For most of us, gone are the days where all you need to move is a buddy with a truck – the truth is, if you’ve spent any amount of time in one particular home, you’ve likely gathered a whole lot of ‘stuff’ that is going to need to be transported from one place to another, and the task is probably already seeming somewhat insurmountable.
It’s not. We promise. And we’ve got a few tips to help you tackle this mountain and come out on top.
1. Don’t Procrastinate
Moving day is coming whether you want it to or not. However, it’ll be a heck of a lot easier if you get started as soon as you know the day is coming. Leaving it for the last minute only breeds anxiety (and chaos). Make yourself a moving plan and stick to it.
2. Declutter
If you have enough time before moving day, use this time to go through your home, room by room and closet by closet, and throw away or donate items that won’t have a space in your new home. It’s a good chance to start a new space with no clutter and only the items that you want to keep.
3. Pack Room By Room
Be efficient in your packing – work through your packing room by room to keep things together. This will not only help with the packing process by keeping your home less cluttered and your process more organize, but it will help with unpacking by making sure that items that go in individual rooms are easily found and are together when it’s time to unpack.
4. Color Code Your Labels
This is easily one of our favorites. When you’re packing, create a color coded system so that UN-packing is a breeze. Utilize colored packing tape, or colored labels. Assign each room a color, and make sure your movers know which color goes with which room. It will be easy to keep boxes together, and to know where they go when it’s time to offload the moving van. Then, when it’s time to unpack, all of the boxes are already in the right room.
5. Use What You Have
Save money and space by wrapping fragile items in blankets, clothing and towels in lieu of packing tape and/or bubble wrap.
6. Take Pictures
When packing boxes, snap a few pictures so you know which items are in which box. Label your photo with your color coded system – color, box number. Before packing up electronics, snap a picture of the back to make setup a breeze.
7. Pack Hanging Clothes in a Trash Bag
While still hanging in the closet, put clothes inside trash bags (clean, of course) to keep clothes on the hangers. You’ll not only minimize boxes, you’ll be able to transfer hanging clothes straight from one closet to another.
8. Clean the Bathroom and Kitchen
Before your moving van arrives, take some time to scrub the bathroom and kitchen in your new home. You’ll shortly be surrounded by boxes and (hopefully) organized chaos – you’ll want to be sure that when you’re unpacking, you’re putting your belongings in an already tidy environment.
9. Utilize Plastic Wrap
Instead of unpacking drawers and organizers, wrap them in plastic wrap. Minimize loose items and maximize your unpacking efficiency. You’ll need less boxes and be able to just unwrap and put your items in their new home.
10. Pack an ‘unpack first’ box.
Use a clear bin, or clearly label a box designated as your ‘unpack first’ box. Fill this box with necessities – toiletries, bed sheets, hand towels, soap, etc.
Moving day comes with its own set of stresses, no matter who you are, but taking a few steps to minimize the overwhelm can make a big difference when the big day finally comes. Anxious to find your new home? Give us a call, we can help get you on the right road to home-ownership.