5 Money-Saving “Must-Haves” for Your Big Move

Sometimes planning a big move can seem overwhelming—making it easy to overlook the basics. From tape and markers, to boxes and bubble wrap, there’s a lot of little items you’ll want to start gathering.

One of the first considerations with any move is the cost. Before you decide to purchase packing list materials and do the packing yourself—do the math. Although a little elbow grease may seem more economical than hiring a professional, once all the supplies and extra costs have been considered, it may not be the cheapest option.

That said, if you do decide to tackle the packing yourself, here are some basic money-saving tips and items you’ll need to get started:

• Boxes, boxes and more boxes. Purchase good quality boxes of all shapes and sizes a few weeks before your move. To save money, start tracking down free boxes a few months ahead of time. Often times, big warehouse stores will have boxes sitting around that they’ll be happy to give you, as will friends, family, co-workers and maybe even the company your work for. Not just any boxes will do. Be sure they’re strong, durable and, if they’re from a grocery store, free of potentially hazardous food/chemical spills.
• Re-sealable plastic bags. These little guys are lifesavers during your move! For example, when packing electronics with a mess of wires and plugs, or any other items that are paired with a collection of parts, put those items in a plastic bag and pack them together. That’ll make unpacking much easier and cut down on the chances of losing those important items.
• Tape gun. This handy invention will quickly become your best friend during your move. Why? Trying to tear off individual pieces of tape and cut them with scissors is a clumsy process that’ll only slow you down. Investing in a tape gun will save you the time and hassle.
• Bubble wrap/packing peanuts. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts help protect your items and keep them intact during your move. To cut costs, start saving packing list materials you receive with packages shipped to your home… including the boxes. You also can supplement packing materials with items from around the house. For example, if you’re like most people, you have a mountain of plastic grocery bags somewhere in your home. They’re great for packing items, as are newspapers, towels, washcloths, socks and old clothing.
• Permanent markers/labels. Choose markers and labels in a variety of bright colors so you can color code boxes for each individual room. If you plan to reuse the boxes down the line, you may want to choose removable labels.

Or course, hiring the right mover can make all the difference. North American Van Lines has more than 80 years of experience, plus highly-trained professionals, state-of-the-art equipment and nationwide and global resources. Our movers will come prepared with the latest tools and high-quality packing list materials so your move will go quickly and smoothly.