MOVING 101

For the exceptional few of us who may be minimalists, moving is not only a serious task; but it’s a time-consuming and expensive one. Something to consider is whether you plan to tackle it yourself or hire a moving company to do the job. One way to start your decision-making process is to consider the distance, the amount of personal belongings that need to be transported, the amount of time you may have to take from work if you do-it-yourself, and even the season when you plan to make the move to your new Hamden apartments. You can itemize the expenses, take all factors into consideration, and determine whether you personally have the wherewithal to take on the job. Of course, it’s always great to have friends who are able to assist and provide moral support, but after everything is taken into consideration, you may find justification for the cost of hiring a mover.

On the other hand, if you are a confirmed do-it-yourselfer, roll up your sleeves and dig in. The best way to start is to plan ahead, leaving adequate time to fulfill the lease terms in your current apartment, and getting yourself and your belongings to your new apartment without a glitch. The ideal scenario is moving within the same town on a perfect spring day; giving you time and energy to start loading your rented track at the crack of dawn, and delivering its contents to your destination mid or late afternoon.

The concept of “planning ahead” is best served by assessing your possessions as soon as you know you are going to move, and adopting the “if you don’t use it or need it, don’t move it” method of elimination. We have been told that posting items for sale on Craigslist works well, but if you prefer donating items, visit the Goodwill website for a convenient location.

To get started on your move, you’ll need some supplies:

• Subject pad similar to the type the kids use in school with separate sections
• Label maker
• Labels
• Permanent markers
• Packing or duck tape and dispenser
• Bubble or shrink wrap
• Packing paper
• Mattress covers and protective blankets
• Edge protectors
• Boxes

Once you’ve established a section in your pad for supplies, consider using a separate section for each room in your apartment. As you are packing, you can easily itemize what is going into each box and indicate the box number on the page and on the box once it’s sealed. It’s always a good plan to pack boxes containing the less essential items first on the truck so that when you reach your destination you can get what you need quickly. Good luck and we’ll see you soon at our Hamden apartments near New Haven University, Quinnipiac College and Southern State.