Moving can be stressful. From packing up and organizing all your belongings to arranging the move and preparing your new home, there can be a lot to do. With a little preparation and organization, however, your move can be smooth and stress-free. Here’s our top tips for how you can organize for your next move.
#1 – Make Lists
The first step to organize your next move is to make lists of your belongings. We recommend listing which items you would like to keep, which you would like to donate or give away to friends and family, and which items you would like to get rid of. You can also divide your “keep” list into the various rooms that they will go in your new home.
We provide an “Itemized House List” form to our customers that they’re able to fill out prior to moving day. This list will outline what is moving per room, the items that will be dropped off at another location, the items going to the dump, and items being dropped off to another location (ie. a family member). This allows us to know what to do with your packed items on moving day so there will be no mistakes or surprises.
#2 – Sort Everything Into Piles
As you pack your items, reference the lists that you’ve created and sort your belongings into piles to ensure that everything ends up where you want it to go and ensure that nothing is lost in the move.
#3 – Double Check Your Lists
Once you’ve sorted all your belongings into piles, double check your lists. This will ensure that everything is in its proper place and items are ready to go when the movers arrive. You can then put different coloured stickers on each item to denote whether they will be moved to the new home, donated, sent to the dump, or sent to a friend or family member. This will eliminate a lot of repetitive questions throughout the day while also making sure that things aren’t accidentally moved to a different pile.
#4 – Take Photos
Before you begin placing all your items from the piles into boxes, be sure to take pictures of any expensive or sentimental items before they’re packed. Accidents happen and this will allow you to inspect any damage that may have occurred in the travel, or if something goes missing.
#5 – Label Your Belongings
Make sure to label all of your boxes by rooms so that the movers know where to place all of your items. This will ensure a smooth moving day and unpacking process when the time comes.
For things that you don’t have room for, arrange for storage. This is especially important if the space you’ll be moving to is smaller than what you’ve currently been living in. If there are items you’d like to keep but just won’t fit yet, you can always store them in the meantime until you find a place for them in your new home.
#6 – Donate & Discard
Now that you’ve prepared all your items for moving day, make sure to clear out any unwanted items, piles of papers, bags, garbage, etc. before the movers arrive. This will ensure that these items do not end up on the moving truck. Be sure to donate any items that are still in good condition and can be reused by someone else.
Wrapping Up
There can be so much to do before moving day arrives, and we hope these tips will help you stay organized and remain calm!