How to Pack Your Apartment for Moving out in 2 Days

Moving can be stressful for anyone, no matter the amount of time, but moving in shorter amounts of time can lead to frustration, lost and broken items, and an overall headache. Yet, some tips and tricks can prevent these things and can help the moving process move more smoothly as you move from your old apartment to a new one.

#1: Pack the First Things You’ll Need In A Clear Bin

Use a clear bin to quickly pack and find the things you’ll need when you first get to your new apartment. For example, this bin should hold your toothbrush and bathroom supplies, a change of clothes, a scissors/box-cutter, some paper products, and chargers, among other items. Using a clear bin will make these essentials easy to find, but will also keep them much safer than a bag. In a bin, they will be safe from water, heavy objects falling on them, and from getting lost. If you need help figuring out what you need, this list sums it up.

#2: Wrap Breakables in Clothing

While it might seem silly to wrap your valuable items and dishes in clothing, Cheap NYC Movers says this is a great way to move apartments without things breaking when you are short on time. Use clean clothes to wrap the items as best as possible, and then stack them gently in a labeled box, which should make them easy to find and keep safe during the move. Plus, wrapping your breakables in clothing will save you from having to pack two different things as you’ll be packing them together.

#3: Instead of Emptying Drawers, Use Plastic Wrap and Tape

One of the most time-consuming problems while moving is transferring all of your clothes from a dresser to a box, and then back to a dresser. Save yourself time and unnecessary frustration by wrapping plastic wrap around the top of an open drawer. Then, use painter’s tape to tape the drawer shut. The painter’s tape will protect your dresser from any tape marks, but will also keep the drawer sealed, so no clothing falls out, should the furniture move during traveling. Here are some tips on how to pack your dresser properly.

#4: Use Trash Bags to Pack Your Hanging Clothing

Clothing that won’t be used in drawers or to pack valuables will likely include your nice clothing hanging in your closet. Instead of taking all of these off the hangers, packing them, ironing them, and then re-hanging them, you can easily travel with them by using a trash bag. For this trick, trash bags with handles work the best. Take a large section of clothes, still on the hanger, and place them, hanger to the handle side of the bag, straight into the bag, all together. Tie the handles around the hanger to keep the bag around the group of clothing. With this trick, you won’t need to worry about clothing getting dirty or wrinkled, and you can use the hangers to easily get them to your new place.

While moving within short notice can be difficult, there are lots of tricks that can make the move to your new place a breeze. By thinking out of the box and consolidating what you need to pack, you can make the move easier on yourself and those who are helping and can more quickly get to enjoy your new place.

How to Prepare Your Pets for Moving Across the Country

You are getting ready to embark on a major move across the country. You hired cross country movers, packed all your boxes, got everything ready for the trip and then started thinking about what you will need to do before you leave to prepare your pets for the move. It is a good thing you paused to think about that because you are a responsible pet owner. As such, you are concerned about your pet’s comfort and well-being on the long trip. According to Cheap Movers Philadelphia PA, the following are a few things to consider before you head out on the open road:

The Vet Visit

You may not know this, but the shots required in one state to keep your pet compliant may be different from what is required in another state. You will need to go online and find out what shots your pet will need before you make your big move. Then you will want to take your pet to the vet and get their shots before you leave. This might be short notice, but your vet will probably understand and squeeze you in at their earliest convenience to accommodate your trip. Also, if you are traveling by train or plane, you may want to call ahead to make sure what shots or vet records are required in those instances too. This is especially the case if your pet is also your guide dog and you are taking the dog on a plane and not keeping it in a crate.

Motion Sickness

The last thing you will ever consider happening is your faithful dog soaking the back seat of your car with vomit. If your dog or other pet is not used to riding in a car or prone to motion sickness, then you will want to be prepared with medication or herbal supplements that help to mitigate this problem. For dogs, a little ginger will usually do the trick. Not feeding your pet for a few hours before you can reduce the contents of their stomach to a minimum in case they do get sick in the car. Some pets, like a dog, can even take a little Benadryl to calm them down. Just pass that by your vet before you attempt it to be safe though.

ID Tags

When you are on a long trip to relocate across the country, you will be traveling through unfamiliar areas. Before leaving, it is a good idea to get ID tags for your dog, cat or other pet. This way, if your pet accidentally gets away from you, for any reason, the tags will contain all the necessary contact information to reach you. This will make it possible for you to retrieve your pet if someone finds them.

Bathroom Breaks

You have been in route for a while, and your pet is getting a little antsy. Although you might have a big bladder, you should remember that your pet’s bladder is smaller in most cases. It does not hurt to stop frequently for a bathroom break. You can plan these stops of time on a map or with an app to remind you of them at the right times. It is important to remember that when you stop to relieve the pet that you use a harness, a leash or other restraining devices to make sure your pet does not get away from you, hit by another car or stolen.

Cut Claws

Your cat or dog is in the back seat, and after a few short hours of travel, they will inevitably start to get bored. This can cause some pets to exhibit nervous habits that could be detrimental to your fabric or leather interior. By cutting their claws ahead of time, you are going to save your seats a lot of punctures and tear damage. If you have a pet that is a chewer, then a muzzle might be in line too. Again, this is not going to hurt your pet; it just keeps the interior of your car free from damage.

Conclusion

You prepared well to take your pets on the big move. While you were traveling, your pets were not too sick, did not relieve themselves in the car and your car made it there without your seats being mangled from pet boredom. It was a good trip. Now it is time to get your pet out of the car and let them stretch their legs. They were good and deserved a little play time.

5 Neighborhood Finding Apps For Moving Across Country

When moving to a new state, it can be a challenge to determine which neighborhood is the right fit for you and your family. While you can gain insight from online research, sometimes you don’t know everything until you’re there in person. Making a move across country is a challenge. Hiring cross country movers can get expensive. Planning a move to a new state can be fraught with challenges. Packing up and boxing your house can be a pain. Fortunately, researching your new hometown can be made easier with some friendly tech. Thanks to the five apps listed below, you can make choosing a neighborhood less of a guessing game. Here are the apps that will help:

1. Redfin

Not only is the Redfin app an excellent tool for finding a home, but it is also full of relevant information about neighborhoods. As soon as you download the app, you’ll be able to navigate the map and zoom in on any neighborhood in your desired area. From there, you can see homes for sale as well as in-depth information on neighborhoods. Check out one of Redfin’s California neighborhood guides here.

2. Teleport Cities

This unique app will place you in a city based on your individual preferences. It’s also packed full of detailed city information for those who already know where they’ll be moving. Every aspect about the quality of life you’d have in each neighborhood is listed on Teleport Cities, making this app one of the most comprehensive.

3. Dwellr

For those who are interested in statistics about various neighborhoods as well as information on homes for sale, Dwellr is a great app. It also provides information about schools and transportation so you can get a better idea of what to expect when in the area. For further personalization, this app asks you questions about your lifestyle to find the perfect neighborhood suited for you.

4. Instagram

Instagram is great for connecting with friends and sharing photos, but recent updates have made it much more useful. You can now use it to see what’s going on in the area you’re planning to move to. Simply look up the hashtag of the city or neighborhood name, and you’ll see restaurants, clubs, schools, and insightful tips that people are sharing.

Tip: You can also type in the neighborhood name under “places” in the search section of the app.

5. Walk Score

How “walkable” would you like your future neighborhood to be? With the Walk Score app, you can see nearby places and how far they are to walk to, drive to, or commute to via public transportation. You can also learn how the crime/safety in the neighborhood as well as real advice from the locals who live there. You’ll find yourself using this app when moving but also to help you find new spots after the boxes are unpacked.

Are You Ready to Move Across the Country?

The apps listed above will be extremely useful for finding your dream neighborhood when moving. You can use them to learn about real estate, retailers within proximity, and even the locals who live there. Whether you’re moving to a big city or somewhere more rural, each of these apps can help you research afar so you can look forward to your new home.

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