It’s moving season in America. More than 60 percent of the estimated 40 million Americans who will relocate this year will do so this summer. Here in Georgia, about 81 percent of those moves will be within the state — more than half just across town. Whether it’s down the road or across the country, it’s a safe bet that 100 percent of those moves will be stressful. It just comes with the territory.
Moving? Walton Gas offers customers easy online service transfer.
To smooth the move for our customers, Walton Gas offers easy online transfer of your natural gas service. We’ve also compiled a list of planning and packing hacks to make trading spaces as simple as possible. Happy moving!
  1. Start early

Start planning your packing strategy six weeks before your move. Dedicate the first three weeks to decluttering, cleaning and organizing packing supplies. Reserve the last two to three weeks for packing. For a more detailed timeline, use this planner from moving.com.

  1. Transfer utilities

Nobody wants to try to settle into a new place without air conditioning, hot water or WiFi. So, as soon as you have a moving date, go ahead and complete transfer requests for all utilities.

Walton Gas can serve your natural gas needs as long as you’re on Atlanta Gas Light Company’s pipeline. Transferring service can be accomplished online in just a couple of minutes. Have your account number and new address handy, then visit https://www.waltongas.com/transfer-service/ to complete a transfer request.

  1. Jettison the junk

Moving creates the perfect opportunity to get rid of things you no longer need. Sort items in boxes labeled “keep,” “throw” and “donate/sell.” Gently used items can be donated to organizations like Habitat for Humanity or sold at a yard sale. Some organizations will pick up large items, such as furniture or rugs, you wish to donate.

  1. Load up on packing supplies

You’ll need more than you think. In addition to boxes, moving blankets, packing tape and bubble wrap, buy rolls of plastic film that can be wrapped around furniture doors and drawers to keep them secure in transit. Plastic film is also handy for wrapping over the tops of open boxes or trays to hold items in place.

Organization tip: Keep packing tools like markers, tape, scissors, checklists etc. at the ready by placing them in a canvas tool apron you wear while packing. Lowe’s has one for just $1.98.

  1. Take pictures

Photograph the back of electronics like TVs and computers before removing cables. This will help you quickly set it up later.

  1. Pack a suitcase

Moving tips from North Atlanta’s Farkas Real Estate Group suggests packing a bag for each member of the family as though you’re going on vacation. Include changes of clothes, medications, basic toiletries, personal device chargers, etc. Keep the suitcases separated from all the other items to be moved, so you’ll have everything you need for the first few days without searching through boxes.

  1. Single out essentials

Fill a clear plastic box with household essentials that you’ll need to quickly locate. This should contain basics such as toilet paper, trash bags, cleaning supplies, LED light bulbs, some towels and bed linens. Transport this box in your personal vehicle so you can easily retrieve it.

  1. Protect valuable items

Cash, legal documents, passports, stock/bond certificates, jewelry and irreplaceable family mementos should be packed separately and remain in your possession during the move, suggests the Georgia Movers Association.

  1. Color code and label boxes

Pick up a sheet of different colored stickers and assign a color for each room in your new home. Attach a sticker to each box, indicating the room where it should be placed. Share your color-coding system with your movers and tape the correct color label to each room’s door.

Use a thick, dark marker to label each box according to its contents and where they came from, such as “medicine cabinet” or “linen closet–towels and wash cloths.” Gameday Moving Company of Athens suggests labeling each box on the two broadest sides, opposite one another. If a box gets turned, you can still identify its contents.

  1. Have a parts box

Label and place screws and small parts from disassembled furniture and equipment in separate, clear plastic bags. Place the bags and any tools needed for reassembly in the parts box.

  1. Fill up empty containers

No space should go unused. Use suitcases to pack things that aren’t easily transported in boxes, such as books and heavy serving dishes. Place paper towels and dusting cloths in clean trashcans. Instead of wasting additional boxes for small kitchen items like spices and gadgets, fill up large pots and other sealable containers with them.

  1. Leave out the linens

Instead of packing sheets, blankets and towels, use them as wrapping and padding to cushion fragile, difficult-to-wrap items like lamps and large vases.