How should I best prepare to move within the next 30 days?

April 17, 2020 11:32 AM

We have a new lease that begins in 30 days and there will be a 15-day overlap where we will pay for two apartments (what fun!). Our currently place is your typical 2-bedroom apartment so we do not have a ton of extra space. We also have a toddler. How should we best utilize the next 30 days, taking into consideration normal move prep as well as COVID.

We've moved a lot and have previously relied on the typical "target run" as well as the incredible convenience of amazon 2-day delivery. Considering that a target run is no longer as easy and amazon has both limited supplies and extended deliveries, how should we best prepare?

Some specific questions:
- We have one container of Clorox wipes, and two bottles of rubbing alcohol. I plan to use one of our 15 extra days to clean the new apartment. The new building is professionally managed and they will clean it but because of COVID I want to be extra diligent. Should I get some organic cleaners now that seem to be readily available and use those with a combination of rubbing alcohol at the new place?
- What would you include in your typical target run list? I think I may need these 30 prep days to track these items down.
- How would you go about packing up things, with limited space and a toddler? Which rooms would you tackle first?
- What else am I not thinking about that may come back to bite me during the move?
- Bonus Q: any moving with a toddler tips are welcomed!

posted by kmr to Home & Garden (12 answers total)

If you will be needing professional movers, start calling firms yesterday. Even though they're classified as essential services in my state, all the local firms are shut down voluntarily until further notice. So I'll be stuck paying more in storage fees that I would have on the movers. And it's not like friends can step in and help.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:44 AM on April 17, 2020 [3 favorites]

If you want to avoid extra cleaning, all you have to do is wait a few days after the apartment is empty. Time takes care of covid.

Are you moving a short distance or a long distance?
posted by sciencegeek at 11:59 AM on April 17, 2020 [6 favorites]

Response by poster: We are moving about an hour's drive.

We are in the processing of hiring movers (they are open by us, thank goodness) but we will be doing car trips without the movers in order to cut down on costs and best utilize those extra overlap days.

Thanks!
posted by kmr at 12:06 PM on April 17, 2020

My toddlers loved boxes. Setting up a toddler size box that you pack a blanket or two into and out of over the course of you packing other things might provide some nice entertainment.
posted by lab.beetle at 12:25 PM on April 17, 2020 [1 favorite]

Look into getting your internet set up early too. Most (all?) ISPs are not doing in-home service and will appreciate extra lead time to plan how to get things set up in your new home. Good luck!
posted by capricorn at 12:38 PM on April 17, 2020 [1 favorite]

Give yourself enough time to clean the old apartment. There’s always a few extra things that take more time and garbage bags than you expect.

Shower curtain and toilet paper are the most forgotten and immediately needed items in a new place.
posted by raccoon409 at 12:39 PM on April 17, 2020 [2 favorites]

And yeah, the virus only lasts 2-3 days on hard surfaces and 1 day on cardboard.
posted by capricorn at 12:40 PM on April 17, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: If I were you, I'd be triaging anything that you don't think you'll have any need for within two months and pack them into boxes. Make sure each box has an inventory taped to it so that you can find it. For the sake of sanity, you might be better off buying new boxes that are all the same size and easily stack-able rather than trying to get free ones from a store (who may no longer be accommodating such requests).

Have the box(es) of things that you must have for the first 24 hours ride over with you in the car rather than getting packed in the truck.

What is the laundry setup in the new apartment? If you don't have an in-unit setup (and do have it now), you might want to consider laying in extra cheap socks and underwear so you can stretch out time between trips to do laundry.

If your vehicles are due any maintenance, try to schedule that while you're still on familiar turf so you don't have to try to find a trustworthy place that may or may not be open in a new environment while stressed.

Get any prescriptions you have that can be refilled before the move done as well.

Here's the EPA List of cleaners that are known to be effective. Be sure to follow the timing instructions - just wiping a surface with a wipe won't actually do the trick.

I typically live off of delivery food and restaurants the first few days in a new place - if you don't want to have to figure out safe delivery in a new area, fill the freezer with pizza and chicken fingers or whatever. Disposable eatingware might also be a sanity saver the first few days.

Figure out if you're going to need/want fans in the new place and buy those ahead of time.
posted by Candleman at 12:40 PM on April 17, 2020 [2 favorites]

Re: checklists of what to shop for - this previously has some good ideas.

If you don't care for whatever window coverings come with the new place, order those ahead of time.

Depending on your personal style, consider getting some fairly lights, succulents, or new wall art to help make it feel like a cozy place in stressful times. Or get some new prints of family photos to hang.

Re: moving with a toddler - normally I'm very much not in the "give the child a glowing box to distract them camp" but these are not normal times. If you don't have a kid's tablet already (and can afford one), load one up with whatever games and movies will keep them entertained for an extended period of time so they're less likely to get in the way. Set up a blanket/box fort for them to hang out in while the furniture is still getting set up.

If the new place has a balcony and you don't already have furniture for one, having that ready so you can have coffee/tea/etc. out on it in the mornings is something I found really nice and grounding when I moved.
posted by Candleman at 2:30 PM on April 17, 2020

Don't put the inventory on the box - number the boxes and put the inventory in a shared spreadsheet. I also like to get colored post-its and give each room it's own color, but I'm a special level of anal (and I work in operations, so my brain is like this 24/7). That said, my movers love me because it's super easy to organize and unload my stuff.

Don't forget to pack a box or suitcase of "need immediately" stuff. Everything from pajamas to toothbrush to shower curtain. Ever tried to take a shower without a shower curtain when you're super sweaty from moving? Yikes.
posted by radioamy at 3:54 PM on April 17, 2020

An even simpler way to deal with box labeling is to just write where the contents came from (e.g., which drawer, shelf or cabinet) in your current apartment (and what room it's bound for, if possible). If you can remember where an object used to be, you can find it. You'll be slightly less efficient in how you use box space, but it's easier to unpack as well.
posted by carmicha at 8:39 PM on April 17, 2020

This is likely not relevant, but in the outside case that it is: if you have some extra cash (maybe from the stimulus check, even?) and have been thinking about replacing any furniture, order new shit and have it delivered to the new place. We did this two moves ago and it was brilliant. Might even be able to save on the cost of movers if you get to the point where all the stuff you wouldn't be able to move yourself is not coming with.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:20 AM on April 18, 2020