Learn How to Write the Ultimate Packing List for Your Upcoming Seattle Relocation

It’s Best to Declutter Every Room Before You Make a Packing List for Moving

Boxing up all your belongings without the help of local Seattle moving companies could take an incredible amount of time. Fortunately, going through the entire inventory and getting rid of unnecessary things will significantly shorten the process. It will also give you a much better idea of how much work has to be done before the relocation, keeping you from leaving too many tasks for the last minute. If you’re not sure what to get rid of, anything that hasn’t been used in a year or more is good to go. Considering you’ll have fewer things that need to be wrapped and boxed up, decluttering before getting supplies will also save you some cash, making it particularly useful for those with limited relocation expenses.

How to Deal With Clothes, Food, or Anything Else You Don’t Want to Carry Over to the New Place?

Besides singling out everything that won’t be carried over to the new place, you also have to figure out how to deal with all unwanted belongings. For starters, brand new or well-kept things such as electronics, clothing, and various fragile items and figurines can easily be sold online or through a garage sale. This is an excellent way to make some extra cash on the side or earn enough to hire cheap movers in Seattle.
Alternatively, you can give away some of the stuff to friends and family or donate it to one of the local thrift stores and charity organizations. Anyone planning on donating clothes or food should visit the nearest Goodwill, which has representatives all over the city. Other good charities that accept all kinds of goods include the St Francis House, Dress For Success, Lifelong Thrift Store, Out of the Closet, and Treehouse. If there’s anything left, check if it can be recycled before dumping it in the trash. Finally, if you’re not sure which things to declutter, take a look at this video.

Make a Separate Checklist for Every Room in Your Home

Now that all the unnecessary belongings have been dealt with, you can finally start making a packing list for moving. While there are several ways to do it, most agree that it’s best to make a separate checklist for each room in your home. Outlining all the essential tasks that need to be completed right away will allow you to move efficiently, preventing you from skipping anything by accident.

How to Keep a Packing Checklist Organized?

Besides listing everything that has to be done in a single room, you also have to plan when specific tasks are going to be completed. Creating a timetable will allow you to keep the entire process organized, preventing the work from piling up as the relocation progresses. While writing down your daily tasks in a notepad is a solid option, it’s better to keep a calendar with notes reminding you what has to be done before a certain date. Another great way to keep track of your progress is to install a task management app on your phone or computer. Many of these come with free options included, so it won’t cost you anything to try them out.

Utility Rooms and Non-Essential Belongings Should Be Packed First

Although you’ll finish most of the boxing up in the last couple of weeks before moving out, a large portion of the work can be done a lot earlier than one might think. Utility rooms like the attic, basement, and storage shed can be packed in advance, and the same can be said about decorations or any other non-essentials. This means you can freely pack shoes and clothing that are not suited for the season, as well as any other rarely used household belongings.

Deal With Belongings Your Chosen Seattle Moving Company Can’t Move

Utility rooms usually hold a large number of items movers won’t move. These include everything from basic cleaning supplies to things like firearms and hazardous chemicals, which will all have to be dealt with if you want to hire a moving company in Seattle. Be aware that every professional mover might have specific non-allowables, so remember to ask the representative about them when booking packing services or any other local moving options in general.

Find a Way to Store Anything That Can’t Fit Into the New Home

Although living in Downtown Seattle has many benefits, a large storage capacity isn’t one of them. There have been many cases where people relocating from one of the more affordable Seattle suburbs had to downsize simply because the new place didn’t have enough space to fit all their belongings. Fortunately, renting a storage unit could solve your problems, at least for a little while, as you won’t have to sell or donate furniture and other large items right away. If you already have a unit, our mover in Seattle offers an excellent in- and-out-of storage moving service that will enable you to store anything fairly easily.

Pack the Living Room Electronics and Furniture

If you’ve already secured decorations and most of the non-essentials in advance, boxing up electronics and other entertainment options is going to make up the bulk of your living room list. While you might want to pack books and other smaller belongings first, starting with electronics will keep you from getting distracted as the relocation progresses. Once the TV and all the clutter have been packed, feel free to disassemble all the empty bookshelves and cabinets.

Box up All the Clothes and Shoes You Keep in the Bedroom

Despite spending a third of your day in the bedroom, emptying the storage areas and disassembling furniture are going to be your most important tasks. You’ll have to pack clothing, shoes, or anything else you have in the closet, including your jewelry and valuables. If the bedroom is also your office, box up the computer and focus on organizing important documents in a neat file folder. Once most of the belongings are packed, move on to disassembling furniture, leaving only the bed for the very last day.

Most of the Tasks in the Kitchen Revolve Around Boxing up Dishes and Appliances

As you might already suspect, the kitchen usually has the most amount of work out of any room in the house. Considering how much time it takes to empty the cabinets and pack dishes, it’s best to start boxing up plates, glasses, and utensils you rarely use right away. You should also secure all the pots and pans and kitchen appliances that didn’t come with the place. Try not to overpack the boxes, as most kitchen objects tend to be pretty heavy when stacked. Otherwise, you might not even be able to lift the boxes off the ground, let alone carry them to the truck.

Empty the Fridge and Deal With All the Food Leftovers

Defrosting the fridge and freezer is another crucial task that needs to be completed about a day or two before moving out. You will also have to decide what to do with all the remaining groceries. Food can easily spill over the rest of your belongings during transport, so moving it is often not worth the risk. If you have a ton of leftovers that you don’t want to toss out, try donating food to one of the local charities. They are usually more than happy to accept dry, canned goods or anything that’s still unopened.

Leave the Bathroom and Most of the Stuff in it for the Last Day

The bathroom should be the last room that gets packed, as most of the things will be used until the very last day. The majority of your work here involves boxing up toiletries, cosmetics, and towels. However, be aware that the laundry detergent, fabric softener, and cleaning supplies are not safe to transport. They could potentially spill over your other belongings during transport, which is precisely why most moving companies choose not to move them. Last but not least, don’t forget to empty the laundry hamper and linen closet and take down the shower curtain.

Don’t Forget to Pack a Separate Bag With All the Essentials

Although you will have to unpack sooner or later, preparing a separate bag with all essential items will save you from having to do it right away. After all, this will allow you to set up the new place very quickly. You’ll want to set aside some bedding, sheets, and bathroom supplies, while also bringing personal toiletries, medication, and a change of clothes. Considering most of these things are used regularly, it’s best to secure them after your other belongings have been packed or about a day before moving out. Make sure you’ve boxed up all your valuables and crucial documents as well, as they are often irreplaceable or very hard to come by.

Getting All the Required Supplies and Equipment Is a Must

You can’t really pack anything before you get all the essential packaging supplies and equipment. Fortunately, you won’t need to buy a bunch of materials, as many objects are packed in almost the exact same manner. If you’re wondering, “What are the essentials for packing?” just get everything we listed below:

• Boxes of various sizes,
• Stronger duct tape,
• Scissors,
• Permanent markers and stickers,
• Packaging materials such as paper, bubble wrap, and plastic covers,
• Moving blankets,
• Furniture pads,
• Ziplock bags,
• Screwdriver,
• Dolly.

Try to Find Some Supplies for Free or Pack With Alternatives You Have at Home

Although most of the professional packaging materials don’t cost too much, someone with a lot of belongings could still go over their budget. Fortunately, there are several ways you can find some supplies for free. For starters, try asking around if anyone you know has some leftover materials. Most US residents move quite often, so there’s a solid chance someone might be able to help.
If that doesn’t bear fruit, you can find plenty of moving boxes in Seattle by checking the local shops and bookstores. Big retailers like the IKEA in Renton will have a ton of packaging materials, so take some time to explore them. You can also try looking up Freecycle and other goods-sharing websites. If that’s still not enough, use some everyday household belongings as alternatives. Old clothing pieces, towels, and linens are all excellent options for both wrapping and padding.

Hiring Our Local Movers in Seattle Will Allow You to Take Care of Everything in a Single Day

As you can see, every move requires quite a bit of preparation. Besides decluttering and getting all the necessary supplies, you also have to learn how to pack everything, which no one can do on their first try. Even if you know what you’re doing, it will still take you at least a month to finish all the essential tasks. Why go through all the trouble and relocation stress when you can just hire Seattle Professional Movers to cover all the preparations.
As one of the best moving companies in Seattle, WA, we offer all sorts of excellent services throughout the entire metropolitan area. For starters, booking a residential relocation will help you move to a new home without breaking a sweat. On the other hand, our commercial moving services in Seattle allow entrepreneurs to relocate their entire business instantly. If you need any help with your move, we’re here for you. Contact us and get a free quote on everything we offer right away.