We've come upon the special season when grocery store managers see a spike in empty box requests and broken dressers and bed frames line the sidewalks—it's moving time. Leases are up and folks are packing up and planting themselves in new abodes. Though relocation can be an exciting experience, trying to figure out how to get all of the junk you've hoarded over months or years into a few boxes, out of your apartment and into a brand new place without breaking everything can be stressful, to say the least.
As if apartment hunting was difficult enough, now you to figure out all of the other shit. You need to make sure that your old apartment looks brand new when you leave because you're counting on getting that security deposit returned. How else are you supposed to pay first month's rent on the new crib? Your Tetris skills need to be on point in order to pack that moving truck as efficiently as possible. And you want your new apartment to feel like home immediately. These may sound like daunting tasks, but if you go into your move with a no-fail game plan, your experience won't be so painful.
Make sure you leave your old apartment in the same condition it was when you moved in, pack like a professional organizer, and settle in to your new spot swiftly with these 20 Life Hacks That Will Make Moving Less Hellish.
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Snap a photo of all of your hooked up electronics in your old apartment so that when you set things up in yor new place, you'll know where they go.
To prevent your containers with liquid from spilling during your move, remove the bottle cap, place plastic wrap on the lip of the bottle, then place the cap back on.
Instead of wrapping plates in newspaper, place disposable foam plates in between them.
Fill in the nail holes in your old apartment with a bar of soap.
Don't mess up your fingernails when swapping out your keys. Use a staple remover to make the switch.
Place rubber band around an open paint can to wipe your brush on and keep paint off of the sides of the can.
Ask your local liquor store for empty boxes or crates-most boxes have handles and are useful for transporting your heavier items
Put your drinking glasses in clean socks for extra padding during your move.
Use a Post-It note to catch dust when drilling a screw into a wall.
If you need to hang something onto a wall with exact holes, make a photocopy of the item to use as a guide.
If your furniture left behind carpet dents in your old apartment, get them out by placing ice cubes on the divots, let the ice melt, then lift the fibers up with a coin or spoon.
Use a folded piece of paper to organize screws when disassembling furniture.
If you have a old, dried up roll of masking or painter's tape, place it in the microwave for a few seconds and it will loosen up and be easy to use.
In the unfortunate event that you break a glass object during your move, use slices of bread to pick up pieces of the broken glass.
Use a clothespin to hold nail in place when hammering.
Leave clothes on hangers and place a bunch of items in a large garbage bag to making packing and unpacking quicker.
Cut off pencil rubber erasers and glue them onto the back of frames to add stability and to keep it from lying directly on the wall.
Keep documents wrinkle-free and safe from any spills during moving by putting them in ziplock bags.
Use a piece a tape to measure distance between two holes when hanging a picture.
Pack your tool box last, and take it off the moving truck first as you'll need to your tools handy for reassembly.
