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Moving to a new place is an exciting yet overwhelming experience. Between sorting through belongings, packing boxes, and ensuring everything arrives safely, there is a lot to look after, and it’s easy to feel stressed. But fear not! With a well-thought-out plan and the right tools, packing for a move can be a smooth process. 

This blog will take you through the process of how to pack for a move to make moving and packing a cakewalk for you. Whether you’re relocating across town or to a new city, the key is preparation. So, get ready and make a move.

Start by Gathering Your Packing Supplies

Before packing for relocation, you have to gather the necessary packing materials you need when moving for a seamless process. Gather different sizes of moving boxes and storage containers to make organization easier. Get packing tapes to securely seal the boxes and ensure your goods are packed safely. Having some bubble wraps, packing papers, packing peanuts, and foam padding is also good for filling the empty spaces in boxes for added cushioning. 

Get blankets and plastic bags to pack fragile items. This packing checklist will help you pack everything appropriately. Lastly, don’t forget permanent markers to label boxes and keep track of what things are packed inside which boxes.

Need help figuring out exactly how many supplies you’ll need? Get a quote from Big Apple Moving to make your packing process smoother and stress-free. Our experts can guide you through the essentials and provide professional packing services!

Declutter Before You Move

The smaller the stuff, the easier it will be to move and the lesser the storage space you will need. Declutter the belongings as you go. Get rid of the things you don’t use or no longer need while packing an apartment. Donate, sell, or discard the items to be free from any mess. 

The rule says that you bid adieu to the items that you haven’t used in the past year. Additionally, separate the items that you will be needing immediately before or after the move.

Start Packing Room by Room

Handle one room at a time. Start with the rooms that you use less frequently, like basements or guest rooms. Pack garage items and spare rooms. Packing less frequently used rooms should be done at least a month before your move date. Clean all the items. Use plastic bins for tools and smaller equipment, and wrap sharp tools in towels for safety. Gather all the power cords, cables, and wiring accessories in individual plastic bags and label them. When talking about living rooms and high-end used areas, pay special attention. Pack all the electronic boxes in special moving boxes.

Choose the right size moving boxes for all the items, as this is a make-or-break deal that helps protect your belongings. Pack fragile items like artwork, mirrors, and lamps in specialty boxes. To pack a kitchen, pantry, and laundry room, begin with rarely-used appliances and dishware. Wrap each plate and glass in packing paper or bubble wrap and store them upright. For bedrooms and closets, wardrobe boxes are apt for packing clothes. Smaller boxes are meant for storing shoes, personal items, and accessories. Use vacuum-sealed bags to pack bedding like pillows and blankets.

When it comes to the bathroom, discard the products that have expired. Pack the liquid products in plastic bags to steer clear of any leaks. Keep all the essentials like soap and toothpaste in an easily accessible box so that you don’t have to face any difficulty when you first arrive at your home.

Labeling and Final Checks

Labeling is the step that you think sometimes you can miss, but you cannot. It is like that friend that saves you from the unnecessary effort of unpacking everything in your new home. Number each box and make notes of the items that you may try to find later. Don’t forget to label the box with fragile items as “fragile” or “this side up.” 

Labeling comes under the best way to pack for residential moving, which allows you to keep track of what things you have packed. Make final checks to ensure that everything is packed securely. Check with your moving company to see if they have made all the arrangements.

Additional packing tips for moving

Here are some additional tips on how to pack for a move –

• Keep important documents like ID cards, passports, insurance papers, and valuables with you during the move.
• Group similar items and pack them together.
• Color code the boxes by each room to quickly identify them at your new place.

Wrapping Up

Packing for a move doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By gathering the right supplies, decluttering before you pack, working room by room, and labeling everything clearly, you’ll make the process much smoother. Remember to prepare a box of essentials for the first few days in your new home, and don’t forget to confirm arrangements with your moving company.

Ready to move? Let the experts at Big Apple Moving help you with their professional packing services. Whether you need full-service packing or just a little assistance, we’ve got you covered. Check out our packing services to ensure your belongings are safe and secure every step of the way! Contact us right away.

Couches are a staple of comfort in our homes, offering the perfect spot to unwind after a long day. But what happens when your beloved couch becomes worn out, or you simply want to upgrade? Whether your couch is still in good condition or has seen better days, disposing of it can be more complicated than just tossing it on the curb. And disposing of an old couch becomes more important while residential moving. After all, you want to get rid of the old and unnecessary items and make a hassle-free move. 

Fortunately, there are multiple ways when talking about how to dispose of a couch, ensuring you make the most of its value while minimizing waste. In this blog we will walk you through several effective methods to get rid of an old couch, from selling and donating to recycling and hiring professional services.

How to get rid of an old couch?

What steps should you follow as far as “how to get rid of an old couch” is concerned? Let us know.

Assess the Condition of Your Couch

Before disposing of your couch, assess its condition. Make a note of whether the couch is still usable or the damage is in such a way that it is beyond repair. After assessing its condition, choose whether you want to sell it, donate it, recycle it, or dispose of it completely.

Selling Your Couch

Looking for a way to make some decent money while disposing of your couch? Consider selling it. It is not only a financially rewarding option but also an eco-friendly way. In this manner, you also tend to promote a culture of reusing. You can consider selling it to online marketplaces, at a garage sale, or to second-hand furniture stores.

Donating Your Couch Locally

The next in the list of how to dispose of a couch is by donating it. Throwing away a couch and donating it is actually a great way of making some space in your home and, at the same time, helping others in need. 

You can contact charitable or non-profit organizations to check whether they accept a couch donation or not. Some organizations even offer free pick-up services, which is a really convenient option. However, before donation, ensure that your couch is in clean and sensible condition.

Recycle the Couch

A sofa as a whole may not be recyclable. But some parts of it may be. Its wood, metal, and fabric can be repurposed and reused. Look for junk removal services or specialized furniture recycling programs in your city to recycle sofas.

Hire a professional upholstery cleaner

If your couch is in decent condition and you don’t want to sell it, but it still needs a deep cleaning, it’s time to get in touch with a professional upholstery cleaner. They clean and sanitize your couch, rejuvenate it, and ultimately make it more attractive to potential buyers. This trick becomes especially useful if your couch has stains or accumulated dirt from prolonged usage.

Rent a Dumpster

If you are thinking about how to get rid of an old couch in addition to multiple things, renting a dumpster might help you in a great way. It acts as an excellent disposal option, which allows you to work at your own pace. It is an appropriate method to get rid of numerous items in one go, but it can also be costly.

Repurpose or upcycle it

Bring your inner creativity out and repurpose your sofa into something useful. Watch some DIY videos, follow them, and upcycle your couch to make something new and unique. Give your sofa a second chance by adding a personal touch to it and transforming your home décor.

Hold a yard or garage sale

Do you have more than 3-4 items that you want to get rid of? If yes, you can organize a yard or a garage sale. It is a fun way to gain some extra cash while decluttering your home. What more can you do? Get a couple of neighborhoods together for a larger sale so that there are better odds of success and you will attract more buyers.

Check with your local waste management facility

Local waste management facilities are your next stop if your couch is damaged beyond repair. But some waste management facilities ask you to pay a small fee for the same. Also, some offer bulk trash pick-up and drop-off services for large furniture items. Check with your local regulations and see how you can make this trick work for you.

Contact local recycling centers

Recycling centers accept a number of items, not just cans and bottles. So, if you are thinking about where to dump old couches, contact your local recycling centers to reduce the waste responsibly.

Conclusion

The process of how to dispose of a couch doesn’t have to be complicated. From selling and donating to recycling and hiring professionals, you have plenty of options that align with your couch’s condition. Big Apple Moving allows you to get rid of an old couch easily as it handles every aspect of your relocation and moving needs. 

We provide top-quality services when it comes to picking up your sofa and getting it to the desired place, whether it’s your new home or the recycling center. Contact us at (212) 365-0707 to know more.

Moving day is often seen as one of the most stressful events in life, and it’s easy to see why. From worrying about packing up an entire household to managing logistics, dealing with children or pets, and making sure nothing is left behind, the day can feel overwhelming. Add in the pressure of time, the physical effort of moving furniture, and the uncertainty of getting everything to the new home in one piece, and you have a recipe for stress.

But here’s the good news: moving doesn’t have to be chaotic. With careful preparation and following the moving day checklist, you can drastically reduce the stress of the moving day.

What Happens On Moving Day?

Moving day is the time when all your hard work gives you the final fruit. The professionals start in the morning, and you need to guide them on what belongings need to be moved with specific instructions. Once you get everything loaded into the truck, take a final walkthrough of your old home to ensure you have left nothing behind. Preparing to move house with the right planning can make the process go off without a hitch.

12 Tips to Make Moving Day Stress-Free

How can you make your moving day as stress-free as possible? Let’s find out.

Pack your survival moving box

The number one tip in the moving day checklist is to prepare a moving day survival box. You should do that at least one day before your move. In it, put all the essential items like credit cards, toilet paper, snacks and water, laptops, tablets and chargers, first aid kit, flashlights, bin bags, and toolbox that you might need on the very first night when you arrive at your new home. In addition, after you have packed everything, label all your moving boxes with the correct apartment address so that your belongings reach the right place and don’t get exchanged. Ultimately, it will help make your moving day less stressful.

Start early

The earlier you move for your moving day, the better. Have a good night’s sleep before your moving day actually arrives so that you have the energy needed for your big day. Get up early so that you have the extra time to tie up any loose ends. Eat a healthy breakfast to survive a long and exhausting day.

Essential moving documents

The next in the list of tips for moving day is to keep all the essential moving documents in one safe folder. To do this, gather all the essential documents like moving contracts, insurance documents, lease agreements, IDs, or anything that is crucial in one place. If you don’t have one folder, make one immediately and store all your essential moving documents there. It makes settling into your new home much easier.

Keep your mobile phone charged

Your phone acts as your lifeline on the day of moving. Keep it charged so that movers can easily coordinate with you. There could be many hiccups that can happen throughout your moving day. To tackle them easily, keep your phone’s battery fully charged, or you can even have a portable charger with you.

Prepare a bag of valuables and keep it safe with you

Keep all your valuables, like jewelry, bank cards, etc., in one bag. This bag should be kept safe and not leave your side during the moving day. Don’t leave this bag to anyone except your trusted family members.

Have some cash in your hand

You never know when you will need cash during the move. It’s always good to have some stash of cash with you to tip the movers, grab a quick bite to eat, or pay for tolls. It also helps you to handle unexpected expenses that may pop up during the day. So, keep some cash with you to have peace of mind when you least expect it.

Children’s and pet’s safety

It adds to the moving stress if you have children and pets. If possible, let your relatives and friends watch them during the move. You need to have a quiet space for that where the children and pets can stay out of the way. Some people put their pets in the kennels for the day. Loading and unloading becomes easier when there are no children or pets roaming around.

Clean your current property

Clean your current home is next on the moving day checklist. Clean and empty all the rooms, and collect all the keys. This step becomes all the important when you are moving out of a rental property as it will ensure that you receive a full refund of your deposit. Do a quick walkthrough of your entire house to ensure that you have locked all the doors and keys and that nothing is left behind. It will make your residential moving all the more easy. 

Check the utility meter

Before you put a lock on your current home, check the utility meter for gas, electricity, and water supplies and clear all the bills. Take pictures of all the readings as a backup plan. It ensures that you have the habit of maintaining accurate records of all the utilities before moving out. This small step keeps away any future disputes with your utility companies.

Get your bathroom and bedroom in the new home ready

As soon as you arrive at your new home, set up your bathroom and bedroom. Unpack the boxes that are meant for the bedroom and take the pillows out. Nothing can beat the power of a good night’s sleep to refresh your mind and regain your strength. Also, organize the bathroom so that you can have a nice shower that can help vanish your tiredness.

Take breaks

Moving can take a toll on your health. So, it is important to take breaks in between. You can have short water breaks or grab some quick snacks to recharge. Pushing yourself beyond your ability will only lead to burnout. Hus, give yourself some break time to recuperate throughout the day.

Use a reputable moving company

One of the most important things to do when you move is to hire professional flat-rate movers to make your day stress-free. A professional moving company helps you with tasks like packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, and moving to ensure a seamless move. This frees up your valuable time to manage other important tasks as well.

Conclusion

Moving day can be stressful, but with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be. Big Apple Moving is the answer if you are looking for expert help for your moving day. Our professional team helps you prepare and stay organized for a move. We handle the heavy lifting so you can enjoy a seamless transition into your new home. With the right team by your side, moving day can be the start of an exciting new chapter. So, get a free quote here, tailored to your needs, and let your moving journey begin smoothly and stress-free!

Moving is a task full of challenges, adventure, and new beginnings. A moving change of address checklist can come as the guiding light in the chaos of a move. When you are hustling with the moving tasks, it is important to remember to update your address and notify the relevant parties of this change. Here we have come up with the address change checklist to notify the necessary entities ensuring a smooth transition to your new home.

Government Agencies

Updating your address with government agencies is critical to ensure that important documents, notices, and benefits reach you without delay. Here’s a checklist of essential government services to notify of your change of address change notice – 

1) United States Postal Service (USPS)

Inform the United States Postal Service about your change of address. What you have to do is to go to the post office and fill out a form, which is free. Another way is to fill it out online by visiting the Official USPS® Change-of-Address portal and paying a very small amount of verification fee. 

2) Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

The next government agency to notify of the change of address is the Department of Motor Vehicle. The change of home address affects your things related to driving like your ID card, registration, driver’s license, and vehicle title. So, get your driver’s license updated with the new address to receive important notices about your vehicles. 

3) Social Security Administration

If you receive government benefits like Social Security, it is vital to update the Social Security Administration on your address change. You can fill out their free online form to update your contact details. You need to update the address if you receive disability, medicare, retirement, supplemental security income, and survivor benefits. Even if you receive the benefits through direct deposit, SSA can stop these benefits if they can’t contact you by mail. You can read their guidelines on there website.

4) Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

You must send address change notifications to the tax authorities so that you don’t miss any important letters and avoid any kind of fraud. Let the IRS get your change of address notice through phone or letter. You should know that the government can’t send you a tax return if your current address is not on file. So update it as soon as possible. Link your tax return electronically to your bank account so that you can get money instantly from the IRS.   

5) Voter Registration:

Get your voter ID updated with the new address to ensure you can vote in local, state, and federal elections.

Financial Institutions

You don’t want to entangle yourself in the web of missed payments, fees, and other financial complications. So inform your financial institutions about your new address. But who to notify when you move? Here is the list of financial entities that you should inform. 

1) Banks and Credit Unions

Let your bank or credit union know about your current address to receive new checks, statements, and other important correspondence.

2) Loan Providers

If you have taken any loans like auto loans, home loans, or student loans for your necessities, it is important that you let your loan providers know of your new address to avoid any missed payments and penalties.

3) Investment Accounts

Do you have any accounts with brokerage firms, insurance companies, or retirement account providers? If yes, ensure to update them to receive any kind of important notice.

4) Accountants and tax advisors

Inform your advisors, tax advisors, and accountants of your current address as soon as possible.

Utilities and Service Providers

Updating your address with utility companies and service providers is crucial to avoid interruptions in service and ensure smooth billing transitions. Here’s a change of address checklist to follow for essential utilities and service providers –

1) Gas and Electric

Nobody wants to pay the energy bills of their old house if they have moved to the new house. If you are thinking “How can I change my address”, explore energy solutions by state and the information on changing your energy bill’s address online. Also, terminate the services at your old address so that the utility services at your new address can start promptly.

2) Water and Sewer

Water is a necessity without which nobody can live. You don’t want your water and sewer service providers to transfer your services and bills to the wrong address. So, update your address as soon as possible and let the bills come to the right place.

3) Internet, Cable, and Phone

You have paid attention to the utilities. Now, let’s talk about the add-ons. Internet, cable, and mobile forms essential parts of today’s lives. If you are the one who works under the work-from-home model or stream instantly, get your internet and cable connection transferred to your new address before you make a final move. We advise you to get a professional appointment two to three weeks before your move date.

4) Trash and Recycling

Get in touch with your local waste management company to enquire about trash and recycling services near the new address and ensure proper billing for your new home.

Subscriptions and Memberships

To avoid missed deliveries and communications, update your address with any subscriptions and memberships you have. So where to change your address when you move, as far as subscriptions and memberships are concerned?

1) Magazines and Newspapers

If you have signed up for any magazine or newspaper publication, notify them of your address change by calling their customer service department or by simply emailing them. This will help you continue receiving these publications without any interruption.

2) Online Retailers

When it comes to updating addresses, update it with online retailers like Amazon to receive the packages at your new home.

3) Gym Memberships

Let your gym know about your address change so that you can continue your gym membership at your new home.

4) Streaming services

Update your address with streaming services like Netflix and Hulu to ensure your account information is current.

Personal and Professional Contacts

Updating your address with personal and professional contacts is crucial for maintaining relationships and ensuring you receive important communications. Here’s an address change checklist to follow –

1) Family and Friends

Update your loved ones with your new address to keep in touch with them.

2) Employer

Ensure to update your employer with your new address. This way, they can maintain your records professionally. Also, your payroll and other benefits will reach the right address.

Healthcare Providers

Maintaining continuity of care and ensuring timely delivery of medical information requires updating your address with healthcare providers. Here’s a change of address checklist to guide you –

1) Primary Care Physician

Give the address of the change notice to your primary care physician to keep your medical records and communication updated.

2) Specialists

If you consult any specialist for your treatment, let them know about your address change.

3) Pharmacy

Notify the pharmacy of your new address to receive their prescription at the correct location and avoid any delays in receiving medication.

Final Words

You should not overlook the step of updating the address while making a move to a new place. Follow the above checklist and save yourself from potential headaches when settling into your new home.

And if you want someone to help with your big move, Big Apple Moving is here to streamline your moving process. Our team will develop a customized plan for you as per your moving needs, and provide professional packing, unpacking and reliable transportation services, ultimately ensuring your satisfaction.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact Big Apple Moving for more information and for a seamless move.

What is the most difficult room to pack when you plan to move your home? The answer is your kitchen. With the whole lot of stuff placed there, like utensils, pots, appliances, and whatnot, you get stuck in thinking about how to pack kitchen items for moving. 

Without making any plan for packing the utensils and moving things, you might end up in trouble and could be making a major moving mistake. This mistake may cost you broken glassware, oddly shaped appliances, damaged utensils, and whatnot. So, we have come up here to save you from all the hassle. Let’s find out the best way to pack kitchen items and how you can move forward with the kitchen moving process to make residential moving easy.

Gather Packing Supplies

The first step in packing kitchen items is to gather all the packing supplies at one place and then start with the packing process. Collect different sizes of boxes for packing kitchenware, small appliances, and dish racks. For instance – large boxes are suitable for lightweight and hard-to-pack items like dish racks and plastic kitchenware, and heavy-duty boxes are perfect for packing fragile items like glassware, canisters, etc. 

You can buy these boxes from various retailers. After collecting boxes, gather packing tapes, glass dividers, markers, and labels to keep everything sorted.

Declutter and Organize

Getting rid of your belongings is not an easy task especially if you are someone who likes to collect coffee mugs. However, decluttering things before moving is an important step, as it makes unpacking much easier. The rule of thumb says the items that you don’t notice are gone in a week are probably not of any use to you anymore. So discard, sell, or donate the worn-out or unused items from your kitchen to tidy it up. 

Check every cabinet and drawer to take a look at everything you have. Separate the essentials. These will be the things that you will need immediately before and after your move. Also, keep all your utensils and items clean before you put them in a packing box.

Packing Fragile Items

The next thing in the kitchen packing tips is packing fragile items. You need to be extra careful while packing fragile stemware and glassware so that they don’t break in transit. Wrap the glasses individually, place them in the glass dividers, and fill any gaps in the boxes with crumpled papers to protect each row from pressing against the other during transportation. 

When it comes to the plates, pack them individually and use bubble wrap to protect them. Stack them vertically in a box. For bowls and cups, place them in the boxes with plenty of cushioning around them.

Packing Small Appliances

The answer to how to pack kitchen appliances for moving is – it is ideal if you have original boxes of the appliances. But if not, you don’t have to worry. Get small boxes and pack these appliances in as small a box as you can. Before doing that, clean and dry them and remove any detachable parts. You can even refer to the manual for these appliances to learn more about their packing style. Use packing paper to completely secure them and fill any gaps to prevent them from breaking. 

Secure the loose parts with tape and place them in labeled bags. If still you feel the slightest bit of trouble, you can even take the help of full-service movers to keep the things in their best shape.

Packing Pots, Pans, and Utensils

The kitchen packing list is incomplete without packing pots, pans, and utensils. So, how do you pack these kitchen furniture items for moving? Similar kinds of utensils should be wrapped together in the packing paper and then put in the small boxes. Moving on, keep one all-purpose pot to treat it as an essentials box and pack the rest of the items, including crockery and lids. You may need large boxes of different sizes depending on the size of the pans. 

Using towels around the pots and pans is a great technique to provide them with accurate support and padding. Wrap glass lids separately and place them on top or in separate boxes.

Packing Pantry Items

Another thing that you cannot overlook when it comes to how to pack kitchen items for moving is the pantry items. Start the process with the oils and spices. So how to pack spices for moving? Use sealed jars and bottles with plastic wraps to keep the leaks at bay, and then place them in sturdy boxes with ample cushioning. Stuff paper between glass jars of spices. 

Don’t move the canned goods unless you are moving your belongings all by yourself. Tape up opened food packages. Check the expiration date of every food item and throw away the expired ones.

Labeling and Final Checks

Knowing how to label while packing kitchen items for moving. The more detailed you make the list of the items in each box, the easier it will be for you to find it once you reach your destination. 

For instance – “kitchen – pots/pans”. You can even add handling instructions like “To be opened from this side.” Labels and final checks will make the move much easier.  

Conclusion

The process of how to pack kitchen items for moving requires careful planning, organization, and attention to detail. Also, you need to write the right apartment address to let your things be delivered at the right place. By following the above-mentioned steps and using the right supplies, you can ensure that your kitchen items are well-protected and ready to use in your new home.

Trust the professionals at Big Apple Moving to support your moving needs. We offer packing and moving services to help you have a pleasant moving experience. We have been in the moving industry since 1979 and manage everything about your move down to the tiniest detail. Want to know more? Shoot your queries at contact@bigapplemoving.com and get all the answers.