Moving into a new home can be an exciting but stressful time. Yet, it should also be seen as an excellent opportunity to examine all material possessions you own and to declutter. After all, a new home is a blank slate!

And here’s what you need to keep in mind: sometimes, organizing your new home starts while packing up the old one. Purge all those clothes you haven’t worn in years, old kitchenware, paper files, and anything you deem unnecessary for your new life from your packing boxes. Donate books to the local library, give old clothes that don’t fit to charity, or organize a garage sale for friends, family, and neighbors.

And when you have everything organized, here’s what you can do to make moving as painless as possible:

Color Code Your Boxes

Unmarked boxes are only good for guessing games. When moving, it’s paramount to know the contents of your boxes and which part of the house they correspond to. Color-coding your boxes with labels is one of the most effective ways to distinguish one from another and avoid wasting time. You can, for example, assign all boxes marked with yellow tape to the kitchen, all boxes marked with blue tape to the bathrooms, and so on. This way, once your boxes start coming off of the truck, you’ll be able to place them in the correct room straightaway.

Prepare A “Moving Essential Box”

Having a box with your must-have items for the new house can make unpacking much more comfortable. An essentials box could include anything from documents to toiletries, or just things that you don’t want getting lost in a sea of boxes, like your child’s favorite toy, some kitchen utensils, or the book you’re currently reading. Set this box aside to be packed in your car, not the moving truck, so that you can make sure you have it with you as soon as you move into your new place.

Unpack Room By Room

Yes, we know it: it’s extremely stressful to see dozens of boxes scattered around the house! Our advice to avoid getting lost in the sea of cardboard boxes is to focus on organizing your unpacking room by room. A lot of moving experts agree to start with the kitchen. The sooner you get the kitchen unpacked, the quicker you’ll be able to cook at home and save money on eating out or ordering take-out food. The kitchen is also the foundational building block for your home, which is why it makes sense to unpack it first.

Decorate Your House Later

As you unpack, you’ll start finding decor items with the rest of your things. This will make you feel the urge to put them around the house to see how it looks. Resist the impulse and be patient. Set those items aside and keep unpacking the boxes. This will help you stay focused and also prevent you from making unnecessary holes in your walls.

Set A Schedule

Whether you think it will take a few days, a month, or more, it’s essential to create a timeline with an estimated date when you want to be fully unpacked. Our advice? Plan for about 15 minutes per box of large items and not more than 40 minutes per box of smaller items. Try to stick to it.

Moving isn’t easy. The whole process requires a lot of time and energy, which not everyone has. If that’s your case, the best way to get organized for a move is to get assistance from professional organizers. This is something we can help you with! Learn more about our downsizing, transitions, packing, unpacking & move-in services and don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team of experts. We will be delighted to create a customized plan to make moving as smooth and fast as possible for you!

Packing is one of the most stressful parts of moving for many people. To help make the process smoother, find tips below that our professional organizers use when helping people move from one home to another.

Label Boxes in Detail

Rather than only writing “kitchen” on the box, add more detail. For example, you might write a list below that heading, such as:

• Dishes
• Tablecloths
• Dishtowels

Adding these specifics will save you time later when looking for certain items amidst a dozen or so boxes all labeled “kitchen.” Also, write “breakable” when applicable.

Finally, label multiple sides of the box. That way, if your boxes are stacked against a wall in the new place, you’ll be able to read what is inside without having to move a ton of boxes to figure it out.

Put Items within Other Items

This trick saves a lot of space and boxes when done right. For example, put your spices into pots and containers you would be packing anyway, rather than putting them in separate boxes of their own. To keep the lids on pots, tie rubber bands between the two.

As for your clothes currently on hangers, there’s no need to take the garments off them. Instead, simply hang them in a garment box so you won’t have to rehang and iron them at your new house.

If you have suitcases, use them to hold small possessions too. They become like extra boxes! Plus, they’re easy to move with wheels on the bottom, which makes moving heavy items like books much easier. Laundry baskets and trash cans also can hold things conveniently.

Use Painter’s Tape

The tape isn’t for painting but instead is a valuable part of your packing supply kit. It can be useful for marking moving boxes, for example, if you’d rather than write on the box itself.

Also, the tape can hold loose hardware on furniture in place during the move. Painter’s tape also comes in handy for keeping drawers and doors closed, as well as taping screws and washers on the main items after disassembling them.

As it is sticky but not overly so, the tape isn’t likely to damage most surfaces. But, if in doubt, do the research beforehand as to whether to use it to ensure it won’t ruin your valuable property.

For the Immediate Items

You will need certain items on moving day and the following day, so these are ones to pack separately and keep close. Some people call it the “essentials box.”

Among the essentials for the household are toilet paper, dish soap, dish towel, all-purpose cleaner, drinks, snacks, coffee maker and coffee, can opener, and mini first aid kit. Also, plan to have a box of personal items to get through the first evening and morning at the new residence, including toiletries, toothbrush and toothpaste, and clothes.

Packing Help from the Pros

Whether you need help packing part or all your house, our organizers are happy to help you. We also offer unpacking services at your destination. Having someone by your side who has a lot of experience been doing this type of work can provide reassurance and keep everything on track. Reach out for more information today!