If you’ve ever moved, you know how complex it can be, and moving from Vancouver to Victoria is even more so. But there’s no reason to get overwhelmed. We’ve compiled our top tips for making the move successful and stress-free!
Pre-Move Decluttering Session
Decluttering is a must before any move, as you don’t want to pay to move unnecessary items.
Declutter your kitchen, removing any expired food, excess dishes and cutlery, and small appliances. Go through paperwork, decor, toys, garage/storage areas, and clothes. Sell, consign, or donate any items you can, and anything that can’t be donated can be tossed.
Start your decluttering early. As soon as you know you will be moving, start decluttering. Resist the temptation to buy any new items (especially decor or items you think you might need in your new home) until after the move.
Pack with Ferry Journey in Mind
Using a ferry as part of your move definitely adds complexity. Consider these packing tips for your ferry move:
- Make sure boxes are securely closed and labeled. Using uniformly sized totes works great to ensure they don’t open during the move
- Protect fragile items from shifting by cushioning the top and bottom of the box with crumpled packing paper or soft towels, individually wrapping items with 2-3 layers of bubble wrap, and filling gaps with packing paper, towels, clothing, or biodegradable packing peanuts.
- Make a list of items that you should have access to during the move.
- Keep important documents, medications, valuables, and overnight necessities with you rather than in the moving truck.
- Protect your most valuable and sentimental items, such as jewelry, heirlooms, electronics, and irreplaceable items, by keeping them with you. Photograph the items and compile a list of where they are located.
Pack a Ferry Day Essentials Bag
Chances are your move will go smoothly, with no hiccups, but just in case, you’ll want to plan ahead to make sure anything that goes awry does not cause extra stress and frustration.
Make sure to have your wallet and ID, credit cards, phone chargers, medications, snacks and water, entertainment for your children, toiletries, weather-appropriate layers, and a change of clothes with you, not in the moving truck.
Pack an ‘Open First’ Box for Your First Night
Let’s face it, moving is exhausting, especially when adding a ferry crossing into the mix. When you finally arrive at your new home, avoid frustration and stress by having what you need at your fingertips for your first night, as the last thing you may want to do is search through boxes and bins to find what you need.
Pack pajamas and a change of clothes, toiletries, towels, a few basic kitchen supplies, coffee and tea, snacks, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and children’s and pets’ essentials.
Label Boxes for the New Home, Not the Old One
It’s easy to fall into the trap of labelling based on where the items were stored in your old home, but as you’re decluttering and starting to pack, be mindful of where the items will be used in your new home. A few extra moments while packing can make unpacking so much easier.
When labelling, make sure to clearly mark the destination room. This will ensure the boxes are unloaded into the proper room and prevent you from moving the same box from room to room. A great way to do this is to use colour-coded labels, making it quick and easy to see where each box needs to land.
You can also include a brief description of the contents for boxes that contain more than one type of item, and consider numbering the boxes if there are many.
Don’t Move the Items You Can Easily Replace
Many people replace furniture and household items after a move to suit the style and space of the new home, so before you move your large, bulky items, consider the cost of moving versus the cost of replacing them. Items such as old furniture, inexpensive shelving, and worn-out household goods may not be worth moving, especially if you will replace them shortly after your move. Many of these items can be sold on Marketplace or donated to thrift stores or Habitat for Humanity/ReStore.
Make a Plan for Furniture and Large Items
For the large furniture and items you will be keeping, it is really helpful to plan ahead by deciding where the pieces will go in your new home and ensuring they will fit through the doorways and up the stairwells. If possible, create a simple floor plan outlining the location of the items for your movers.
Consider an Organizing Service Before You Pack
Professional organizers help with decluttering, planning, categorizing, and creating a packing system, taking the guesswork out of it for you.
Use Professional Packing Services
Take it one step further and add packing and unpacking services to your pre-move home organization to make your move even more straightforward and stress-free. Professional Organizers have the knowledge and expertise to organize, pack, and label your items so that unpacking and organizing in your new home is a breeze.
Harmony Home Organizing can help you do it all. With team members in Vancouver and Victoria, we can help not only with organizing and packing in Vancouver, but also with unpacking and organizing your new home in Victoria!
Take the stress out of your Vancouver-to-Victoria move and contact our team of professional organizers today. We offer free phone or video call consultations, or book a 30-minute in-person consultation for $50+tax. You can also send us videos of the areas you need help with via WhatsApp at 604-446-3939, and we would be happy to provide you with an estimate.
