The best way to pack and organize your home for a move is to start early. This gives you the time to go room by room and prioritize what needs to be done.
Also, be ruthless during the decluttering process and eliminate items that aren’t used or don’t have value to you. This will save you time and money during the packing process.
Depending on how much stuff you have and your schedule, you should start packing two weeks or so before moving day. If you have the time and space, this is the ideal timeline.Begin with storage areas and closets, like your garage, attic or basement. This is an excellent way to get a feel for how much you need to pack up and what might be easy to miss if left until the last minute.When packing up, sort through items and toss or donate anything no longer needed. This will make the move and unpacking process easier and help you declutter your current home.
As you pack, keep similar items, such as books, home decor and serveware. That way, you’ll quickly find what you need when you need it at your new place. Doing this for every room may not be possible, but you should try your best. You must also have a box or two of essentials ready on moving day, like toilet paper and a coffee pot.
A move is the perfect time to get rid of clutter. As you pack each room, sort items into piles to bring with you, donate, or sell. If you’re not going to use a pair of old jeans, for example, put them in the “sell” pile. This will help you feel accomplished as you pack and save space in your new home.
Another great decluttering tip for moving is to create a cleaning caddy and stock it with disinfectant wipes, glass and whole-home cleaners, paper towels, and rags. This way, you can wipe surfaces as you go, making it easier to clean your new home once you’ve moved in.
It’s also a good idea to set up a packing station, where you can store all of your supplies for the move. This could be a table in the guest room or the dining room. It should include boxes of various sizes, tape, markers, bubble wrap, newspaper, old blankets and towels, and plastic bags of different sizes (small sealable ones and garbage bags). You can also buy speciality boxes, such as wardrobe boxes for clothing on hangers or dishware or glassware boxes.
Having a list is a great way to track what you need to do as you work. A list helps you with tasks and ensures you don’t forget anything important. If you’re working with movers, give them a list of items they need to pack (i.e. medications, paperwork, sentimental items, laptops and tablets, toiletries, a few days’ worth of clothes, and phone chargers).
Label boxes with contents and room. This will help movers find where they need to put boxes and eliminate confusion when you’re unpacking. Use coloured tape or stickers for different rooms to save time on labeling.
Create an essentials box that you will open first in your new home. This should contain paper towels, toilet paper, a first aid kit, flashlights, snacks, water bottles, a pet’s food and litter box, and your favorite toys for your kids or pets. Keep this box separate from others so it’s easy to find on a moving day. You may also want to set up a grocery delivery for your first night in your new home so you have food on hand.
There’s no better time to filter through your belongings than before a move. Go room by room and ask yourself if each item falls into one of the buckets: you use it, love it, or have sentimental value. Keep the keepers and donate or toss the rest.
When it comes to packing, think creatively about how to pack items in the least time and space. For example, thread thin necklaces through drinking straws or toilet paper rolls to prevent them from getting tangled and place earrings in old buttons to save space in boxes. You can also use socks and t-shirts to protect shoes from moisture and place bedding and pillows in trash bags to keep dust away.
When you start packing, assign each box a number and make an itemized list of what is inside. This will help you locate items quickly after the move, and it can also come in handy if any of your boxes are damaged during transit. Create a “moving essentials” tote with items you can’t live without, such as a change of clothes, toothbrush, essential medicines, and kids’ snacks and toys.
Whether you’re hiring a professional moving company or not, it’s best to get started on decluttering your home before the move. This will make packing much easier and help reduce the time necessary to complete the task.
Most experts recommend starting with less-used rooms, like the garage or basement, and off-season items (like winter gear) before moving on to the kitchen and bathroom. This will help you free up space on your truck or trailer and save money by not having to pay for additional spaces to store boxes during your move.
As you pack, label every box with its contents and room number. This will save you time and effort after the move and ensure that your belongings are in the right place when you unpack. Another helpful way to color-code your boxes by room. This makes it easy for movers and family members to identify where each box goes in your new house. For example, you might assign red to your kitchen and blue to your bedroom.
