A short guide on packing and moving to a new home
Moving to a new home is exciting. Packing, on the other hand, isn’t. No one likes buckling down and thinking about moving, but what if we told you moving doesn’t have to be painful? If you plan and prepare ahead of time, moving can be a breeze. But don’t start that laundry list just yet.
Here’s a short moving guide for surviving the big day:
Settle on a timeline
Ideally, you want to start planning your move 4-6 weeks in advance. If you have longer, that’s even better, especially if you’re moving destination is in another city.
Check off little details
Start jotting down all the little things that don’t involve packing. Here are a few we recommend:
- Research and book movers. Ask for a recommendation on social media or look on Yelp or Angie’s List.
- Inquire about changing your address at the post office.
- Start gathering boxes and packing materials, and place (out of the way) in each room of the house.
- Research cancellation policies and make a list of services and utilities that need to be cancelled or transferred. Do you have a gym membership? Make sure there’s a location near your new home. If not, add that to your list.
- If you own a storage unit, there’s no better time to visit it, identify the non-negotiables, and purge what’s not travelling with you.
Donate or toss
It can be overwhelming to pack, donate, or toss at the same time. Take one week before you start packing to go through each room and donate or toss items. While you’re going through everything, decide if you want to sell items on Craigslist, LetGo, Facebook, or have a garage sale to make some extra cash. Moving into a new home is also a good excuse to go shopping, and it’s perfectly reasonable to avoid moving furniture when you can buy it new and have it delivered to your new home later.
Pack decorative items first
NewHomeSource suggests taking art pieces, framed photos, and other decorative items, and packing those items first. Packing material is expensive, so gather up old newspapers, magazines, and junk mail to wrap your decorative items to avoid breakage and scratching. After packing those items carefully, seal the boxes shut, label them “FRAGILE”, and store them out of the way.
Take inventory and delegate
Your moving company will more than likely give you an inventory list and let you know how to label your boxes. Even if you don’t hire movers, we recommend still taking inventory of your possessions and labeling your boxes once packed.
One or two weeks before the move-in date, delegate packing each room to family or roommates (who are moving with you). Moving solo? Plan to pack a room or two per day. Rule of thumb: leave out toiletries, items you use daily, and a week’s worth of clothing until right before the move.
Need more specifics on what and when to pack? Read this post and learn how to pack efficiently.
A few days before moving
You should feel good and have little to no stress a few days before moving to your new home. After all, if you’ve prepared and planned wisely, you should have over 80% of the hard work accomplished. Here are a few things to handle during those last few days:
● Ensure all utilities and services have a cancellation date.
● Start tossing expired and perishable food that won’t get eaten before move-in day.
● Pack non-perishable items.
● Arrange for trash pickup if needed.
● Make plans to do a whole-house deep clean.
● Write a list of items that can wait until the night before or morning of move-in day.
Pack for your first night
NewHomeSource also has a great idea to pack a separate box or bag for your first night, and each family member should have their own. Write a list of what you need when you arrive at your new home; think of it as though you’re staying overnight at a B&B. It should include house keys, your cell phone and charger, medication, snacks, clean sheets, toiletries, paper towels, a change of clothing, pet dishes and food, and anything else you’ll need upon arrival. Keep bed pillows nearby should you need a nap after your eventful day.