Preparing outdoor items before moving out

Moving out of your home is both an exciting and daunting process. With the moving day around the corner, you are impatiently anticipating it and checking the tasks off your moving checklist. Having packed the interior of your home, now it is time to tackle the outdoor area. While taking care of other premises, people seem to forget that the outdoor area, garage and shed also require their attention and dedication. Eventually you will realize that packing up your outdoor belongings is as important as tackling your bedroom or bathroom. As it turns out, some of the outdoor items are heavy and bulky, so ignoring them until the last minute is not a good idea.

Moving out is a great occasion to get rid of unnecessary items. Over the years things have been piling up and now you have to deal with an excessive clutter. As we all know, items like garden equipment and outdoor furniture take up a lot of space, so you should calculate whether moving them is worthwhile.

Sometimes moving large items long-distance is far more expensive than purchasing the new ones at a new location. Since de-cluttering proved to be financially beneficial in the long run, assess your outdoor belongings and get rid of everything you no longer need. Also, if you are downsizing or moving to an apartment, be honest with yourself when deciding what’s worth moving to a new place. Letting go of certain items means a clutter-free new home and a clean slate after moving out. It’s worth a shot, isn’t it?

Packing outdoor belongings before moving out

The truth is that packing the outdoor possessions may pose a great deal of challenges when moving out of your current residence. Packing contents of your garage, shed, awkwardly-shaped outdoor furniture may seem like a real hassle. But, don’t panic! We’ve put together these handy guidelines to help you manage the moving out tasks and responsibilities.

– Sort through all storage areas and decide what to move and what to leave behind. A garage sale is an effective way to get some extra cash and get rid of unnecessary clutter. So set a date and spread the word about the upcoming event around the neighborhood.

-Deep clean your outdoor items (children’s play equipment, gardening tools, patio furniture, sports equipment,…). You certainly don’t want to move dirt, soil and debris along with your belongings. Therefore, wash them with warm soapy water and let them dry completely before loading them into the moving truck.

– Get necessary packing supplies:

• sturdy cardboard boxes
• zip lock bags
• furniture blankets
• packing paper
• bubble wrap
• packing tape

You will need quality and durable packing supplies to pad sharp items so as to prevent injuries while carrying them. Also, consider adding an extra layer of padding material when packing delicate glass components.

Also, if you are moving with a reputable moving company, you should know that they won’t transport certain potentially dangerous items. Therefore, make sure to remove batteries and liquids from your power tools. Safely dispose of all hazardous items like pesticides, oils, flammable materials,… Otherwise, you may jeopardize the entire moving process and cause irreparable damage if anything goes wrong.  In addition to that, you may contact your local recycling center and find out more about the programs and regulations. Be mindful of the effects your move may have on the environment and try to perform a more eco-friendly move.

Preparing outdoor furniture for moving out

A proper preparation of your outdoor furniture is a time-consuming process. If you’d rather entrust this project to someone else, feel free to hire professional movers with an extensive experience. After receiving a moving quote you will decide whether you can afford professional moving and packing services. Not only will they take care of the trickiest outdoor items, but also they will be able to prevent potential damage and personal injuries during the course of the move.

On the other hand, if you prefer doing things on your own, you may find the following tips helpful.

-Ensure your outdoor furniture doesn’t provide shelter for small animals and insects. You don’t want to move uninvited guests to your new home.

– Remove cushions from your patio furniture and dismantle removable parts. If you have saved original boxes, now is the perfect time to use them. If not, use a lot of furniture blankets and bubble wrap to secure them before moving out. Keep all small components in a labelled zip-lock bag and attach it to an item it belongs to.

– Items like playground equipment, sports equipment, barbecue should be properly cleaned and taken apart for space-saving purposes. Also, using specialty moving boxes may provide extra protection and give you assurance that your belongings will reach their destination in one piece.

Guidelines to handling plants before moving out

Although you’ve spent years maintaining and cultivating your plants you are wondering what to do with them now that you are moving house. If you are selling your current home you may want to preserve its curb appeal. As it turns out, a well maintained outdoor area may add to the property’s value. There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to move your plants:

• moving distance
• season
• climate conditions

If you are about to embark on an interstate move, find out in advance which species you are not allowed to import. Even if you are moving with a reputable moving company, they are likely to refuse to transport your plants. Also, if you decide to move them on your own, at least choose a favorable season.

It’s no secret that it’s easier to relocate plants while they are dormant, so opt for the late autumn or early spring. A totally different climate may be devastating for your plants, so consider leaving them behind if you are not sure whether they will survive the transportation and new environment. Maybe they will be better off with the new property owners or renters.