Start with things you need the least: Books, waffle maker, decorations, extra towels and linens
• Label each box with the room names and short descriptive note of what is inside
• For multiple people moving, label personal boxes with your initials
• Plastic bags make awesome cushions for fragile items like dishes and mugs. I save a drawerfull of shopping bags and I use these crushed together to give extra padding to my dinnerware.
• Things not to pack: extra tape, plastic bags, scissors, screwdrivers and hammer in case you need to dismantle things AND to reassemble things when you get to your new place.
• Pack a full week of regular work clothes and living essentials in one suitcase. Pretend you're packing for a week's business trip.
• Put important documents and last minute things in one place, preferably a backpack that is ON you all the time during the move.

Step 4: Cleaning ALL the THINGS
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html

This is the cleanest my apartment has EVER been

I miss this bathroom

Spotless!

Got my security deposit back 100%

Step 5: Moving Day

• Get enough sleep
• Eat something in the morning
• Take the day off
• Call the movers
• Help carry small items and give directions
• Get children/pets out of the way
• DON'T PANIC

Disaster zone

Step 6: Making yourself comfortable

• aka $500 later (between 2 people)
• unpack your box of tea, mattress, towel, and a set of clothes for the next morning.
• Set up electricity, heat, cable, internet at your new place (make this step 1)

Thank you neighbor's free unsecured Wi-Fi!