How to Pack for an Accelerator
Depending on the incubator or accelerator you are attending, you’ll probably be living in an apartment or house that is completely unfurnished. Remember, you’re only there for a few months and trying to keep expenses as low as possible. Here are a few tips for stocking up your new place.
If possible, drive to your new home. The drive may take some time and cost on gas, hotels, and road munchies, but it could save you over the plane ticket and everything you couldn’t pack into your checked bag.
Key items to bring:
Bedding and towels. Often overlooked, but essential and expensive to buy when you get there. Try to pack an extra set for the programmer or intern you inevitably pickup during the program that has to sleep on your couch.
Air mattress. A good air mattress can be your ‘Select Comfort’ alternative. It’s hard to find mattresses or even futons in good condition on Craig’s List when you get there. If you buy a foam mattress cover, then the air mattress may actually be better than your regular one.
Kitchen stuff. Spatulas, kitchen knife, big spoons, tongs, and stuff like that is expensive to buy – especially when they don’t take up much space in your car. Bring your silverware too if you can. If you have to have a latte or toasted bagel in the morning – remember to bring that special espresso machine or toaster instead of buying it there. You’re living here for several months, so you want to be able to recreate some resemblance of your normal routine, although it may be Spartan.
Electronics. Don’t forget your computer and all of your chargers. Bring your extra monitors – dual monitors improve productivity. Power strips are better to bring than buy.
Clothes. Pack light on shirts and leave them on hangers. Then just use your suitcase as a dresser. You’re at the accelerator to eat, breathe, and live your company. Get t-shirts with your company logo and wear those EVERY day instead. Wear them if you go out too – girls (and guys) want to date the next Mark Zuckerburg. Don’t wear your shirts working out, doing things you don’t want associated with your company, or when asking for money (this is optional – my personal rule is to wear a collar when asking for money). Have multiple shirts and wash them regularly though – you don’t want your logo associated with body odor.
Plenty of socks and underwear mean you have to do laundry less often.
When you get there (also applies to your first offices):
Boxes, plywood, and doors all make great tables and desks. Free tables make even greater tables and desks.
Lawn chairs don’t take up much space when packing. If you’re at a winter accelerator, ask people if you can borrow their outdoor furniture. They’re not using it right now anyways.
What to buy and how to get it for free/cheap:
Search for the term ‘moving’ on Craig’s List. Ask them what else they’re looking to get rid of. They may have stuff you could use that they didn’t think anybody was willing to pay for or they were about to donate.
For items under $20 on Craig’s List, send them an email explaining your situation and that you’ll pick it up if they haven’t been able to get rid of it up to that point. If people are offering something for cheap on Craig’s List, they aren’t looking for the money they’re just looking to get it out of their house. It’s best to ask or follow-up on Sunday because they’ll want it out by the end of the weekend if they haven’t sold it at that point.
Rent a U-Haul, strategically plan your miles, and pick everything you can up in 1 day. It’s usually $1 per mile, so budget that into the items you’re driving to pick up. If you’re renting the truck from a storage company, ask if they have any stuff they’re looking to get rid of. We hit the jackpot by doing this. They let us go through the units they were going to auction off and pick out anything we wanted for free (your own personal Storage Wars, but free).
Ask everyone you meet if there is something they’re looking to get rid of. You’d be surprised how many people have a box of something or an old couch in the basement that they just haven’t taken the time to throw out.
Most stuff is cheaper to buy new at Wal-Mart or Ikea (Target can be expensive when you’re on a startup budget) if you can’t find it for dirt cheap on Craig’s List or didn’t bring it. Goodwill is hit or miss and can actually be more expensive than buying new.
Dishes are the only thing that can be best to buy at Goodwill if you can’t get them for free from Craig’s List.
Best tip: Buy the 4’x8’ sheets of waterproof paneling used for bathrooms and showers. It’s a cheap, works as a giant white board, and it’ll roll up to fit in your car on the way home from Home Depot. A $1 bottle of Windex makes up for the fact that it isn’t quite as easy to clean.
Remember, you’re at the accelerator to work from the time you wake up to the time you pass out. Live as simply as possible because it will give you an even better reason to stay at the office. Good luck!
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