Packing and Unpacking from a Move
Moving can often feel like a tremendous burden. Especially if you haven’t moved before, and aren’t overly organized. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the moving process then it’s a good idea to hire a professional organizer. We can take care of a lot of the difficult tasks for you, and allow you to focus on some easier, more fun, and less stressful components of the move. If you follow these moving tips (below), your transition will flow much more smoothly, and you will have less stress.
Tips on How to Pack for a Move
The first step is to purge and declutter. You must decide if you want to take each item to your new home. This will allow your new home to feel spacious and less cluttered.
Donate items before you pack them away in boxes, so you’re not spending extra money on box space.
Wash curtains, towels, and bed sheets so you can have access to clean towels and sheets at the end of a long day of work.
Gather your supplies (Cardboard boxes, packing tape, moving blankets, and moving truck) and greatly overestimate what you need, and you can always return unused items later. You can get free boxes from Costco or Walmart early in the morning when they unload.
You may want to use “box/packing tape” which is easy to rip, there’s no sticking and it’s ideal for a move.
It’s best to get several different sized boxes for your various items.
Put lighter items in bigger boxes, and heavier items in smaller boxes because larger boxes are harder to move, especially when they are heavy.
Use towels or clothing to wrap dishes and breakable items.
Pack room by room, so that you complete one room before you move to the next. This way you won’t have open boxes everywhere, and you won’t forget which box an item is located.
Pack an essentials box or suitcase for every member of your family. Pretend as though you’re going on a trip for a week, and pack everything that you would need.
Label everything that’s in the box, and also write where the box should end up. Use colored tape to signify which room a box belongs in, and put a corresponding piece of color tape on the door way of the room it represents.
Paint and patch holes. Take down all of your mirrors, clocks, and shelves.
Donate or sell items that you are not taking with you.
Don’t pack valuables, but rather bring them with you in your personal car so they are protected and don’t get lost or stolen.
Don’t take clothes off the hangers, but rather bag them in a large trash bag and tie it together at the top.
Use suitcases, laundry baskets, and bags to save money on boxes. However, if you have the money, then just pack everything in boxes because it makes it a lot easier to stack and move.
When packing clothes, roll them instead of folding them to save space.
Use plastic bags to carry shampoo, lotions, soap, and other things that could possibly spill and create a large mess.
Don’t spend money on empty boxes, but instead get them for free at your local super markets.
Cut handles into your boxes to make them easier to carry.
Take photos of how your house was set up, so you can recreate the same look when you move into the new place.
Tape any screws or supplies with the object that it goes with.
Use paper plates between glass plates to prevent them from breaking.
Label wires, so you know what they go to.
Tips on Unpacking from a Move
Clean your new space BEFORE you move in.
Decide if you want to unpack everything from the boxes as soon as they are in your new space, or you wait until all the boxes are in your house before you start unpacking them.
Unpack all your essential items first. Take care of your bedroom first, then your bathroom, and then your kitchen. Especially focus on unpacking your bedroom (set up your bed!) and bathroom the day of the move, so you can take a shower and go to bed at the end of the day.
Make sure to move all boxes to their designated rooms.
Next, take measurements, and make a floor plan for your new house. This way when you are trying to fill your spaces, you will know what fits and what doesn’t.
Measure cabinets and drawers, so organizational aids fit correctly, and you can maximize your space.
Update shelf liners for dishes.
Recycle most of your moving boxes. You may want to save a few for storage.
Purchase bins and organizers after you are all moved in and know exactly what you need.
These moving and packing tips have been brought to you by (Sharrah Stevens, Moving House Hacks + Packing Tips) and (TalkBeckyTalk, Moving Hacks|Tips Everyone Needs!)
