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Environmentally-Friendly Moving

Moving Company Gives Ways to Keep Your Move Environmentally-Friendly

While even a small move can have an impact on the natural environment, there are still many ways to keep the process as environmentally-friendly as possible. Just the thought of moving conjures up images of discarded cardboard boxes, foam packing materials, and large trucks that are left to idle along the curb. Keeping things more organized to curb unnecessary waste, seeking out sustainable packing materials, and taking steps to minimize carbon emissions during transport are all efforts that have the potential to make a real difference.

Staying Organized During the Move

A hastily planned is far less likely to be an environmentally-friendly affair. Planning a move entails weighing different options or addressing multiple concerns that all require attention. Spending a little extra time and effort during the planning and preparation stage makes it much easier to find sustainable alternatives and eco-friendly solutions. Steps to stay organized often involve donating unwanted items, many of which can be reused or recycled, and planning a more efficient route, which also helps to curb fuel consumption. From renting moving equipment rather than making an additional purchase to finding sustainable meal options during the move, making organization a top priority has many potential benefits.

Sustainable Packing Supplies

Discarded packing materials once the move is complete could be a bigger problem than many people might realize. Using recycled materials when possible, minimizing the need for fillers to fill boxes, and finding an environmentally-friendly alternative to styrofoam and other packaging materials, which may be challenging to recycle, can all be essential concerns. Donating unwanted possessions ahead of a move and taking care to pack as efficiently as possible to minimize the materials can go a long way towards ensuring your next relocation will be a more sustainable one.

Fuel and Transport Options

A growing number of individuals and households are interested in finding ways to minimize their carbon footprint. A moving truck can pump out a surprising amount of CO2 and other emissions during a move, and finding ways to limit the impact done to the environment can be a real concern. Effective options, alternatives, and solutions may include:

  • planning the most efficient route for transport
  • finding a moving company with trucks that run on biodiesel
  • shipping items with environmentally-sustainable service options

Planning a Greener and More Sustainable Move

When it comes to protecting the environment, every effort counts. Sustainable moving solutions can help to address the problems caused by microplastics, help to combat climate change, and ensure that discarded packing materials are less likely to harm surrounding ecosystems and natural environments. From organizational efforts like donating unwanted items to finding the right packing materials and transport options, several ways of moving a household can happen more sustainably. Finding the best service options, alternatives, and other resources can make it much easier to plan an environmentally-friendly move.

Packing Your Home

How to Pack Your Home when Moving Out of State

Moving can be an exciting but stressful time, especially when you’re moving out of state. There are some important things to do before you climb onto the moving truck and take off.

Here are some tips from Cheap Movers Portland that will make your move much easier:

Time to Clean Out!

Moving can be one of the most productive times in your life if you think wisely and plan. If you’re moving, you must have some idea of the size and layout of your new home so think about the things you own now and what you want to take with you. Within each room, sort things by category.

Now is the best time to get rid of things that you no longer use or need. Have plenty of boxes ready for “Keep,” “Maybe” and “Donate.” Also, remember to pack heavy items in smaller boxes so they’ll be easier to carry.

Once you’re through, call and schedule a donation pickup as soon as possible so you won’t have time to reconsider! Think fresh, new start!

Have Plenty of Packing Supplies

Before you begin, make sure you have plenty of boxes, bubble wrap or newspaper, trash bags, and markers so you can carefully organize and pack your things and mark each box. It’s also a good idea to have a notepad or small notebook and number your boxes so you can quickly reference where your things are. Pack “Like with Like” – dishes together, shoes together, books together, etc. When you arrive in your new home, and you’re looking for something specific that is still packed, you can quickly and easily refer to your notepad – “Oh! My favorite shoes are in Box #3.”

It’s also a helpful idea to take pictures of your electronics – cords and how they are plugged in – so when you arrive, you can easily unpack them and put them back together. (If you haven’t looked at the back of your television in a while, you might want to!)

Transfer Utilities Ahead of Time

Nothing can be more stressful than arriving in your new home, facing the task of unpacking, trying to acclimate to your new environment and having no lights or water. Call ahead of time – as far ahead as possible – and transfer your utilities so they’ll be functioning when you arrive.

Electricity, water, cable, internet, phone, and trash are the main ones to remember.

Take Advantage of Eating Out the Week Prior

Try to use up as much of your perishable food as possible the week prior to moving. You’ll want to defrost your refrigerator and freezer and clean your appliances before you move. Throw away all perishables, pack your non-perishables carefully and eat out as much as possible to help and minimize this chore.

Most importantly, enjoy this new chapter in your life! Try to eliminate as much stress as possible by organizing and thinking ahead.

Packing Tips List

Read This First! Our List of Top Packing Tips for Your Move

Moving can be one of the most stressful times in anyone’s life. The good news is that the stress of packing and unpacking can be made much more bearable with a good plan.

Here are six rules professional movers suggest you follow before embarking on the new adventure, all designed to make the move go more smoothly:

CUT THE CLUTTER

Before you start the process of packing, you need to cut all of the clutter from your existing home. Getting rid of the items that you do not need will help make the process of packing and moving much easier.

If you have not used an item in one year or more, you need to seriously consider how much value it is adding to your life. Donating or reselling the unwanted items will save you many headaches down the road.

RESEARCH PROFESSIONAL MOVING COMPANIES

If it is in your budget, a professional mover will make the process go much more smoothly and relieve you of a lot of unwanted stress.

Even if you only use them to move your heaviest items, the professionals can do a much better job in ensuring that your belongings arrive safe and sound to their final destination.

It will also free you up to dictate the process and instruct others where everything needs to go.

CREATE A MASTER TO-DO LIST

A large part of the moving process is simply staying on top of all of the associated tasks. A master to-do list will help serve as a guide during the weeks and days leading up to the big move.

Importing these tasks into your calendar will help keep everything top of mind so that you do not get behind.

EQUIP YOURSELF

Equipping yourself with the proper moving tools and supplies will ensure that you are prepared to handle the rigors of the process.

One rule of thumb to follow is always to purchase more than you think you will need. When gathering boxes, be sure to get them in a variety of different sizes. You will also need packing tape, permanent markers, bubble wrap, labels, and more.

CANCEL AND SCHEDULE UTILITIES

A task that can be done well before the big moving day is the cancellation and activation of utilities. Unless you are moving far away and into a different utility jurisdiction, you can even do this with the same phone call.

Be sure to leave an overlap if the move will be taking place over more than one day.

PACK NONESSENTIAL ITEMS EARLY

Packing up as much as you can before moving day help you to stay organized and keep on task. Although you will need to leave the essential items until the very end, there is a myriad of items that you can pack well in advance.

Ideas of nonessential items that are ideal for early packing include holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, and books.

A little planning and preparation can save you a lot of headaches as you go through the process of moving your residence, making the experience more positive and meaningful.