Each year, millions of people pack up their homes and move to a new place of residence. While the excitement of a big move can be a positive thing, the stress of packing and unpacking can be a negative thing. Here are six things you can do to ensure a smooth and easy move.
Every year, millions of us pack up our homes and head across town or across the country to new digs. While the thrill of living in a new place can be exhilarating, the prospect of sorting through belongings, packing boxes and loading trucks is considerably less exciting.
Here are eight things you can do to prepare your home for a smoother move.
1. Organize and declutter your home.
Do you love it, do you use it, and do you need it? If at least two of these questions receive a “yes”, keep the item. If not, toss, donate, or sell the item. If you have a large amount of unwanted things, consider holding a garage sale. This can help you raise money for packing expenses.
2. Clean out your pantry.
Before you move, use up all your canned and frozen food. If you have any leftovers, donate what you can to a local food bank.
3. Pack each room individually.
For items that you’ll need right away, store them in a box and write “Open First”. Include toilet paper, bath towels, plastic cups, pajamas, and any other necessities. For each individual room in your house, clearly number and label the boxes you pack and write down the corresponding number and contents in a spreadsheet. This will help you stay extremely organized.
4. Keep important items out.
Don’t pack up your medications, checkbooks, passports, and other important items. They should be kept separate from your other belongings.
5. Plan for your pets.
The only thing worse than packing is trying to keep everything organized with an energetic pet running around and making a mess. Arrange for your pets to be away from home on moving day. That will make the packing and moving process a lot easier.
6. Turn on your utilities.
Make sure you schedule your old home’s utilities to be disconnected after you move and your new home’s utilities to be turned on the day you arrive. This way, you’ll have a smooth transition from one house to the other.