Not when you can keep more of your money with simple planning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe packing process has to begin before your house is ready to be shown,\u201d says Holly Connors<\/a>, a top real estate agent in Arlington Heights who sells homes over 54% faster than average agents in her area.<\/p>\n \u201cSo about 30-35% of your house should be packed up and in storage before it\u2019s even on the market.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Begin by collecting the essentials that will launch you into productivity. If you forget (or run out) of anything you need, you\u2019ll have to drop what you\u2019re doing and spend precious hours in transit. So, we put together this list to make moving easier on your back and sanity with just one<\/b> run to the hardware store.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing is to be organized,\u201d Connors adds. \u201cSo the idea of pre-ordering and having the materials you need is a great idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Grab a coffee and a cart\u2014here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need from your hardware store run for a smooth move.<\/p>\n Before you throw everything into boxes, you need an easy way to keep track of all of your critical documents, receipts, and personal records in one safe place.<\/p>\n Grab a binder, heavy duty folder, or small storage container for any files or paperwork that you can\u2019t afford to lose in the move.<\/p>\n Here are some examples of items you should organize into your handy dandy record keeper:<\/p>\n Put anything that\u2019s irreplaceable (or will cause loads of stress if lost) into your new document storage system. Then put that binder or folder into a locked compartment or at least tuck it away somewhere safe.<\/p>\n Stock up on all of your moving essentials. If you\u2019re packing up a whole house, it\u2019s better to have extra packing materials than not enough. Once you get into the steady rhythm of packing, you won\u2019t want to stop to go buy more boxes.<\/p>\n The manager at Robert\u2019s Hardware<\/a>, a locally-loved hardware store that\u2019s been serving San Francisco\u2019s famous Haight Street since 1931, says they do quite a bit of business with people who are moving.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll come in and get boxes and packing tape. We also provide bubble wrap, dish foam to protect your dishes, and tape-dispensing guns,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a list of household packing essentials that you don\u2019t want to forget at the hardware store:<\/p>\n Use vacuum seal bags to save space for clothes, linens, and pillows. With a strong squeeze or vacuum suction, the bags will compress the air out to reduce the storage size. Stack the compressed bags into a box or just pile them into the backseat of your car to save space between trips.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re using your own car or renting a moving truck, you\u2019ll need strong straps to protect your things between point A and point B.<\/p>\n Grab a 100 foot line of \u00bc inch nylon rope to tie furniture and boxes down so they don\u2019t get damaged during the move. Get some ratchet straps with hooks on the ends to secure items to internal walls of a moving truck.<\/p>\n For that massive wall-unit that weighs a ton or the box of old ethics textbooks you can\u2019t bring yourself to get rid of, a hand truck is your saving grace. Save time (and your lower back) with wheels that do the work for you.<\/p>\n Hand trucks typically run for about $100, according to the manager at Robert\u2019s Hardware.<\/p>\n Call your local hardware store to see if they sell or rent hand trucks.<\/p>\n If they don\u2019t, make your one-stop moving haul at at HomeDepot<\/a> or U-Haul<\/a> to rent a dolly for discounted, one-time use. If your house has a lot of stairs, ask for motorized dolly that\u2019ll handle the weight up and down the stairs.<\/p>\n Imagine your defeat as you wheel your dresser to the front door only to remember those pesky front steps! Luckily, you can buy (or rent) a portable ramp to lay over your steps.<\/p>\n Rent a loading ramp for the duration of your move at your local hardware store or HomeDepot<\/a>.<\/p>\n The cost of rental ramps varies, depending on the size of the ramp and how long you\u2019ll need it for. If you\u2019re feeling really crafty, you can build your own moving ramp<\/a> with some plywood from your hardware store.<\/p>\n Keep your furniture, walls, and floors free of dings and scratches.<\/p>\n Buy moving blankets<\/a> to cover furniture and protect it from getting scratched, ripped, or dirty throughout the move.<\/p>\n Furniture sliders<\/a> help to push heavy items across a hard floor, so you don\u2019t hurt your back or scratch up the floors.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget furniture straps<\/a> to hold the furniture in place while you move it. Your local hardware store should stock these items to help with your move.<\/p>\n OK, this isn\u2019t a necessity to make moving easier\u2026 but it does make moving fun<\/i>!<\/p>\n Get a portable speaker to move with you as you go.<\/p>\n Turn up your favorite tunes to keep the energy high as you pack up your house, and keep it on while you bring items back and forth to make moving a little less painful.<\/p>\n With everything packed away, it\u2019ll be a pain in the neck to find your phone charger.<\/p>\n Grab a car charger and a phone mount for your car to make sure your phone is charged and ready to guide you to where you need to go.<\/p>\n![\"how-to-make-moving-easier\"](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/how-to-make-moving-easier-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Your hardware store shopping list to make any move easier<\/h2>\n
1. Storage for important documents<\/h3>\n
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2. The essentials for packing up household items: boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap and more<\/h3>\n
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3. Vacuum seal bags for clothes and linens<\/h3>\n
4. Tie downs and ratchet straps for your car or truck<\/h3>\n
5. A hand truck or dolly for heavy items<\/h3>\n
6. A portable ramp or plywood to move heavy items down steps<\/h3>\n
7. Furniture covers, sliders, and straps for protection<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/how-to-make-moving-easier-speaker.jpg\")
<\/a>8. Portable speaker for music<\/h3>\n
9. Car charger and phone mount<\/h3>\n
Make moving easier on your back, mind, and wallet<\/h2>\n