Not every move is as simple as moving across town to another house. Sometimes you’re swapping your house out for a boat, looking to enjoy the fresh air and freedom of life on the water. But don’t worry, Little Guys Movers in Wilmington have a few tips from their own experience helping to move folks into houseboats.
Packing for a Boat
Packing to move into a houseboat can be a little different from packing to move into a more normal house. One of the main differences is that you will likely have far less space and storage on your boat than you currently have. Consider a houseboat to be like a tiny house on the water — there’s very limited room. So, when you pack, take the time to declutter and review what of your belongings you really want in your home. You don’t have to get rid of everything — you can always store the excess in storage units — but you most likely won’t be able to bring it all on board with you.
Additionally, your packing methods might be a little different. While you certainly can still use cardboard and tape to transport everything, you may also want to consider more waterproof containers for your most precious items, just in case.
Moving Day
The most important thing to consider on moving day is access to the houseboat. If you have a permanent address or docking station, then this isn’t an issue, but if your boat is stationed away from land or tends to move around a lot, things could get tricky. Find an accessible place to dock for the day — with the proper allowances and licensing to be there — whether that’s in a marina, along a houseboat dock, or wherever you can find. If you can’t bring your boat in to land, you can rent barge services to take all of your belongings across to your houseboat in one trip instead of taking many trips in a smaller boat.
When loading all of your furniture and other items, and even more so as you unpack, be aware of how you are distributing the weight. Too much to any one side could put the boat at a tilt, which could, over time, cause it damage. And don’t forget to keep an eye on the weather. While rain or a storm is mostly an inconvenience for a normal move, they could cause real problems on a houseboat by making it unsteady for you, your movers, and everything you’re loading and unloading.
A Life on the Water
There are many wonderful reasons to start out a life on a houseboat. You won’t have to maintain a yard, there’s always fantastic scenery, and it’s definitely a life of adventure. Just make sure you take care to start that life off easy by preparing for your move, and with help from your Wilmington Little Guys Movers.