8 Packing Tips for Moving in a Hurry to Get Everything Done on Time

How to Prepare to Move on Short Notice

Here are a few tips on how to prepare to move on short notice and ensure that you don't lose your mind in the process.

1. Start by Getting Organized

Getting organized is the most important step when you have to move on short notice. Initially, prepare a to-do list and a timeline to accomplish these tasks. Your to-do list should include everything you need to do before moving, such as booking movers, packing the house, arranging a new school for the kids, changing your address, setting up childcare, and organizing other critical documents.

A timeline is crucial under these circumstances because you are moving on short notice. Most importantly, prioritize your tasks to create sensible schedules and focus on one thing at a time. Our San Diego movers can help you with the entire packing and preparation so make sure you get in touch!

2. Book a Reliable Moving Company

Another critical step when you have to move on short notice is to book a reliable moving company, like Cali Moving and Storage , to get you to your new place. We know that movers can get busy during certain seasons, and booking us as soon as you know you are moving will save you the headache of potentially leaving your items behind. If booking is challenging, ask a friend or a relative to help with the booking.

Your friends or family can also assist on the day of your move. We also suggest you check multiple companies to find the most ideal one for you - you can check our guide on comparing moving companies.

Essential Supplies - Gather Packing Supplies Quickly

Another quick packing tip is to gather packing supplies fast. This makes everything easier, even if you have to move within a week. For instance, ensure you have the right materials to carry your fragile items. Relying on old newspapers and supermarket boxes can be risky as they may fall apart.

Here's a list of the necessary packing materials that will help you pack quickly:

• Corrugated Cardboard Boxes: These are the most popular packing materials, loved for their reliability and strength. They also come with multiple layers of paper shaped in tight waves to create a thick option for protecting fragile and valuable goods;
• Cardboard Boxes: They are less durable, and you will need to pack less fragile items, like clothing, in these boxes;
• Poly Boxes: Made from polythene film, these boxes are suitable for packing items that are not water-resistant;
• Insulated Boxes: These boxes combine the qualities of the corrugated box and Styrofoam to create insulated shipping boxes. This type of packing material is suitable for moving perishable foods, plants, and other temperature-sensitive items;
• Labels: It is easy to spend an entire day searching for a single item if you pack your boxes and forget to label each one. Labels will make organizing and unpacking easy. Some of the most common labels include "open first," "load last," "kitchen items," "basement," "heavy," "fragile," and so on;
• Packing Tape: An essential material if you are using boxes as your packing material. Good quality packing tape will seal your moving boxes, ensuring the contents won't fall out during transport;
• Plastic, Ziplock Bags: Plastic bags of all sizes are important for your big move. These Ziplock bags will keep nuts, screws, and bolts in one place;
• Bubble Wrap: Getting bubble wrap as part of your moving supplies is a lifesaving move. You will need bubble wrap for fragile items like mirrors, décor, glassware, and frames. It makes moving safer and less stressful;
• Heavy-duty Trash Bags: Often, your trash bags will come in handy when it comes to packing quickly.

Declutter and Purge Before Packing

Moving in a hurry? Decluttering becomes your secret weapon! We all get attached to our belongings, but a fast move is the perfect excuse to purge. Less stuff translates to less money spent on movers. By taking the plunge and decluttering beforehand, you'll be packing efficiently and saving on moving costs.

Go through each room and identify items you no longer need or want to take to the new house. By decluttering, you will make room for important items while saving time, money, and space on everything you decide to take with you.

Here is a list of ways to declutter to enable you to pack for a move quickly:

• Assess your needs and goals to determine what gets sold and what gets donated;
• Categorize and evaluate your items based on their use, such as electronics, clothing, and kitchen items, and determine whether they are still necessary or outdated;
• Reconsider the sentimental value of your items by reframing them to help get rid of any emotional attachments;
• Sell or donate your items after you have gone through them to redefine their value;
• Discard any items that are not suitable for donating or selling, then sell to thrift or secondhand stores, and donate items designated for donation to charity.

Pack Fast and Efficiently

Moving on short notice is not easy, and you need tips on how to pack fast. If you must pack fast and efficiently:

• Start packing items you won't need immediately. Begin with items that you do not use daily to avoid living out of your packed boxes or needing to repack;
• Put similar items in the same boxes. Items that are generally similar will most likely belong in the same room;
• Pack essentials in separate boxes. To avoid digging through boxes for essential items, such as flashlights or first aid kits, pack these items in the same box to eliminate such inconvenience;
• Label your boxes by room to ensure that your items are taken to these rooms when you arrive at the new location;
• Use clothes and linens as padding for fragile items which reduces the cost of buying packing materials like bubble wrap.

Pack an Essentials Bag

A moving essentials bag can be a suitcase, duffle bag, or a backpack containing personal items you'll need to access on the day you are moving and immediately after you have arrived at your new place.

Part of how to move out fast includes packing essential items for convenience and organization. These are items that you frequently need, and packing them in a suitcase or a backpack will give you easy access.

• Wallet and Keys: It is easy to misplace keys and your wallet even on a normal day. It gets worse when you are moving out quickly. Keep your keys and wallet in your essentials bag to ensure that you don't lose them and so that you can find them easily;
• Medications: If you are taking any medications, you should keep them in a place where you can find them whenever you needed. Prescription medication can't be obtained easily, and packing them in a small section of the essentials bag is a critical step in moving out fast;
• Important Documents: Your documents are safer in a place where you can access them quickly. An essentials bag is something that stays close to you at all times, ensuring that your documents are safe with you at all times;
• Electronics: You should keep your phone charger in an essentials bag to ensure you can get it when you arrive at your new place. Keeping your phone charged is essential because your family and friends will need to keep in touch until you are fully settled.

Consider Professional Help

For a last-minute move, whether you are moving tomorrow or soon after that, you should consider hiring movers or using portable storage solutions. Using a portable storage solution has its pros, including the following:

• Renting a moving container gives you the advantage of using the containers to double up as storage. You will be killing two birds with one stone;
• You will also enjoy the flexibility of moving on your own timeline, compared to scheduling a specific date with a moving company;
• Portable storage is cheaper, and you will be saving on moving costs.

Still, there are associated cons with renting a portable storage container when doing a last-minute moving, including:

• You will load yourself, which is tricky because you will have to find a way to lift heavy furniture into the container;
• Keeping your items in a portable container means getting extra space on time.

You still have the option of using a moving company for last-minute moving, and you will enjoy some benefits, including:

• Hiring a company is less stressful because the company's staff will help you move, making hiring a moving company a better option;
• A moving company has employees with extensive experience in handling all types of household items, including delicate possessions;
• It is safer to hire professional movers, especially for the sake of physical safety.

Still, there are a few downsides to hiring a moving company, including:

• It costs more to hire a moving company compared to renting a portable storage container;
• You will have limited control over specific aspects of the move;
• There are potential scams, and you are at risk of encountering a fraudulent moving company.

Create a Last-Minute Moving Checklist

Even though you have followed all the necessary steps to smooth moving on short notice, you still need a last-minute moving checklist. Here are a few items to have on your checklist:

• Make a final walkthrough of your old home. Before your movers arrive, check every room to ensure that you have left nothing behind. The walkthrough also involves checking that all utilities are disconnected and all windows are closed;
• Coordinate with professional movers. Call your movers to ensure that you are still on the same page;
• Use your checklist to ensure that you keep track of all your items during the move. Your checklist will help you ensure that all your items are accounted for.

We cannot overemphasize the importance of staying organized during the moving process. Staying organized means ensuring that all items are labeled and important documents are kept in a designated bag.