Surprise surprise, we have sold Camp Butterfield. Yep, it’s true! The whole moving process has been a bit bittersweet. We have truly loved the area and the house too, but the time was right to sell the house, and so we did.
We are now on the hunt for our next project a place to live. Strangely enough, we don’t have a home lined up yet {we don’t even know what city we are going to move to!} so we’ll be staying in an Airbnb for the foreseeable future.
While this isn’t our first rodeo {more like our 12th}, and we’re not exactly sure where we’ll end up, at least we have 20 moving tips we can offer up in case you too are planning on moving this year. That’s something, right? 😉
As I’m sure you know, moving can be ultra stressful–on everyone, but I swear, organization is the KEY to surviving a move. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite moving tips to keep in mind if you are making a move this year as well.
20 Moving Tips
Have each family member pack a suitcase of essentials.
That way, the first night in the new house is a positive one. You may not get to unpack every bit of every room {or any for that matter!}, but think how nice it will be when you hop in the shower after a long move and you can easily grab some clean jammies and a toothbrush? It will be marvelous darling, just marvelous!
Save money on bubble wrap.
Pack the dishes with the linen closet. Wrap breakables using pillowcases and towels. You’ll save money and have less to throw away or recycle when you unpack.
Label boxes.
Don’t just label what’s in them, but also, what room you want them taken to. Movers or friends/family will be so much more helpful when they don’t have to stop and ask you where you want “this box.”
Show up pre-move and clean the house to your standards.
It’s soooooo much easier to clean ann empty house. Get in there ahead of time and give it a scrub. Have the carpets cleaned now too. That way, it will be “move in ready.”
Rolling carts are AWESOME!
If you have rolling carts or if you’ve been thinking about buying some rolling carts, now might be the time to invest in them. Especially if you are a crafter or have an Etsy shop and have a lot of smaller items or bins. They make moving SO MUCH EASIER!
Simply load up the rolling carts, saran wrap the sides and roll them onto the moving truck. That way, you’ll be able to keep everything together and you’ll know exactly where everything is. You won’t be scrambling trying to find a particular item and your “down” time will be minimal. It’s lovely. Trust me on this. I’ve done it many, many times before. 😉
Don’t pack up all of your drawers.
Just slide the drawer out and use it as a box, then when you place the dresser back in your new home, all you have to do is slide the already unpacked drawer back into place.
Put ALL screws, curtain mounts, electronic cords in LABELED plastic ziplock bags.
You may think you will remember what they go to, but in the chaos, it might just become a mystery screw or cord.
Take a picture of the back of your television.
Do this before you unplug all the cords so that you can remember how to put it back together in the new house. Remembering where all those cords go is just a hassle otherwise.
Make use of suitcases, laundry baskets, etc.
You can really cut down on boxes by using the containers you already have. Just make sure to tie a label onto each of them.
Pack a lunch the night before.
Unless you are ordering pizza or something, having to stop to make a meal in a kitchen that is probably chaos, is a big fat pain in the behind. Pack sandwiches and snacks. It will keep everyone in a better mood.
To pack your hanging clothes, just grab a garbage bag.
Keep the clothes on the hangers, and bag them from the bottom up. Pull the drawstring around the top of the hangers, and off you go.
Number your boxes.
That way, you’ll know if you are missing a box right away.
Minimize your grocery shopping one to two weeks prior to the move.
If you can, use up what you have in the freezer BEFORE you move.
Unplug and clean your fridge.
If you are taking your refrigerator/freezer with you in the move, remmeber to clean it out and defrost it a day or two before you move.
Contact utility companies.
Be sure and do this on both ends {where you’re moving from, and where you’re moving too} and let the companies know your move-out date and your move-in date.
Keep valuable items, like pictures and passports in YOUR car on the day of the move.
That way, they don’t potentially get lost in the shuffle.
Remember to keep a roll of toilet paper handy.
We’ve walked into a new house with ZERO toilet paper before {not cool!} so be sure and have an extra roll or two handy just in case that happens to you. Trust me, friends and family that are helping you will thank you.
Think about what you’ll be sleeping on the first night!
Moving day is stressful enough, and you may not have the energy to get the mattresses out of the moving truck. So if there is a possibility that you won’t have beds set up in time, remember to keep sleeping bags, air mattresses, etc. handy.
Throw a shower curtain in your overnight bag.
You will want to take a shower after a day of moving, and digging through the bathroom boxes may not be too appealing. I had actually never thought to pack a shower curtain in my “moving day bag” until we moved into Camp Butterfield and the previous owners had taken all the shower curtains with them {and t.p. too! Who does this!?}
Bottled water.
Remember glasses will be packed away, so remember to get a case of bottled water for the big day. It’s amazing how tired/thirsty you can get packing/unpacking/loading and unloading boxes. And make sure to get enough for the people that are helping you move too.
Those are my top 20 moving tips. Do you have any more tips you’d like to add? Let us know in the comment section below.
Peace Out,
~Mavis
Anissa says
Excited for your next adventure. Congratulations!
I hope you kept your stove though!!!
Tracey says
oh, SNAP! LOL
Sandie says
I am asking about the stove too!
Mavis Butterfield says
The stove went with the house. It is such a specific size, it had to stay. It was my favorite stove of all time, but the color definitely fit the coastal vibe.
Tracey says
best wishes for happy days! (but, oh, the AGA….. )
Tracey (the other one) says
THIS other Tracey said the same thing!! Good luck! (the AGA!!!???) 🙂
Suzanne Shaw says
OMG – the AGA!! She must be taking that …
Tonya says
Wait! The AGA!!
Jeanine says
What? Not again!
I’m starting to feel sorry for your hubby! Or was this his idea?
C’est La Vie!
You two must get bored after a while. And want a new adventure.
Keep us in the loop. And Good Luck finding you next forever home.
Peace Out!
Erin says
Congrats! We are enjoying being renters in southern Maine. We spend time each week visiting somewhere new & haven’t come close to settling on where we want to put roots. For now, we’re really enjoying the lack of responsibility haha!
Mellie says
Congratulations! The AGA was my first thought too. Can’t wait to see where you end up.
Lynne says
Mavis, I thank you in my heart frequently for the information you share, but this is such a timely post for me. I’m moving in the next 6-8 weeks, and desperately needed this advice. I hope all goes smoothly for you and that you find a new place that speaks to your heart as much as Camp Butterfield did.
Mavis Butterfield says
Best wishes on your move! I hope everything goes smoothly.
Lisa says
I’m floored. I was not expecting this. Also thought of the AGA
Sandy says
I am floored too! I thought I was the only one who didn’t see this coming!
Julie V says
Yes, my first thought was the AGA too. Are you staying on the East Coast still or considering another area of the country?
Nancy says
Wow, I’m surprised!! Good luck! I hope you get settled and rested soon! Moves are exhausting but great tips!! Can’t wait to see and hear what’s next!!
Rosemary says
When I moved from PA to FL, I had a lot of boxes. I numbered each box. I also had a notebook and I listed each box number and what was in the box. So, if I needed a particular item, I just looked in my notebook to see what box it was in. Saved me a ton of time by not having to go thru each box trying to find something. When we unpacked the moving van, all the boxes went into the great room (it was huge) and that made it easier for me to unpack one box at a time and put things away. It also made it easier to put the furniture in each room without having to move boxes around.
So, instead of “where’s Waldo”, it will be “where’s Mavis”! Looking forward to seeing where you land!
Peg says
Holy cow! Should have seen this coming. We’ve moved a lot too, and one thing we always did is load beds last. Last thing on, first thing off, and take the time to set it up. All necessary tools and nuts/bolts to reassemble goes in a big ziplock bag in a different vehicle (one labeled ziplock per bed). We are past all the moving (4 in 2 years 11 years ago, which included 2 one thousand mile moves in 10 months cured us of that) because we are old now.
Christie says
Best of luck! We can’t wait to hear where you find yourself next! We sold our home at the end of December and just settled on our new home April 1. It was a fun adventure in the interim. We lived in our RV. HH, me, 2 cats and a dog. Whew, we are excited to finally be home again!
Lindsey says
I join all the other commentators in saying, “But..but…the AGA!”
Mavis Butterfield says
I know… It made the BEST cookies!
Ashley Bananas says
I loved this house….(like I personally visited or something right? lol) but I hope the next one is a whole new adventure!
Linda Sand says
I packed a “first box” with things like light bulbs, toilet paper, hand soap and towel, cleaning spray and paper towels, and a few things that make the new place say home right away. (pictures, favorite vase, favorite mug, etc.) That box went into our car.
Lana says
What? We have lived in this old house for 30 years. We don’t do change.
Wendy M says
Color me shocked! I thought Camp Butterfield was your forever home! I hope things work out well for you, wherever you end up!!
Teri says
My thoughts exactly!
Staci says
That’s what I thought, too.
Laura says
You must not be sentimental. You get things how you like them and then up and move. I’m not sure if I’d be comfortable with that but it’s fascinating that you’re able to do it. I hope you find another place that you love and that you can put down roots for awhile. Good luck!
Julia Park Tracey says
I’m shocked as well — but you always end up somewhere marvelous (except for the HOA). Good luck! Would you mind telling us why? We’d love to know.
James Doolittle says
No, we really thought this was going to be it for you guys :). Well, good luck on your next adventure, from the TF Rd gang!
Mavis Butterfield says
Tell everyone we said hello! 🙂
Catherine says
Like all the others my first thought was “what about the AGA?” We all followed the saga of the AGA and I hope it is going with you. Good luck on you move and finding some place new to roost. Having followed you for several years and all your crazy moves. I hope you find your forever home soon.
Natali says
Wow! I did not see this one coming and I’m a pretty good investigator lol.
Did the failed garden do it lol?
You always keep us on our toes and that’s fun!
I don’t have the opportunity to move places so it’s fun seeing you do it.
I’m excited to see what’s up next!
Reading your blog is like reading mystery, you leave us hanging haha.
Pat says
My first thought, too, was it must have been last year’s garden failure. It breaks my heart to think of you leaving that gorgeous view across the cove. I’ve lived on the water vicariously through you and Lucy.
And how will you get settled in time for this year’s garden???
I firmly believe the AGA is moving too. Following the journey to acquire it has made it one of the family.
GOOD LUCK!!! with your next stop, Mavis.
Jules says
I love that you move and take us along virtually. Much easier on the rest of us, lol.
Mavis Butterfield says
Ha! At this pace, I agree.
Sherry in Sumner says
Anxious to see where the leg lamp ends up next!
Mavis Butterfield says
Me too!
Sharon says
Wow, I can hardly believe this. I adore the water view from your living room windows. I would have a really hard time leaving that view. I’m sure going to miss pictures of this place. But can’t wait to see where you end up!
sandy says
I am so excited for you. I want to move so badly. My husband is allergic to change. I don’t get it, I thrive on it. Keeps us young-ish, and if you sell smart-a financial gain.
We had a realtor give us an analysis of financials-and we would have to pay so much in capital gains, it is a challenge, and in CA, we can take our property tax with us after 55. So-that is the only reason we could afford it. Now that homes are all over a million, that has to be a factor. I search real estate sites daily. But we have a historic house that we restored-so it has to top that. We have come close to a few, but nothing has grabbed him yet. I cold live in a 900 sq ft cottage by the beach. I can’t wait to see where you go-and I applaud your bravery and foresight . You can get another AGA if you wish, or maybe one was enough. Onward and upward!
Patty says
Oh wowza! I too, wondered about the AGA, but more importantly (to me), the incredible ocean view you will be missing each day. No matter where you land though, you will make it “home”. Best wishes to you in the next few, hectic weeks!
Janice says
My first thought… oh, the view! Maybe they are finally moving to a deserted Island 🙂
Arbie Goodfellow says
I with the rest of you…I had no idea this was coming. I don’t think you took the Aga…the new homeowners will like it.
We moved from a big house to a small house…I sold a bunch of items and love our tiny house! Now it’s time to travel!
Gigi says
Other tips for moving:
1. Label the side of the box with the contents, not the top. When stacked, you have to move each box to see the contents of the box below.
2. That plastic baggie of hardware, zip tie/tape it to the furniture if possible.
3. Use old fitted sheets to protect your mattresses while moving.
4. Paper boxes make excellent moving boxes if you can get them.
We moved a lot when I was growing up and the new company would often pay for professional packers. One packer got thirsty, filled a glass of water. Somehow that glass of water got packed and even made it to the new house a few hundred miles away with water still in it!
Mel says
I love how everyone else thought of the AGA first. Meanwhile, I was over here like, but where will you kayak!?
My moving tip is to drop the dog off at the groomer during the actual move. And even brand new houses need to be cleaned before move in.
Dawn says
Great tips!
You’ve put a lot into your coastal home, and I know you’ll have good memories of your time there…except for maybe last summer’s absolutely soggy weather. Best of luck to you both on your next adventure, Mavis!
XYZ says
Well, I just experienced shades of deja vu. As a teenager, my family lived in a lovely farmhouse which my mother had spent years transforming into the most gorgeous living space. My mother was so very talented at so very many things. One of them was secrecy. I have never known anyone quite like my mother for keeping a secret or for engineering a total emotional whammy that could come from out of nowhere. We came home from school one day to be told that we would be moving that weekend (it was a Thursday afternoon) and that we were to pack the belongings we wanted to keep the most, and discard everything else. My mother moved us into a 2 bedroom flat. SIX MONTHS after that, we came home from school to find out that our parents’ divorce was final. My parents had carried on as if everything was normal and that was the most disconcerting thing of all, that we hadn’t been trusted enough to share good or bad fortune. I was so triggered by your post because I have been reading for a long time and thought that you had found your forever home. Just goes to show that you never really know any given situation LOL
Syphi says
I hope you find a house on an island like you’ve wished for. Even better, one that comes with an AGA. Lucy needs her walks in the beach!
Sue S. says
I agree. The view, the AGA, the gardens – who inherits them?- the kitchen and studio renovations! Are you guys restless or what?
I have lived in my house since 1976, renovated it in 2022, and can’t imagine moving. I have a conservation area named after my husband down the street and fantastic waterviews from every room in my Cape Cod home, the only place better than coastal Maine. “Whuz-up”? Do tell, do tell.
Mary says
I hope you took the stove? You worked so hard to get it. Good luck with the move. Keep us posted.
Norma says
The view, the kayak, the beach , the AGA! I bet this is one of your goals now that I think about it. Go on an adventure? I love that nothing hold you back! You put your mind to something and do it! ❤️
J in OH-IO says
We were so exhausted physically and emotionally from our last move in 2001 that we’ve said many times since that we never want to move again. However, I do need to “downsize my stuff” and pretend like we are moving to get organized. I am exhausted at just the thought of the move, but glad to read your helpful tips and others ideas, too! You have got it down to a streamlined system- Thanks! Looking forward to reading about your next home adventure- best of luck on finding your next place!
Vivian says
Are you coming back to Washington???
Pam Thornton says
Guess it’s time for your private island. What an adventure you two are living. Can’t wait to see where you land
Linda says
But, you were gardening! Someone must have come along and offered you a bag of money you could not turn down.
I used kitchen linens, house linens, husband’s tshirts, anything soft and clean. I may have used soft toys, maybe not clean but soft. we did sleep on the floor once when we arrived. Mover looked in my underwear drawer with one move, used my nicest panties to wrap greasy screws in. I think he wiped his hands on my panties or just fondled them.
Lesley says
I think the “in-between” time at the Airbnb might be the best part of the move! There is something so liberating about it because it frees you up to take adventures and work on projects that are not home-related. We have given up on the idea of the “forever home” because we love to move, love to re-examine our relationship with things, and love to explore new places. Good for you, glad you and your hubby are on the same page. Thanks for taking us along!
Staci says
Wow. I thought Camp Butterfield was your forever home. I should have known when the religious size garden plot went back under grass seed and you weren’t showing a bunch of seed starts in the window.
I gotta say, there have been so many changes in my own life the past year, that I enjoyed a sense of peace that you were settled. Silly, I know. You are a complete stranger, but due to the miracle of modern social media, you feel like a close friend or cousin. Again, it’s silly, I know, for me to be sad about this.
I will recover 😉 as you share your next set of adventures and the discovery of your next home. I don’t believe at this point that you will ever have a forever permanent address.
It seems the “road to the next home/adventure” may be your forever home.
Best wishes and enjoy the journey.
Lissa says
I am still mourning the greenhouse… six moves ago (at least). You definitely keep us on our toes Mavis!