Our Top 10 Tips for Making Moving Easy
Congratulations, you just bought a new home and now it’s time to move!
With every move comes packing – everyone’s favorite thing, right?! Don’t panic, packing up for a move is actually a great way to declutter and simplify the items you’ll bring with you into your next house. Keep reading to learn about some of our favorite tips and tricks so that your moving process is a piece of cake!
1. Checklists Are Your Best Friend
Just like a grocery list can help you avoid buying things you don’t need, a moving checklist can help ensure that you stay on track. A checklist not only helps you get an idea of what to pack but how long the process will take - giving you an ample amount of time to recruit help and get prepared for the big move! It may be helpful to have a checklist for each room in your home so that you can guarantee nothing gets left behind.
2. Decide What You Want to Toss, Keep, and Donate
A great way to keep stress levels and workloads to a minimum is to get rid of the household items you no longer need. We suggest designating boxes for what you want to “donate,” “throw away,” and “keep.” Getting rid of belongings (even old or unused) can stir up a lot of emotions and make them difficult to part with. For those of us who are a little sentimental, it’s nice to have designated “keep” piles – one for necessities like clothing, kitchenware and electronics, and one “sentimental keep” pile so that you don’t feel guilty about hanging onto the things that hold sentimental value. The upside to all this decluttering? How much storage space you will have in your new home!
3. Pack One Room A Day
No one wants to spend all day packing, especially at the last minute. So why not set aside a certain amount of time every day to get it done? Waiting until the last minute may lead you to forget something important or cause unnecessary stress. We suggest committing to a few hours a day to pack. You’d be surprised how easy packing can be when you do it a little at a time and have others involved. Keep those in your home motivated by incentivizing a competition. This not only makes packing fun, but also decreases the amount of time it takes to pack.
4. Label Those Boxes!
Labeling your boxes helps you stay organized and can prevent a world of frustration - imagine having hundreds of identical brown boxes in your new home and having no idea what is in each one? When labeling your boxes, we suggest using a high-quality set of permanent and waterproof markers. If color-coding is your jam, find a set of markers that comes with at least five different colors. Want a simpler option? Check out these ready-to-use labels from Tidy Mom .
5. Save Space with Clothes
This is our favorite hack for packing clothes! Instead of taking the time to fold all your clothes in boxes, only to take them back out as soon as you move - keep them on their hangers! This is a great time and space saver. To keep your clothes organized during the move, grab a trash bag, cut a hole out of the top and place the bag over a group of 5-10 clothing items. Voila!
6. Keep Your Essentials Close
On the night before you move, set aside everyday essentials – a toothbrush, change of clothes, medication, etc., in a suitcase or carry-on bag that will travel with you in the car. If catastrophe arises and the moving truck gets delayed, you’ll have all your necessities with you!
7. Ditch the Bubble Wrap
Why use bubble wrap when you can use your own linens? Using socks, towels, and blankets as packing materials is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. It not only protects your breakables, but it helps you pack, too. Wrap breakables like glasses or perfume bottles in socks for extra padding and use towels and blankets to provide cushioning for items that are difficult to wrap – like lamps and vases.
8. Determine “Last-On, First-Off” Items
It’s always a good idea to identify any items you’ll need to have immediately once you’re in your new home – load those items last, so that they’re the first items off the truck. This helps ensure that important items are easily accessible when you are ready to unpack. Think night-time teddy bears for the littles, gadgets, toiletries, linens, and cleaning supplies!
9. Think About Box Sizes
Using the same size box for every item may not be the best way to save space, so we recommend having various sizes available! Larger boxes are good for packing bulky, yet lightweight items like bedding, while small boxes are better for heavier items like books and cookware. Amazon is a great place to find a variety of boxes for a budget friendly move – plus they are delivered directly to your door! It also might not be a bad idea to check your local home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot.
10. Keep Your Cords Organized
Nobody likes untangling cords! Believe it or not, empty toilet paper rolls are great for keeping your cords divided and organized. All you have to do is place the rolls vertically in your box and put the cords inside each one. Simple as that! Check out Tech Insider’s step by step video for a quick tutorial.
Packing for a move can be overwhelming and tedious, but we hope that these tips were helpful and put your mind at ease. Ready to love coming home? We have quick move-in homes available in some of our most popular communities that we think you will love.
Want to start from scratch? Chat with a New Home Advisor about your options today!
