How To Move Into A New Home

Moving into a new home can be stressful for all parties involved. There is the careful orchestration of moving one’s possessions, saying goodbye to the old home and welcoming in the unknown of the new home.

Hopefully, when you begin to move you will have plenty of time to devise a successful moving plan. Here are some tips to make moving day one you will remember for good.

  • Start early and follow a packing timeline. Generally, moving into a new home is not a last-minute decision or a surprise. If you know in advance, start packing as soon as you can. Break your moving to-do list into categories and do a little every day until the big moving day. There are certain household items that make sense to pack up first and some to pack up last. Put your possessions into three categories: use once in a while, use once a week and use every day. Start with the least used and pack up first. This would often include holiday decorations, food storage and other long-term storage items. These items can be packed up immediately upon deciding to move. The week before you move, prepare to pack the items you use often but not daily. This would include some clothes, sheets and extra towels. The items you use daily like dishes, soap, etc. should be packed last, unless you don’t mind living like you are camping.
  • Get the right packing materials. To pack basic items in the home, you will need cardboard boxes, packing tape, packing fluff (soft items like plastic popcorn to fill in the extra spaces) and a marker. Check on Craigslist in your area for packing boxes. Usually you can find postings for people anxious to dump their extras.
  • Pack well. Packing your items well will make a difference if you want your stuff to make it to the new home unscathed. Think like a grocery bagger: box like items together to make it easier to unpack, but evenly distribute the weight so the box won’t rip. Fragile items will require much more care and padding in order to keep the item in once piece. Use balled up newspaper as a filler to avoid any shifting during travel. One important note: label everything. If you box up clothes, say so on the outside of the box. This well help movers know exactly where to put the boxes in the new home.
  • Get help. Moving is when you call upon your friends and family for help. If you are lucky enough, you can get free labor (or maybe bribed labor with promised treats). The phrase ‘many hands make like work’ has never been more true. If you do not have a good social circle to rely on, consider hiring movers, especially if you are moving a far distance.
  • Occupy kids and pets. Young children and pets do not mix with moving. Not only can they be distracting, it is a safety hazard. Arrange for a sitter to watch your critters until moving day is over.