How to Prepare for a Move

Come up with a plan and give yourself plenty of time so you can handle your move with ease instead of stressing through it the entire way.

Move Only What You Want

The time spent packing for a move is a great time to sort through your things. If this is your first move, you will learn quickly that anytime you can move less stuff is a win. Use the fact that you have to touch everything you own as an opportunity to decide whether you want to keep something and move it, or whether it would be better to toss or donate it. Many people find that they have accumulated things they no longer want or use when they are packing for a move. It can be beneficial to invest in a dumpster rental while you prepare for your move. This way you aren’t stuck hauling things you would prefer to toss that won’t fit in your regular bins. You can also schedule pickups from many donation centers if you have a large number of items you decide you want to donate.

Pack Thoughtfully

Be mindful of how you pack something, when you pack it, and what you pack it with. Gather plenty of boxes and packing tape for the bulk of your items, but also consider using plastic bins for things you will store on a long-term basis. You may want to use bags or luggage for stuff you will pack last and unpack immediately. Prepare and pack less-used items first. Keep things you use every day out and accessible until right before moving day to avoid the stress of digging through boxes to find things you need. Prepare your furniture by removing drawers from chests, and using twine to secure cabinet doors closed. Use blankets to wrap up fragile items such as mirrors, TVs and other electronics.

Label Everything

Keep items sorted as you pack. You may want to tackle packing on a room-by-room basis so that you can know exactly where the things in a box belong when moving it into your new home. Be sure to label what room every box came from, or what room they will be going to if different. Mark whether things need to stay upright or if they are fragile. It can also be beneficial to list the items that are in boxes, especially if the boxes hold a variety of items from a variety of rooms or if they contain things you will be looking for immediately upon arrival to your new home.

Plan Moving Day

You need to have a solid plan for moving day to have a successful move. You may be planning to hire someone, in which case you need to be able to tell them in advance what types of things they will be moving, and how much stuff you have. If you plan on moving yourself you need to be thoughtful in determining the size of the truck you need to rent so that you can be sure it will fit all your things. If you are looking for another option, you might consider renting a portable storage unit. These are dropped off at your home to be loaded at your leisure, and then picked up and delivered to the new location. Also, keep in mind whether you will need to enlist help for loading and unloading heavy or bulky objects. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to realize that you need some extra hands to help with lifting your solid wood headboard or large entertainment center.

A move is a very big project that can come with a lot of frustration. Giving yourself plenty of time for every step of the way is imperative to avoiding some of the most common stress. Come up with a plan before you start and stick to it as best as you can to make your move as easy as possible.