Advance planning and efficient packing are the keys to a smooth mini-move. Boston's most humble Man With A Van presents strategic mini-move moving for minimalists to make moving fun. Repeat after me...

"the best surprise is no surprise."

Planning

Turn moving into an exciting adventure. First, determine your budget. The easiest way to move is with a big truck, a bunch of helpers packing a ton of muscle and well stocked on boxes and supplies. With your budget, we may need to improvise. No problem.

Helpers

The more people you can get to help the easier it will be to move. Make it easy for the helpers. Be ready with everything packed and ready when they arrive. Ready and waiting at the door is the recipe for a dirt-cheap mini-move.

Truck

Get a truck. The bigger the better. A full size cargo van has ten feet behind the seats, ideal for most mini moves. My van has a rack on top to which a mattress and box spring can be secured to maximize interior space.

U-Haul prices may begin at $19.95 a day but fuel, mileage, optional furniture pads and equipment add a significant amount to the total, not to mention the time it takes to pickup and dropoff the vehicle.

Checklist

Let's make some notes. Put together a document folder. What are you using for a truck? Who's gonna help you move? An inventory list is a great idea. You want all the details at your fingertips when you're moving. Contacts, phone numbers. Change of address form completed. Keys to the new place. Utilities, deposits, etc. dealt with. When you clear out of the old place you'll need to clean, spackle, whatever it takes to get good karma and your security deposit back. Make lists.

File your change of address form early with the Post Office or online. An excellent policy is

keys in hand BEFORE moving.

Supplies

You can scrounge boxes from liquor stores and copy shops or buy them online. Boxes with colored labels numbered on the top and side with room number and inventory number will streamline your move. Loading garbage bags at the last minute is the worst way to move. Get boxes, tape, labels, markers, and a box cutter. Zip lock quart and gallon bags are great for keeping small items together inside boxes.

Packing

Purge and Declutter

Don't move junk. Sell, donate or trash your junk and anything else unused or useless. Use moving to motivate yourself to purge and declutter. Apply the Pareto Principle to your books, clothes and everything else you own. Eliminate all non-essentials.

Organize

Streamline your rooms. Identify activities, sort associated materials into containers and group by collections. This is where the zen of moving begins. Getting rid of your junk creates new energy and excitement.

How to Pack

Setup a work table and supplies table. Designate an area to stage packed boxes. Pack stored and non-essential items first. Number boxes on top and on the side with a room number and inventory number using colored labels. Record the box number on inventory sheets by room with space for a description of contents. Boxes can contain content description too, but do NOT label boxes with info that indicates valuable items.

Pack books in SMALL boxes. No one wants to hump around large overloaded boxes with books. They're TOO HEAVY. Use a bathroom scale to pack. Unless you want to carry all the heavy boxes yourself, remember this,

thirty pounds max.

Label and diagram wires.

Take pictures of wiring before disassembling electronics.

Measure rooms, doorways and furniture.

Use tie on tags to label furniture with room numbers. Some of these ideas may be overkill for a minimalist. The idea is to avoid arriving at your new place and having the helpers dump all your furniture and boxes in a big pile. When boxes and furniture go to the appropriate room and an inventory sheet identifies essential boxes you're making a smooth move.

Moving

Essentials List

Confirm with helpers. Keep phone numbers, address and directions, valuable papers, keys and cash secure and accessible. Double check closets and drawers. Clean after loading. Put cleaning supplies on truck last. They'll unload first which is handy. SECURITY: Keep an eye on the truck at all times! Plan for temporary window coverings on arrival. Sheets and tacks or paper and glue sticks will work.

Driving and Loading a Truck

Adjust the seat and mirrors. Take it slow and easy. Watch the top. Allow ample room for stopping and turns. Be aware of truck route restrictions. Use a helper to back up. Set the parking brake. Think about how the truck will be loaded even before you rent the truck. Clear the path to the truck.

Coach the helpers.

• Lift don't drag.
• Lift with your legs bent, back straight.
• Watch the top, watch the sides, easy does it.
• Using a hand cart, strap the item to the cart and use a helper on stairs.

Begin by loading boxes to the front if the truck has a raised forward compartment. Next add appliances and large items. Load heavy items first onto the floor. Put lighter items on top. Bring on mattresses and box springs. Fill in with small boxes and oddly shaped items. Build stable walls with boxes. Strap or tie the cargo in. Stand sofas on end. Use mattresses to pad mirrors and picture frames. Fill in shelves with boxes. Stack chairs. Ideally, an experienced man directs truck loading. Helpers bring items to the truck and load as directed to prevent inefficient loading.

Sofas and chairs can be carried to the truck then covered with furniture pads in the truck. Remove legs from tables. Put the nuts and washers on the legs as you take them off. Use shrink wrap to protect wood while moving. Cover with furniture pads in the truck. Items with drawers may be much easier to move with the drawers removed. Remove the drawers and replace in the truck, cover with a furniture pad.

Use shrink wrap to keep drawers in place. Shelving units with removable shelves should have the removable shelves carried separately and hardware placed in plastic bags. Large plastic bags are available online to protect mattresses.

Refrigerator - remove all shelves and wrap. After placing in truck inside can be filled with lightweight boxes or linen items. Tape the doors. If necessary, remove handles.

Door hinge removal

• Have a hammer, pliers, flat tip screwdrivers and nail ready.
• Tap the pin from bottom with the nail or under the head of the pin with a screwdriver tip.
• Remove the bottom pin first.
• Replace the top pin first.

Equipment

Moving straps, furniture glides and dollies make it easier to move large pieces.

Forearm Forklift is a two man strap system that supplies leverage for large bulky items. I have two sets, rarely use them. Shoulder Dolly similar to the Forearm Forklift but uses harnesses to hold the web strap. Excellent leverage lifting system. Practice required for mastery. Makes a big difference moving heavy items. Teamstrap is less expensive than the Shoulder Dolly. Like a cross between Forearm Forklift and Shoulder Dolly. Mattress Sling is a web strap that makes it easier to carry mattresses and box springs.

I have a hand truck with pneumatic wheels, great on stairs, and a hand truck with hard rubber wheels that converts to a cart, useful for shuttling boxes down hallways. If you rent a hand truck realize that small hard rubber wheels are difficult to use on stairs. If you get a hand truck with pneumatic tires, check the air pressure. A dolly is a rectangular frame about three inches high with casters used to wheel heavy pieces of furniture. Super sized bungees, rope and furniture blankets all come in handy.

Arrival

Post color coded inventory sheets and furniture plans in doorways. Load boxes and furniture into appropriate rooms by plan. If you've planned your move in advance with contingency plans and a little bit of luck it's time to celebrate the success of your well-executed guerrilla mini-move. Congratulations.