Moving is a beneficial stress. Moving to a new apartment: signs, rituals, rules for transporting and unloading things

The experience of generations tells us about the existence of important rituals and signs. When changing place of residence, the influence of signs and beliefs can be especially striking. Moving to a new apartment is a global change, and change is not stable. Therefore, it is during this time period that you should direct your attention to the wisdom of the people - signs. Here are the most important signs and beliefs that it is advisable for all new residents to take into account.

Evaluation of a new place based on external factors:

It is necessary to carefully study the environment and the location of the new house or apartment. Focus your attention on the bird community. If there is a birds nest on the roof or under the roof of a new house, then this is a clear sign of a happy and peaceful place. Birds will never breed their chicks in a place with a black aura or dark energy.
If there are a lot of crows in the area and you see that they are not just visiting this place, but are constantly present, then this is a very bad sign. Hearing the frequent cawing of crows in the yard can attract illness and decay into the house. Of course, there are no good or evil birds, but the crow is a mystical, special bird, and it does not always bring good luck.
Another external beacon of a pleasant place is future neighbors. Well-being often has a wide radius of influence. Those living nearby should radiate calm and positivity. If there are many asocial families and people among the neighbors, then most likely this territory does not have a bright background of energy.

Internal characteristics of the premises - who and what lives in the house?

White spider

If you entered a new apartment and saw a white spider on the ceiling or walls, then do not rush to deal with it. According to old folk signs, this albino brings happiness and the possibility of a pleasant event to the house. If it was in the intended bedroom, then this promises long-term harmony in the relationship between the spouses.

Ants

These insects signify with their presence a happy place and good energy. Of course, they cause trouble for people by their appearance in the apartment, but ants live only in bright places.

Bug

But if a beetle, especially a large one, is crawling or flying in the house, this is a sure sign of future misfortune and loss. This is a sad sign, so if you see such a sign before purchasing an apartment or house, it is better to think twice about it. If this house has already been purchased, then under no circumstances should you kill the beetle. Catch the bad messenger and release him. Let the beetle pick up and take away its sadness.

Black mold

Black mold does not always occur only from dampness in the room. Often it symbolizes the presence of unkind and oppressive energy in the home. You should postpone moving to a new apartment, clean everything thoroughly and perform some of the rituals described below in this article.

Dear drummer

If at the old place of residence there was always order and cleanliness, things were not often lost, and at night no one knocked or rustled, scaring the inhabitants of the house, then you should definitely take this well-mannered brownie with you.

Our ancestors greatly respected this private and powerful neighbor. It was he who protected the home from uninvited guests, fires and accidents, especially with infants.

Before moving, your little neighbor needs to be lured with milk and a bright box of any shape. Place the open box next to the milk that was poured into the saucer for the brownie. It is advisable to put a teaspoon in the box, not a new one, but one that has been used in the family for some time. Leave it all overnight, and in the morning you can transport your guardian. In a new apartment, you need to open the box, leave it in this position for an hour, and you yourself need to leave, so as not to interfere with the brownie calmly going out and finding a place to his liking.

The cat is the brownie's assistant. If you have a cat, be sure to let her into the house first when moving. She will help the brownie find his comfortable corner. Our ancestors did not enter the new home first. According to popular belief, only the cat had such a privilege.

Login and create your life

A folk sign says that to attract wealth and good work, you need to attach the smallest coin over the door of a new house, and for big and small luck you need to hang a horseshoe over the door. However, there is one nuance here - a horseshoe cannot be bought or accepted as a gift. You can only find it. Only in this case will it be filled with your luck and will radiate it constantly.

It is better to enter a new place of residence in order of seniority. Order and respect - harmony in the head, in thoughts, which means order in the entire environment.

It’s better not to enter your home empty-handed for the first time. You can bring a flowering plant with you. A flower brought on the day of moving will attract the energy of the sun and rebirth.

Our grandparents were sure that the threshold in the house was an important place associated with the energy of our ancestors. This means that an excellent solution would be to thoroughly wash this important place in the apartment when moving. Try not to trip on the threshold when entering your new home. A popular sign tells us clearly - this is a bad sign. You can put a piece of mesh under the threshold or under the threshold covering. It can be any mesh, but only made of threads. It is believed that a dark and evil person who thinks or plans evil will never be able to carry it out in your home. Having crossed the threshold with the net, he will instantly lose his strength, and his thoughts will begin to get confused. You may even see this effect later, noticing that your guest has no strength at all, and his words are often meaningless and overly frank.

Sprinkling the corners of a new house with coarse salt is an old sign. Salt has always been considered a special substance, which was often used by sorcerers in creating amulets and protective spells. Leave the salt in the corners for an hour or two, and then wash the floors throughout the house. Salt will take away everything bad and unclean.

Of course, the most important thing when moving to a new apartment will be the ritual of reading prayer. This must be done calmly, without fuss. Go into an apartment with an icon, place it in the central corner, and then thoughtfully read the words of the prayer. It is advisable to leave the icon in this place forever. Then cross all the corners and windows, moving clockwise.

We take only happiness with us

There are things that, according to popular customs, should not be kept in an apartment:

Reeds.
Bird feathers.
Remnants.
Dry leaves or flowers.
Old clothes, and especially clothes of dead people.
Dishes with cracks and chips.
Photos with defects and creases.
Old broom.
Horns and stuffed animals.

It is not recommended to keep these things in the house, and taking them with you to a new home is doubly wrong. Such care and attachment to these things only enhances their negative effect on others. Moving to a new place is an excellent reason to leave everything unnecessary and harmful outside the new life.

Who lives in the house and how?

There is no need to disturb the atmosphere of the new place with obscene language or scandal, especially on the first day of moving. You need to start with a positive, because a good and correct foundation promises great success in the future.

It is better to bring a piece of sugar, a handful of beans or peas with you. According to traditions, sugar symbolizes pleasure, and legumes symbolize financial well-being, so let them lie on the windowsill for a day.

It will be very useful in advance, before moving, to prepare small bunches of wormwood, tying them with red thread. This plant has magical powers and is capable of expelling dark spirits and entities. You can even light a sprig of mugwort and let it smolder, spreading protective smoke throughout your new home.

And when the basic things fall into place, it will be useful to prepare a festive lunch or dinner. It would be correct to serve pies that were already prepared in the new apartment. This will consolidate a positive acquaintance with new energy and set the vibrations in a positive mood.

Don’t say goodbye to your old home negatively, don’t say bad words about it, don’t remember grief and pain - ingratitude is always punishable. Even if life in your old place was not very sweet, you need to appreciate the good and thank you for the lessons and obstacles that tempered and strengthened you.

Weather forecast for future life

Try to move to a new house or apartment in good weather. Folk signs note the connection between weather and future life in a new place:

The sun promises joy and success.
Rainbow - good health or miraculous healing in a new place.
Light rain - financial success.
Heavy rain - life in a new house will make you shed tears quite often.
Lightning - a bright and emotional personal life.
Thunder and lightning are regular and very large scandals and disagreements in a new place.

When moving, it is not necessary to follow absolutely all recommendations and take into account all folk signs. Sometimes it is enough to listen carefully to your inner world and determine for yourself closer options for rituals or necessary actions.

Folk signs and traditions, formed over centuries of observation, help to achieve well-being and health. Ignoring ancient rituals or listening to the intuition of the people is everyone’s individual choice. But why not think about them, what if they provide a real opportunity to protect yourself, your family, and give a start to your successful future in a new apartment, and maybe your life.

Text: Anastasia Vernaya

To prevent the stress of moving from killing all the joy of life in a new place, you need to properly organize the process and plan your time. The Village reveals where to start when the big day is just a week away, while moving experts and gurus share helpful tips and personal experiences.

Provide for everything

The first question: do everything yourself or delegate? Many transport companies offer services not only for transporting things, but also for assessing their quantity and preparing for shipment. Yes, you will still have to collect your personal belongings, clothes and books yourself, but at least you won’t have to worry about furniture and large household appliances. Carriers also have services for delivering boxes and other necessary tools - there is no need to waste time and nerves on shopping runs. An alternative is to involve relatives and friends in the process: this way you will have more time and also enlist moral support. It is better to send the children to their relatives so that they return to a new home.

The easiest way to choose a transport company is with the help of recommendations from friends and a banal search on the Internet. Private owners with vans also offer their services - this is a cheaper option, but various risks are higher here. When ordering a car, pay attention to how it is equipped. The van must not only match the amount of cargo in terms of capacity, but also be prepared inside: have guides for furniture fasteners and the fasteners themselves (belts), a non-slip floor, soft pads on the walls, and ideally, a hydraulic lift for quick loading of heavy objects.

Soberly assess the number of things that need to be transported and contact the chosen company: in some cases you need to order a car in advance, in others right on the day of the move. They will also be able to tell you how long loading/unloading may take and how many movers you will need. If you are worried that you will not meet the time-limited tariff of the transport company, and the additional payment for an extra hour does not suit you, choose complex tariffs, which many carriers have: prices usually depend on the number of rooms in the apartment. This will also protect you from dishonest workers who can deliberately stall for time and then persuade you to pay for a new hour at a cheaper rate past the cash register.

Knowing exactly the scale of the “disaster” is necessary not only for contracts with transport workers: if you are not a minimalist, it is unlikely that a couple of evenings after work will be enough for you to get ready (when you will already be tired) - it is better to take a couple of days off.

Purchase materials

You will need a variety of packaging to ensure your items reach their destination safe and sound. Basic set: boxes of different sizes, tape, scissors and bubble wrap. To pack furniture and large equipment you will need corrugated cardboard, stretch film and foam blocks, for small and breakable items - plastic bags, polyethylene foam and craft paper, and for clothes and textiles - vacuum bags. And don't forget a marker to label the boxes.

With this list you can go to a hardware or construction store. If this is not your option, then online stores and websites of carrier companies will help. It is difficult to calculate the number of boxes without experience, so estimate how many you will need and take a decent supply.

To pack

There are two approaches to collecting things: by storage location or by type of items (first the entire bedroom or first all the books from all rooms). It is better to start with things that are used least often and definitely will not be needed before moving; Load more necessary things into the next group of boxes, and leave the last few boxes for the last day - there you will put the most necessary things from this room. For example, if the child is staying with his grandmother before moving, you can start with the nursery and collect it all. Often what is not most necessary is stored in the living room and office. This also includes seasonal items: clothing, sports equipment. The first aid kit and favorite frying pan will go into the last batch.

In addition, moving is the best time to get rid of unnecessary things: the idea that you won’t have to pay for transporting thrown away or given away things is motivating. Set aside the unnecessary things and organize something like a garage sale: throw a cry in groups specializing in the transfer of things on social networks - let people come and take what they need. There are also services that are ready to take away unnecessary items in bulk and then resell them at flea markets, for example Locus Solus or “Dump”. Display the most valuable items on Avito or Yula, and what was not taken away at the time of moving, put it in a box and send it to the entrance to the mailboxes. Those things about which you are in doubt about whether to leave them or not are also easier to put together: perhaps the decision will be easier to make in a new apartment.

There are a few simple rules for packing things:

Collect boxes in small batches, securing them securely with tape. The main thing when packing things in boxes is safety, in second place is compactness, in third place is the convenience of subsequent disassembly. It is important to monitor the weight of the box because an overloaded box can easily be dropped or damaged.

Boxes must be signed on several sides. Ideally, this should include the box number, the room where the movers need to take it, and the type of contents. Using the box number, you can write down its contents in more detail in a notebook or take a photo of it and sign it on your phone - this will make it easier to find the right things in a new place. Mark boxes with breakable items with a large exclamation point. It should always be clear from the boxes where the top is and where the bottom is.

Clothes can be placed in large boxes or tote bags. When packing clothes, place them in vacuum bags first - this will protect the clothes from dirt and save space.

Wrap breakable items, such as fragile dishes, tightly in bubble wrap and secure with tape. Fill any voids inside glassware, such as glasses or bowls, with crumpled up craft paper, as well as any voids inside boxes. More durable dishes can simply be wrapped entirely in kraft, and polyethylene foam can be placed between the layers of products in the box. For dishes, take small boxes or drawers, the bottom of which is stronger.

Place small items in bags so they don’t get mixed up or get lost, and wrap them in craft paper.

Wrap large items and small equipment in several layers of bubble wrap or polyethylene foam and wrap them with tape, also placing them in large boxes.

Large equipment is not always transported in boxes, but it is better to be on the safe side. If the original boxes remain from the moment of purchase, great. If not, choose the right size. Attach non-removable wires to the case with tape, and also seal opening elements, such as refrigerator doors. Wrap the body itself in polyethylene foam and place it in a box, filling the voids with foam blocks. TV and monitor screens must be additionally protected with corrugated cardboard and bubble wrap.

Before transportation, furniture must be completely emptied and preferably disassembled as much as possible: at a minimum, remove all drawers and shelves, unscrew the doors and remove protruding elements such as handles - pack them separately. Fixed elements (for example, legs) are wrapped with stretch film, the same is done with upholstered furniture and mattresses to protect them from dirt and moisture. Glass doors and glossy surfaces must be additionally lined with sheets of corrugated cardboard. The furniture itself is entirely wrapped in bubble wrap.

Day X: how to act

In large cities, it is better to move late in the evening, at night, very early in the morning or on weekends to avoid traffic jams. At the same time, it is advisable to leave the next day or two free to sort things out. Saturday is the most popular day for moving, so you definitely need to take care of the availability of available cars in advance. The weather on moving day is also important, especially if you are moving in autumn or winter: it is better if the forecast does not promise rain and ice, which can complicate loading and unloading things.

Make sure that everything in your new home is ready: the elevator is working, the locks are working, the passages are not blocked by anything, the crystal chandeliers are not hanging dangerously low. It is also advisable to protect the walls in the corridors with cardboard so that the repairs are not spoiled. It is advisable to transport pets in advance by personal transport or leave them with someone for a while. If you transport animals with you, provide them with a cage or carrier in the new place - without them, the animals will not only get in the way, but may also run away or get injured.

Personal experience

Valery Mayorov

recruiter in the “Teacher for Russia” project, 10 moves, 3 of them to another city

The most important thing is to sort out the boxes. It is best to calculate the amount by eye, but always increase this figure by one and a half times. For example, dishes (one set) takes up one whole box, and it doesn’t matter whether there is still space left in the box. You can also put old T-shirts or socks there to secure the dishes. Be sure to label all boxes and packages so that you don’t have to walk around for hours in your new place and look for the shoe blade you need or your favorite pillow to sleep on.

It took me two daylight hours to get ready (I lived alone in an apartment for about two years). I was moving with a dog. He is calm and patient. He waited the whole time while I was packing the boxes, then he calmly sat with me in the back of the car and drove to the new place. Later, when I came to pick up all sorts of small things from the old apartment, he was waiting for me in the new place.

Taking things apart is a different story. Here you just need to pull yourself together and do it at once, otherwise you risk living with boxes until the next move. Well, you can really save a lot of time if you sign these damn boxes.

Oleg Amursky

Deputy Director of the Department at Rostelecom, 10 moves

Last year we moved twice. Both - not in one day, but over the course of two weeks. I advise you to do the same if possible. At first, we collected and transported valuable and fragile items and all sorts of small things ourselves, and called a car for large and heavy items.

At the same time, it seems to me that the boxes are more about an office move or something from American films, because both carrying and assembling them is very inconvenient. We used large checkered bags - they hold a lot of things and are convenient for packing both books and clothes.

I studied the market in advance and realized that there were several options. The first is to place an order with a company that professionally deals with moving. This is the most expensive way. The second is to hire a general moving company: they also provide movers, but they will not have additional services. At the same time, this option is also quite expensive. The third one, which I discovered and have been using since then, is the YouDo and “Lucky Everyone” services. These are private owners who can be selected based on reviews in their profile, and their prices are quite affordable. At the same time, there is competition, different offers come in that can be compared. In my case, there weren’t that many responses, but there was plenty to choose from.

The preparatory activities were the most exhausting. The moving day itself passed calmly: we just stood and watched the movers carry things, and made sure that no one stole anything standing on the street. As for the subsequent disassembly of things, we were unable to avoid living on bales. Our first move was temporary, so we didn’t take apart some of the items. And after the second move, we spent a month sorting things out: waiting for new furniture to put them in.

Alexandra Shubina

freelancer, 6 moves

I moved several times from one rented apartment to another. The ideal sequence of actions, in my experience, is this:

Stock up on bags, boxes, packaging materials, people (important: at least two people pack together and it’s more convenient, and moral support in this case is priceless).

Collect things from room to room, walking around them one after another. Don’t forget about window sills, built-in wardrobes, mezzanines, storage under the sofa, balcony, refrigerator with freezer and the like.

The most time-consuming items are kitchen utensils and dishes: they require careful packaging.

Essential items: hygiene items, towels, essential clothing, bedding - need to be packed separately.

It is better to put important documents and valuables in a backpack and take them with you.

It is quite inconvenient to transport flowers, especially large ones: firstly, they are relatively heavy; secondly, you need to cover the pots so that they don’t hit each other, and wrap the plants themselves (so that they don’t break, and if you move in winter, then so that they don’t freeze). This is where strong plastic or wooden boxes come in handy.

I ordered cargo transportation a couple of times. As a rule, the standard three hours with one loader were enough: about an hour for loading, travel and unloading (there were from half to a full van of things). Some sites have an inconvenient booking system: you seem to order a car with a loader, but a driver arrives who didn’t expect to be a loader - I’ve encountered this a couple of times.

Marina Bogoda

coach, consultant, 10 moves

If you are not traveling to another country where every centimeter matters, then you do not need to try to cram the boxes tightly. Just fold it as you see fit. Full, but not overcrowded. Label boxes with fragile items so that you don’t have to read the text on the box, but can see it right away. For example, I used yellow or red tape.

For those who are having a really bad time with sorting boxes, you can use this technique: write the date large on the unassembled boxes - say, in a month. And agree with yourself that if you do not disassemble the box and put things in their places before this date, then it will be sent to friends or put out in the yard for others. Because if you haven't used things in a month, you probably don't need them.

Expert opinion

Photos before packing are a way to try on a design project for an existing apartment if it is to be renovated, not to lose anything during the packing and transportation process, and to save your nerves. In the photographs, objects that do not fit (or no longer fit) into the interior will be clearly visible - and you can part with a bedside table, vase or collection of glasses from travel without sentimentality, leaving photographs as a souvenir of them.

The key to a successful move is properly packed items. The weight of one box should not exceed 12 kilograms, otherwise moving it will be problematic, and the cardboard itself is unlikely to support more weight. All detergents, flammable or toxic liquids must be carefully closed and packaged in plastic, preferably hermetically sealed. Additionally, use a printer and sticker sheets to print out a detailed description of what's in the box. Develop your own tagging system. For example, the name of the room comes first, followed by the name of the contents, then, if necessary, a list of items. When you move, this will significantly save time looking for cutlery or cosmetics.

Loaders can provide additional services: as a rule, the cost of their services includes packing things, disassembling/assembling furniture and assistance with loading. For an additional fee, they can take old household appliances, furniture, and construction waste for recycling. Discuss these tasks in advance.

When moving to a new apartment, it is worth considering in advance where the furniture and equipment will be located in order to quickly orient the movers and reduce their work time. Don't skimp on packing the things you care about, especially if the travel time is long.

Arrange the boxes in the truck bed in blocks, depending on the room they are intended for. For example, clothes and hangers - in a box for the bedroom, dishes and tablecloth - in the kitchen box.

Photos: cover, 5 -

If we ignore the hassle, the eternal lack of time and movers stuck in traffic jams, moving is just the movement of things from one point in space to another. In a way, drinking beer with friends is the closest analogy to moving: you simply move it from your mug to your stomach. Let this thought calm you down when it turns out that you left the TV in your old apartment.

Two months before moving

Time is the main enemy. Due to its lack, something can be forgotten, lost, broken. Therefore, you need to prepare for migration to a new place in advance.

█ Buy a large folder and a notebook for notes (maybe with a unicorn on the cover). You will write down all the information about the move in a notebook, and in a folder you will store business cards, checks and other documents related to the move, as well as telephone numbers and names of workers, drivers, realtors, tenants and buyers of old things. Even if the contacts of a painter or electrician now seem superfluous, let them also be in the notebook. What if everything is not so perfect in the new place?

█ Get 20 cardboard boxes. When folded, they will not take up much space, but this amount should be enough for the entire move. Boxes suitable for carrying and storing things are found in the following places:
grocery stores- this is the most budget option, you just need to come from the back door and ask to sell you the extra packaging;
IKEA furniture stores- strong cardboard boxes here cost 40–50 rubles apiece;
moving companies- there are special people there who are ready to take on all the difficulties of moving for a certain amount. As a rule, quite a big one. But you will find boxes of all possible shapes and color sizes.

█ There should be plenty of bags, newspapers, packaging film with bubbles and colorful stickers, especially since they can be useful after the move. Also buy two or three markers so you can write on different surfaces.

█ Don’t skimp on tape! It can be used to secure everything under the sun (our experts, who have been glued to chairs and walls at parties more than once, will confirm this). And stock up on a dispenser for adhesive tape - it will make packaging go much faster.

A month before moving

Moment of truth: you want to take everything with you. However, there suddenly turns out to be an indecent amount of things, as if they had been saving them not for 30 years, but for ninety years, and even borrowed from neighbors.

█ Use the rule that we have already written about: if an item has not been used for more than a year, most likely it is not needed. Take a photo of the item and place an advertisement on the website for sale or gift on a pick-up basis.

█ It is better to disassemble furniture for transportation. It turns out that old chipboard cabinets are unlikely to survive this procedure and it will definitely not be possible to assemble them in a new place: the screws will not want to fit tightly into the holes. It would be better to offer this junk to your neighbors - let them take it to the dacha or feed it to the beavers.

█ Collect documents in one folder and put it in the same folder where you put checks, business cards, etc. If you still have instructions from home electronics, this is a chance to throw them away, they are still available on the Internet.

█ Start packing your things. Remember that heavily loaded boxes have a habit of losing their bottom at the most unexpected moment, so it’s a good idea to add bulky but light blankets or pillows to heavy books, for example.

Two weeks before moving

█ It is tempting to invite friends to help. This, of course, is great, but the move risks turning into a fun drinking session with a random ending, and you will have to blame yourself for a broken iron. We recommend using the services of professional carriers (available on the Internet). And in general, after you have said goodbye to student life, inviting friends for repairs, moving and meeting at the airport is a shame.

█ You will have to enter into an agreement with the moving company, according to which it bears full financial responsibility for items damaged during transportation.

█ On the websites of some carrier companies there are convenient calculators for calculating all services, including packaging, delivery and rental of transport. But the final cost will still need to be clarified: non-obvious factors may arise, such as “lifting a piano to the 15th floor without an elevator.”

█ If you already had experience communicating with the carrier company, you should have kept the telephone number of the team leader. Call him and try to agree to do the work bypassing the cash register. In this case, the money will go directly into the pockets of the movers and the price will be approximately 50% lower, but you will not enter into a formal contract.

█ Prepare stickers for all areas of the home: kitchen, bedroom, operating room. Each one will require stickers of a different color, on which you will write down the contents of the boxes.

A week before moving

█ Critically inspect the refrigerator - it should have a set of products for a quick snack. No lamb carcasses to cook dinner for seven people! Now you will do all this only in a new place. Make sure that you start loading the machine with those boxes whose contents may be needed more quickly. When unloading, they will be taken out last, which means that in the slender box towers in the new apartment they will be on top.

█ Don’t rush to say goodbye to your assistants after the move. At the end of the work, together with the foreman, inspect all the furniture for damage. And only after that sign the acceptance certificate for the completed work.

Anyone who has had to move to a new apartment at least once in their life is well aware of the feeling of “prostration” that arises when looking at numerous things in closets, nightstands and shelves. It’s not for nothing that moving is “equal to one fire” - some things are lost, some break and break on the road, and some simply disappear somewhere in an unknown way. There is no need to talk about the amount of effort and nerves expended.

Here are the main secrets of a proper move!

Preparing to move – what to do first?

The most common mistake people make when moving is to pack their things at the last minute. It would seem that “everything will be done in time!”, but - alas and ah - the result of getting ready in the last hours before the car arrives is always equally deplorable.

Therefore, it is better to start preparing in advance.

About a month before the planned move, the most important things to do are:

Terminate all contracts(note - with the landlord, with companies providing cable TV, telephone, Internet services, etc.) so that in the new apartment they do not demand money from you for services that continue to be provided in the old one under existing contracts.
Throw away everything you don't need, and everything that could interfere with the new owners.
Clearly define the moving date, enter into an agreement with the appropriate moving company and inform those who will help you move to a new home.
Sell furniture(clothes, washing/sewing machine, other things) that you don’t want to take with you, but which still look quite decent. It’s better not to set high prices, so that later you don’t have to leave these things in the old apartment for free. It’s better to let them “fly away” at a modest price than for no one to buy them at all. And remember: if you haven’t used an item for more than six months, it means you don’t need it - feel free to get rid of it in any convenient way.

One week before moving:

We pack all the things that you will not need in the near future.
Throw away the excess.
We begin to sort out things, food and furniture in the kitchen.
We buy disposable plates/forks to easily remove all dishes from the kitchen.
We connect the Internet to the new apartment so that on the day of the move we don’t frantically call companies for this purpose, running between boxes with a useless router.
We clean carpets and wash curtains (save yourself the effort in a new place), and also rewash items that require it.
We do general cleaning in the new apartment so as not to waste time on it after moving.

The day before the move:

We send the children to grandma (friends).
Defrosting the refrigerator.
We deal with the keys to old and new housing (mailboxes, garages, gates, etc.).
We take meter readings (note – we take photographs).
We collect the remaining things.

7 secrets of preparing for a move that will make your life and the preparations easier

Revision. Moving is a great way to get rid of excess clutter. When you start sorting things to pack them for moving, immediately put a large box “to throw away” or “to give to neighbors.” Surely, you have things (clothes, tiles, lamps, toys, etc.) that you do not need in your new apartment. Give them to those in need and don’t carry extra junk into your new apartment. Toys can be donated to an orphanage, decent items can be sold on appropriate websites, and old blankets/rugs can be taken to a dog shelter.
Box with documents. We collect it especially carefully so that we can take it with us in the car on moving day. Place all the documents you have in folders, label them and put them in one box. Naturally, this should not be done the day before the move.
Box “1st necessity”. That's how we label it. In this necessary box, when you move, you can easily find a first aid kit, toothbrushes and toilet paper, a set of change of clothes for each family member, the most necessary products (sugar, salt, coffee/tea), towels, pet food and other important things.
Box with valuables. Here we put all our gold with diamonds, if any, and other valuable items that are expensive or have other value for you personally. You should also take this box with you (we don’t shove it into the general “pile” in the truck, but take it with us into the cabin).
Disassemble the furniture. Don’t rely on chance and don’t be too lazy to take it apart, so as not to cry over a torn sofa, a broken table and chips on a rare chest of drawers. There is no point in disassembling old chipboard furniture and dragging it with you - just give it to your neighbors or leave it near the trash heap (whoever needs it will take it himself).
Don't make any major purchases in the week before moving. Don’t stock up on groceries either – it’s extra weight and space in the truck. It is better to replenish the bins in a new place.
Prepare food the day before moving day(you won’t have time to cook!) and pack it in a cooler bag. Nothing inspires you in a new place after moving like a delicious dinner.

Collecting and packing things for moving - boxes, bags, tape

It is almost impossible to collect the things that you have accumulated in your old apartment even in 1 year in 1 day.

Therefore, the ideal time to “start” is a week before the move. The most important thing when packing is packaging.

Therefore, we start with boxes and other items for a comfortable move:

Looking for or buying cardboard boxes(preferably durable and with holes for easy carrying). Most often, boxes are given away for free in hypermarkets or local stores (ask store administrators). Assess the volume of your things and take boxes according to this volume. On average, it takes about 20-30 large boxes to pack items from a 2-room apartment in which a large family with pets lives. It is not recommended to take giant boxes - they are inconvenient to carry and difficult to lift, in addition, they often break under the weight of things.
Don't spare money on wide, high-quality tape! You'll need a lot of it, and not just to seal the boxes. And preferably with a dispenser, then the work will go much faster.
Also, you can’t do without cardboard “spacers”(newspaper, wrapping paper), twine, regular stretch film and a pack of clear bags.
Special film with “pimples”, which everyone loves to click, we buy in large quantities.
Multi-colored markers and stickers will also help.
To pack furniture you will need thick fabric(old sheets, curtains, for example), as well as thick film (like for greenhouses).
For heavy items we select bags and suitcases(the boxes may not be able to support them), or we put the weights in small and strong boxes, and then carefully secure them with tape and twine.

General work plan:

We reinforce all boxes with good tape, paying special attention to the bottom of the container. You can also make handles from it if there are no holes on the boxes themselves (or you can make these holes yourself with a stationery knife).
We allocate a separate room (or part of it) for packed items.
We buy a notebook for notes, where there will be all the information on accounts, movers, counters and the things themselves.

On a note:

If you wear suits, you'll be glad to know that there are cardboard "closets" for safely transporting expensive items directly on hangers.

How to move and not forget anything - lists of things, labeling boxes and much more

In order not to spend a painfully long time looking for clothespins or tights in all the boxes in a new apartment, which no one ever sorts right away (usually this takes from a week to a month, and for those who are especially lucky, up to a year), Use the rules of proper packing:

We mark the boxes with stickers and markers. For example, red for the kitchen, green for the bathroom, etc. Don't forget to duplicate each box in a notepad.
Be sure to put a number on the box(on each side of the box, so that later you don’t have to turn it around looking for the number!) and duplicate it in a notebook along with a list of things. If you are not shy about movers and are not afraid that “things will be stolen,” then the list of things can be glued to the box. In your notebook you should have all the boxes with all the lists of things. Numbering the boxes is also useful because in a new place it will be easier for you to check whether all things have been brought into the apartment.
Lifehack: To avoid searching for clothespins and washing powder, pack them directly into the drum of the washing machine. Tea and sugar can be placed in a kettle, and a pack of coffee can be placed in a box with a Turkish coffee grinder. You can put bedding, bowls and pet food in a cat carrier. And so on, with other things.
When folding wires from equipment and gadgets, try not to confuse them. In a separate box - a scanner with wires, in another - a computer with its own wires, in separate packages there are phones and other gadgets - each with its own charger. If you are afraid of getting confused, immediately take a photo of the area where the wires connect to the equipment. This cheat sheet can make your life easier after moving.
Ship bed linen separately with towels and blankets and pillows.
Don't forget to have a separate box for tools. and small things necessary for repairs, you will need it almost immediately after moving.

Apartment moving – preparing furniture for transportation

Don’t rely on “strong” furniture and “caring” movers.

If your furniture is dear to you, then take care of its safety before moving.

Everything that comes apart is disassembled, packaged and labeled. For example, we disassemble a table into parts, pack each one in special thick paper or cardboard (bubble wrap is ideal), and mark each part with the letter “C” (table). We put the accessories from the table into a separate bag, twist it and fasten it to one of the parts. It’s ideal if you can secure all the parts together or put them in narrow boxes. Don't forget the instructions! If they are still there, put them in a bag with accessories to make it easier to assemble the furniture later. Place keys for furniture and other tools for quick assembly in the “1st necessity” box (described above).
We wrap sofas and armchairs with thick fabric, cover with thick film on top and wrap with tape. We do the same with mattresses.
We wrap all handles on doors and drawers with cling film or foam rubber. so as not to scratch other things.
If you don’t take out the drawers from the chest of drawers (desk), then be sure to secure them so that they do not fall out when carrying. Also fix all the doors on the furniture - on the kitchen, etc.
All glass and mirrors must be removed from the furniture and packaged separately.. They are usually the first to break if owners leave them in closets.

If you are sending things to another city by container, then pay special attention to packing furniture and boxes!

Moving to a new apartment and pets – what do you need to remember?

Of course, the ideal option is to send pets and children to relatives during the move. Firstly, it will be easier for parents, and secondly, it will protect children and young animals from accidental injuries.

But if this is not possible, then use the “memo” on moving with pets:

Don't swear at your pets. For them, moving in itself is stressful. Their attention to things and boxes is quite natural. Don't swear or shout. Don't forget that they won't feed themselves.
While collecting and running around with boxes, give the little animals something that can distract them– a separate box for cats (they love them), toys, bones for dogs.
In advance (a couple of weeks), resolve all issues with the veterinarian, if any. Update the information on the chip (approx. phone number, address).
To transport fish: pour the water from the aquarium into a bucket with a ventilated lid (transplant the fish there too), and transfer the vegetation from it to another container, adding the same water. Place the soil in bags. The aquarium itself - rinse, dry, wrap in bubble wrap.
For transporting birds: We wrap the cage with cardboard, and on top with warm and dense material (birds are afraid of drafts).
Rodents can be transported in their own cages, but it is recommended to insulate them if it is too cold outside. In hot weather, on the contrary, choose a place for transportation that will not be too hot and stuffy (so that the animals do not suffocate).
Don't feed dogs and cats right in front of the road, be sure to walk the dogs, and remove the drinking bowls during transportation - or, if it’s hot, replace them with wet sponges.
For cats and small dogs, it is better to use hard carriers. Naturally, it is not recommended to transport them to a new home in the cargo compartment of a car. The best option is to transport pets on your lap.

And don’t forget to take a couple of days off to move and unload your things in the new place. Moving after work is an ordeal.

World of Travel thanks you for your attention to the article! We will be very pleased if you share your feedback and tips in the comments below.