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Moving Strategies?
skotte asks: "I currently am in a position where I will be moving my whole set of belongings to a new apartment. But I refuse to just buy a bunch of boxes and start throwing things in. Surely there is a good strategy of how to tackle the act of packing. I'm thinking "Relatively" where everything related, such as CDs, go in one box, cables go in another. Or there's 'spatially', where I pack everything in one bookcase in one box. Or there's 'by Priority' in which important things i'll need right away go in one box...and on and on. There appear to indeed be LOTS of ways to go about it -- and there are big pros-and-cons to each. So what does the slashdot community think? Better yet, is there some management software to help with this sort of thing?"
Please. These 'ask slashdot' articles are getting really out of hand. Ummm, slashdot, I'm wondering if you all have any thoughts on which utensils to eat spaghetti with.
I'd say do this the same way you'd choose something like a software development strategy - write down your requirements, write down your schedule, look at your risks, and come up with a plan.
For example, if you won't have much time to unpack after you get to your new apartment, I would suggest working primarily by a priority system augmented by categorization - this will enable you to get to things quickly even if they're packed away. This is how I pack when I'm going to college, since my school doesn't allow returning students to move in until the day before classes. That way, random shit like decorations go on the bottom of the pile, whereas my toothbrush and my notebooks are in the same box, which is also the first box I unpack.
On the other hand, if you don't have much of a time constraint on either end, a relativistic approach is clearly the best - think about where things will go in your new place, and pack so that you minimize the box trucking when you unpack.
On the other hand, if you have to pack real quick, you might have to sacrifice organization in favor of getting it pitched into boxes quickly. In that case, the relativistic approach works, only you pack things that are close together in your current abode in the same box.
Think about supplies, too. If you don't have much shit and not much is breakable, garbage bags work wonders.
Minimizing space is worth considering, too, if you're looking at making multiple trips (heaven forbid.) Don't just pack that desk empty - load it into the truck, and then fill the drawers with smaller boxes full of stuff. I know putting a box inside my mini-fridge saved the day this year. . .
If you're rich, on the other hand, consider throwing out or giving away easily replaceable good such as notebooks, underwear, pens, signifigant others, and dishes.
Don't use TP, use rags - they're more environmentally friendly. Not only do you avoid throwing out old T-shirts and such, but you keep reusing them over and over. You'll save money, too!
Priority is easily taken care of in one step:
1. Put everything you can't live without for a week in your suitcase. It will help you hone down what you truly need. You can always wash things at the end of the week and this scenario works for both short and long distance moves. You'll survive for a while on your basic necessities for the long run and you won't have to go digging through boxes to set you up for the short term. My long term (didn't get my things moved down for a month and a half) included clothes, a frying pan, toiletries, and my laptop.
2. Carefully pack things which are fragile and put them in boxes labeled fragile. Some will get broken, but that's what happens when you move thing in vehicles with struts/shocks.
3. Pack the rest by category and label boxes accordingly: pack books with books, kitchen ware with other kitchenware, clothes... etc. If you happen to have bookshelves, it is perfectly acceptable to put one shelf in one box and much easier to unload at the new destination. The best thing I found was to pack everything in the boxes myself, label them with big large letters where I wanted them to go (bedroom, kitchen, bookcase_1...), and then get movers to haul them into a truck and then I could just direct them at the new location where I wanted each box to go when they brought it in.
Pro of moving company:someone else does all the transporting quickly and efficiently. You could even have them do the pack yourself if you trusted them. There are companies that will pack up and box by room for you.
Con of moving company: costs money, they are not as likely to take care in transport as you, and if you go with the wrong company (ie: starving students) then you could possibly not even get your stuff returned.
Pro of transporting yourself: you could get some good exercise in for the day and that really might not be a bad thing in addition to your more careful transport.
And I don't think this is so bad to ask slashdot. I would think that a significant amount have done various moves (for either work, college, or breaking up with SOs) and among the crap are usually some rather helpful posts. Who would you sooner trust: a geek on slashdot or Martha Stewart?
"Would you rather have a playstation addicted dork wearing a star wars t-shirt?"
Sure. It's called Excel, part of a set of productivity tools made by a certain company based in Redmond, WA. Not only can you make a list of the things you're moving, you can actually make multiple lists with hyperlinks and cute pics in a SINGLE FILE!
Alternatively, you can search for "barcodes" on Google, find out about EAN/UPC error detection algorithms, assign each piece of luggage a unique barcode, incorporate XSL, somehow use this XSL barcode generator thing, print them all out, stick them to your whatever you're moving and move! When you reach your destination, and this very important, but remember to buy a barcode reader and to scan all your luggage before you unpack.
You might also want to set up a website where you can track your shipment exactly the same way this website does.
More than mere navel gazing.
Spatially is the fasest way to get it in AND out of the boxes....
First, Get some paper plates and plastic cups the day before packing... you'll want something to eat on and drink out of while your plates and glasses are packed. Set aside your Playstation for break time...
Start with a few medium sized boxes in each room and label them (living room, kitchen, bedroom, etc.) Grab all of the ordinary stuff that is not fragile and get it in the boxes putting a few heavy things in the bottom and lighter things on top... distribute the heavy stuff so you'll be able to carry an individual box without getting a hernia.
Once you have the bulky items and non-fragile stuff boxed up in medium sized boxes start putting the fragile stuff in the smallest boxes you have and use packing material to fill in the holes. Be sure to label these according to the rooms as well.
If you have the original boxes for your electronics use them. Save that PS2 TV for next to last.
Each room should have 5 to 10 boxes now with 95% of your stuff packed away. If you have several small boxes with fragile stuff and packing material (styrofoam peanuts, newspaper, etc.) you might be able to consolidate them into medium sized boxes for quicker transport.
Pack the clothes and personal hygiene stuff, as well as the few cooking items you've been using while packing last. Use your suitcases or barring this the last few medium sized boxes you'll need.
Now call up the moving company with the cheapest rate and have them move all the big and or expensive items... make sure they have insurance or else they are useless to you. Don't have them bother with the smaller and more fragile items... do those yourself and save a wad of cash... just have them move the TV, hardware, furniture and boxes of programming manuals you've collected over the years, expecially if you live above ground floor.
Take several trips to move what ever is left and eat a relaxed lunch in between.
If you're moving more than a 4 hour drive away pay somebody whatever it costs to do all the moving at once in a nice big rig. Taking 4 days to move and getting no sleep is not cool.
A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
I was thinking that maybe this guy/girl is only 16 or 17 with good job skills but little life experience or a lack of parental advice. Some people get started early and don't get all the info they need before they are on their own.
I don't think that asking a community of supposed peers an honest question is prerequisite to needing psychiatric services.
A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
The last time I moved was much simpler:
The most efficient way to move: Don't do it by yourself.
It's easy:
1) Recruit as many people as you can comfortably afford beer and pizza for.
2) Give them beer.
3) Show them where the empty boxes are.
4) Give them beer.
5) Show them where the stuff is that needs moved.
6) Give them beer.
7) Show them where the truck is.
8) Give them beer.
9) Arrive at destination.
10) Give them beer.
11) Order pizza.
12) Give them beer.
13) Eat pizza.
14) Give them beer.
15) Show them where the truck is. Remind them who bought the beer.
16) Give them beer.
17) Have your posessions deposited neatly in your new dwelling.
18) Give them beer.
19) Load them into the just-emptied truck.
20) Give them beer.
21) Wake them up the next morning. Declare that you are out of beer. Take up a collection to cover the cost of the U-Haul moving blanket they broke the seal on and cowered under in an attempt to keep warm*.
22) Send them away. Do not offer to pay them for their gratious efforts**.
23) Have a beer.
24) Begin the never-ending process of putting things into place in their new home.
Good luck!
* This is also a sure-fire way to figure out who your real friends are. Those who complain about sleeping overnight in a cold panel van in a parking lot while you sleep in the warm bed that they carried in for you don't deserve your company.
** And this is certain to weed out the rest.
Kid-proof tablet..
I think I saw this question on a midterm in college. It was for an algorithms class, and even then I thought it was a stupid question.
And remember that it will take MONTHS to unpack everything!
"Trust me - I know what I'm doing."
- Sledge Hammer