When it comes to moving into a new home, there is so much planning and work involved. The more organised you are, the easier it is to move out of your old home and move into your new one. Our 10 organisational tips will help you get the most out of your move and make it a much easier process for you.
- Remove the Clutter before You Move: Just about everyone has stuff that they don’t need and plan on getting rid of. When you are planning to move, there are two big reasons to get rid of your clutter and extra stuff. The first reason, is obvious, you don’t want to have to pack up, move, and unpack things you don’t plan on keeping. Whatever you can give away, recycle, sell, and throw out before you move are things that you won’t be bothered with when it comes time to pack up and move. Who knows, a garage sale for your extra things might help your with your moving expenses. Think about your furniture and appliances too, if you don’t plan on keeping them and using them in your new home, then try to get rid of them before moving. The second reason you want to have less clutter is that a lack of clutter helps tremendously when you are staging your home for sale. Clutter makes people feel crowded, nervous, and stressed out. All the more reasons to get rid of your clutter and extra things you don’t want to keep after you move.
- Plan as Much as Possible in Advance: Plan as much about your move as you can in advance. You will need to report to a moving company how many boxes you have and what size moving van or truck you will need. So, if you calculate this in advance, it will help make things go smoother when it comes time for a move. Make a moving calendar schedule as far as 6 months out from your move. Include everything in this calendar including when and what to pack, when to forward your mail, change your address, and notify your contacts about your move. This planning will help you very much throughout your entire moving process.
- Book Your Rental Truck ahead of Time: Whether you are hiring a moving truck from Budget Trucks or going with a moving company, you will get the best rates if you book in advance. This will also ensure that you have pick of the size vehicle you need and gives the moving truck rental company or moving company time to plan and help you with your move.
- Make Plans for Your Children and Pets on Moving Day: Moving can be especially stressful for your pets and children. Make plans in advance so that your children are aware of what is happening and can be involved in an age appropriate way. Make sure to have activities on moving day to keep them busy or distracted depending on their level of involvement with the actual move. If you are moving in town, consider a babysitter or child care options. Your pets won’t understand what is going on either. If you can board them during an in-town move, that is usually best. If you are moving with them, then make sure that they are comfortable and have plenty of treats, water, and bathroom breaks during the move.
- Plan to Stage Your Home to Sell: One of the things that is important during a move where you are planning to sell your current home is the staging of that home so that it will be most appealing to buyers. Your real estate agent can likely help you with the specifics for your home, but the important thing here is to plan that you are going to stage your home. This might mean keeping some of your current furniture and belongings in storage until you move. A home is always more appealing to buyers if they can picture themselves in it and if your home still has all of your personal things in it, that makes this harder for buyers to imagine.
- Buy Moving Insurance: When you move, just about everything you own and find important is in that moving truck. All of the memories and sentimental value cannot be replaced, but the monetary value can be replaced if something happens during the move and you have purchased insurance. Planning in advance also means being able to shop around for the best deal for moving insurance.
- Get All of Your Moving Supplies in Advance: As you are planning ahead, you will know how many boxes you need and also can make a list of other moving supplies you will need like stuffing or bubble wrap, dolly carts for hauling the boxes, labels, markers, and the different sizes and shapes of boxes you will need to accommodate all of your things.
- Preprint Labels for Your Boxes: The best way to organise your boxes is to clearly label them. Many very organised movers can take it a step further and colour code the labels for each room. This helps when unpacking and even when unloading so that the movers know where each box goes.
- Make an Inventory List for Each Box: Making an inventory of each box helps you when you are unpacking, and also helps you in advance to know how big and heavy each box is. An inventory list also comes in handy if anything is missing or if there is any problem and needed your moving insurance, you will know exactly what is missing.
- Pack a First Day Essentials Box: This is one of the last things you will need to do, but it is important to plan this ahead so that you don’t pack the things you will need in this first day essentials box. If you have more than one moving truck or if you are using movers and are not traveling with your things, then you will take the first day essentials box with you. This will have a change of clothes, pajamas, snacks, your toiletries, and anything you want for breakfast the next morning including coffee or tea.Related: More moving tips
