There is great anticipation and excitement that comes with moving to a new place. But there’s also a lot (more than you think) of work to make it happen. Being organized is Job 1. The more you’re organized, the smoother the move and the more relaxed and stress-free the process (and you) will be.
Here are 11 helpful tips on how to organize for a move:
- Start the process early – if you have a home up for sale, you’ve probably been clearing out already in preparation for showing the home. But if not, the earlier you begin to purge, the better. Moving day will be here before you know it.
- The Great Purge -- time to get touch and clear out:
- Items you won’t need at your new place
- Items that are broken
- Any duplicates
- Clothing or shoes you haven’t worn in a year
- Things you’ll be replacing at your new home (think towels, linens or decorative items)
- Furnishings that are overly large or heavy (do you really need to keep that set of huge floor speakers?)
- Anything that was never unboxed after your last move
It’s also a good time to clear out old collections (think books, CDs, high school trophies) -- items you’ve been hanging on to for sentimental reasons (take a picture instead).
Give, Sell, Donate:
Items can be sold on Ebay (items may need to be shipped) and Craigslist (better for local pick-up/delivery). Use online apps LetGo or OfferUp to offer items for free or for sale. If you’re on Nextdoor, a neighborhood social network, you can also put up items for sale or giveaway.
Other ways to discard items:
Have a garage sale (you can also do a pre-sale for friends and family)
Donate to services like Goodwill and Salvation Army. FYI they are getting picky about what they’ll take/not take – no beds, furniture in disrepair, large appliances, etc. Here’s a list of Items Goodwill Cannot Accept.
As a last resort, use a service like GotJunk.com to pick up damaged items or trash.
- Keep a “Moving File” list or binder that includes a master “To-Do” list and any other information relevant to your move. You may also want to use wunderlist.com to list items to do or buy, track tasks and set reminders. With this web app, your list can also be shared with others.
- Take measurements of new home – that way, you’re not moving or purchasing items that won’t fit. The Magicplan app will let you scan your new home, create a floor plan and measurements. See if what you have fill it or decide if new purchases are going to work.
- Start packing early
- Save some $$ by collecting boxes at your local grocery or liquor store (smaller boxes are easier to pack and move)
- Label all boxes with Room Name (or color code) and Box Number and list items enclosed (even better: write a detailed list of what’s in each box and add this to your moving binder or file)
- Prioritize boxes (with a star or sticker) as to those that need to be accessed first and others that can wait for unpacking
- Arrange for movers to provide wardrobe boxes to ease transport of clothing
- Chests can be moved with their contents intact
- Packing towels, large linens like duvets and comforters and pillows is a challenge; rolling them and securing them with Packbands, then putting in trash bags, is a good solution
- Consider hiring a packing service (who will insure goods). If your move is local, you may want to think about packing and transporting fragile items yourself.
- If repairs or remodeling need to be done, try to complete these tasks before moving (this may require negotiating a lease-back or longer close with landlord or seller) but easier to do before moving.
- Take photos of electronics setups and connections before breaking them down and label each cord – it’ll be much easier to reconnect at your new home.
- Have new purchases held and shipped to new location – no need to pay for moving them.
- Book a mover (be sure to shop around) and read the fine print. Use Unpakt.com to compare, book and pay movers.
- Forward mail, stop utilities and set up services at new home.
Congratulations on your new home and best wishes for a smooth transition!
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