Moving requires a lot of planning. Packing is the biggest, and sometimes most stressful, part of moving. Did everything get packed? Were items in the correct boxes? Was that fragile crystal wrapped up safely? There are a lot of things that can happen in the move, and forgetting something important behind is detrimental.
Here are some tips to help you pack up your house and not leave a thing behind. Get your boxes and tape ready!
1. Make an Inventory
Before you start packing, be aware of what needs to be packed and what you may not need. Make a list of the items you plan to pack, and use categories. This will help you to know what is being packed and also what you may not need. Hiring respectable movers will help keep things organized as well.
2. Have a Sale
Moving can cost a pretty penny, and it’s always nice to find a little extra cash somehow. When you create your inventory, you will most likely come across some things you no longer need. Plan to have a garage sale to get rid of those old things, and make some money while doing it. If the kids are having a hard time letting go, remind them how much another kid could enjoy their toys. Donating unwanted items is a feel-good way to downsize too.
3. Don’t Tape Up
It’s easy to get excited about a move and just start throwing stuff in boxes. But it’s a better idea to be organized. Using your inventory list, pack your items and label the boxes (e.g., “Kitchen Stuff,” “Kitchen Utensils & Dinnerware”). When your boxes are packed, don’t tape them up until it’s time to move them. If you find something that needs to be packed, but all the boxes are taped up, it will be all too easy to set it aside and forget it.
4. Plan Ahead
Plan to send some things to your new residence ahead of time. If you have a lot of fragile and/or important items, ship them instead of moving with them. Pack the items and list them separately on your inventory, marked off as being packed. They will be at your new home, safe and sound, when you get there. Get the kids involved by letting them pack and ship their 10 favorite things that they can unpack first thing at your new home.
5. Do a Thrice-Over
Conduct a thorough walk-through before locking up the old house. Walk through the house once, twice, even three times. Check all the cabinets, drawers, closets, nooks, and crannies to make sure there aren’t any items that may have been overlooked. Keep a miscellaneous box for any items that didn’t make it in a proper, labeled box.
6. Check it Over
Once you’ve made it to your new home, it’s time to unpack. Finally, all that organizing and planning will pay off. Go over your inventory while unpacking and mark off each item as you unpack it and put it in its new place. This will help you organize your items in your new house while also reassuring you that nothing was left behind.
The big move to a new home and a new town (or state or country!) can be intimidating. It can also be a great experience and a new beginning. Organization and planning will help keep problems from arising during the busy move and will reassure you and your family that nothing was forgotten.
Find a moving company to start your relocation adventure today!
