Just Married? Now Say “I do” to an Efficient Move
After the wedding and honeymoon, one of the next steps for many new couples is a move to their first home. Here are a few tips to help make your move as cost-effective and stress-free as possible:
Clean Out, Sell and Save
Did you receive new dishes as a wedding gift? You can probably ditch your old set – along with other old items that you’ve recently upgraded. Host a garage sale or sell items you don’t need online to make some cash while reducing goods you have to move. Or, you could donate to a local nonprofit and take the tax write-off at the end of the year.
Determine What Size Truck You’ll Need
Many young couples moving from a small apartment or condo into a larger first home will find a 12- or 16-foot Penske rental truck adequate. You can use the Penske Truck Wizard to help determine what size truck you’ll need, depending on how much you have to move.
Plan Ahead for Efficiency and Saving
Plan to reserve your truck at least two weeks in advance. During the busy summer moving season, you may want to allow even more time to ensure the most options and availability. Ask about discounts when reserving.
Be Strategic About Wedding Gifts and Gift Cards
Did you receive gift cards for your wedding? Wait until after you move to spend them so you don’t add even more items to move. For the wedding gifts you received, try to keep them in the original boxes – it’ll provide extra protection when you move, and you’ll only have to unpack them once.
Be Smart and Safe When Packing
Get sturdy boxes of various sizes and fill them with similar items. Label each box with the contents and room name. Make sure you have plenty of packing bubbles and towels to wrap breakable items. Finally, tape boxes securely before transport.
Get Your Wedding Party Together Again
Ask friends to help pack and carry boxes. A move is a great reason to get the wedding party together one more time. If something is particularly heavy, there’s no shame in enlisting professionals for help to prevent injury.
Loading the Truck
Load large items into the truck first to ensure a safe and secure fit. Load the heaviest boxes on the bottom and then place lighter boxes on top. Need help planning? Penske offers a graphic illustrating how to pack a truck.
When the big move follows the big day, there’s no need to stress. With a little strategic planning, you’ll save time and money while ensuring all your belongings arrive at your new home safely.
For help in making moving day go smoothly, use these tips from Penske. They’ve been in the do-it-yourself moving business for more than 40 years: