Moving to a new home can be an exhilarating, but also stressful and challenging time, where you can get quickly overwhelmed with the sheer amount of details you have to keep track of, tasks you have to finish, and so on.
From having to pack all your belongings to the uncertain future of settling into a new, unfamiliar environment, there are plenty of little struggles you will have to contend with.
So, a little help with making the whole process as smooth and unproblematic as possible might prove beneficial. Allow this little guide to step in and give you a few tips about making the transition to your new home.
Plan Ahead
Procrastination is always tempting, whether it is for work, house chores, schoolwork, or something else. But, do not let it win this time, plan ahead as much as you can, and make a moving checklist to keep track of everything you have to do.
First up you will need to lock in what truck to rent, because moving can’t exactly work if you don’t have a vehicle to move all your boxes and belongings. Then comes the other stuff, like what to pack first, who is responsible for what, etc.
Write down everything you need to purchase beforehand, like boxes, packing tape, sharpie markers, and whatever else you will require before moving day is upon you.
Get a little Creative
There are quite a few things that are best transported to your new home without being in a box, so it’s time to think outside the box and get a little creative.
Say, your clothes. Instead of stuffing them inside a box, you can just use one large trash bag and basically bring it up from the bottom of your wardrobe up to the clothes racks, after which you can secure the clothes hangers with elastic bands.
Once you are at your new home, you can simply hang them up on the rod and pull the bags off and that’s it. Don’t forget that you can also use items like suitcases, backpacks, and laundry hampers as improvised moving boxes.
Declutter
Over time, clutter builds up in your home—stuff that is broken, unnecessary, and worthless. Don’t just start chucking everything in sight into the moving boxes, but take some time to properly declutter first.
Throw the trash away, clear away everything you no longer need and definitely won’t need in your new home.
If you have clothes you no longer wear anymore, or similar items, consider making a donation pile, putting them into a box or boxes, and hauling them away to your local charity.
Label Everything
You would not believe how much time will be saved when it comes to unpacking the boxes if you label them beforehand, identifying where they need to go.
You can label them however you wish, like just writing the room on the boxes with a thick marker, like Kitchen, Living Room, etc, or using a color-code system, or even writing a short description or number on the boxes.
Then, you and the movers will know exactly what boxes need to go where and in what order they should be unpacked.
Golden Rule in Packing
One of the best tips when it comes to packing is using the right-sized box, which is the golden rule, the heavier the item, the smaller its box should be.
This is because it will be a lot easier to carry heavier things if they are packed into smaller boxes, and large boxes should be reserved for light items.
Books, for example, can get incredibly heavy, and if you aren’t careful, they may even tear the box, as some might be able to tell you, so to ease their movement, try packing them neatly into smaller boxes.
Admittedly, it can get annoying to pack them all if you have a lot of books at home, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Pack Intelligently
Packing everything can take quite a bit of time, but unpacking everything can take you much longer, so to make the process as painless and quick as possible, pack intelligently, with a bit of planning.
This entails a few different concepts, like packing one room into one box or, if you need more boxes, labeling them properly.
Try to avoid mixing a bunch of items from different rooms together, as that will save time and energy later when you hopefully won’t need to run from room to room offloading everything.
When packing things like shampoo, soap, dishwasher liquid, and other liquids around the household, consider wrapping a layer of cling wrap around it before screwing the lid back on.
Doing so will prevent the liquid from leaking out and not only wasting away but also damaging other items in the box.
Take Pictures
Snap some photos of stuff like the wiring on the back of your entertainment systems, so you can quickly check how to set it back up once you are settled into your new house. This goes for pretty much anything you have to disassemble for the move.
Also, take some pictures of anything valuable or fragile, just in case it gets damaged or goes missing during the transport. The photos might prove invaluable if and when you need to make an insurance claim.
Pack the Essentials
Don’t forget to pack an overnight bag with all your essentials before the move—all the personal and valuable stuff you don’t want to go into the moving boxes—like laptops, phones, chargers, jewelry, clothes you will need, reading glasses, prescription medications, and so on.
Don’t forget all the important papers either, like cash, passports, and any deeds or documents you need close by. Also, make sure you have planned your meals about a week in advance, as there won’t be much time or supplies for cooking all that much.
So whether it’s take-out, cooking in advance, or relatives helping, make sure you are prepped.
Conclusion
Moving to a new home is an entirely new chapter in your life, especially if you aren’t used to it, full of possibilities and the unknown. It can also be a very stressful, chaotic, and challenging time, so it really helps if you have some structure and basic tips to help you through the process.