Moving to a new home can be both exciting and stressful. The very thought of packing up everything you own, sometimes years’ worth of belongings, is a daunting one for many. This energy-intensive process, which many experts suggest should start weeks or even months in advance of the actual move date, also gives you the chance to carefully consider what you will keep and what you might want to purge. With this in mind, here are a few tips for organizing and packing your belongings to ensure your move is a smooth one.

 

Getting Started

Moving your belongings isn’t the only thing to consider when you start packing up your entire household for a move. Consider these factors:

 

1.Use an AI room planner for your new home.

Room planning applications allow you to upload pictures of your furniture and the room where it will all go and let you virtually arrange everything in different ways within the app, saving you from endlessly moving things around to see what works.

 

2. Plan meals and activities around the move.

The food in your refrigerator and pantry will need to move too, and it is worth planning your meals around using up as much food as possible. Make a list of anything you will need or activities to do during the move.

 

3. Start packing soon.

Experts recommend that you start packing as much as two months in advance of your move to make the process easier and manageable.

 

4. Purge unused and unwanted items.

During the purging process, sort through your closets to determine which items would be better suited for donation to charity rather than being kept. Decide first what you absolutely need to move and what you can purge, and start making piles of items to donate, sell, move, or throw away. It is a very cleansing experience to get rid of the clutter collecting dust.

 

5. Use what you have.

You can easily find packing boxes and material in most moving supply stores, but consider using what you already have around the house. Towels and newspapers make great packing materials, and a couple of empty copier paper boxes from the office work great for packing.

 

Tips for Packing 

Some items, especially breakable items, need better protection than your child’s collection of stuffed animals. Consider some of the following tips:

●      Backup all of the files on your computer onto a separate hard drive, and use bubble wrap to protect the device before moving it.

●      Put glasses and dishware into a box with a layer of packing peanuts, each individually wrapped, and fill the spaces with more packing peanuts.

●      Wrap television sets in bubble wrap, and if possible, put them in a vehicle to transport. Do the same for mirrors.

●      Label cords and the electronics they go to. Keep accessories together in Ziplock bags.

Safety Tips

Moving an entire household is a labor-intensive job, especially if you plan to do it yourself. Consider the following safety tips when moving:

●      Do not overpack boxes. One person should be able to lift them safely.

●      Large glass items should be packed carefully and moved by multiple people.

●      Remove clutter before packing, and make sure nothing is in the way of foot traffic when loading and unloading the moving truck.

●      Use a dolly. If you do not have one, either buy or rent one. This makes handling furniture and appliances easier and safer for all.

●      Individual handling is required for hazardous materials, including firearms and chemicals. Many moving companies will not handle these, so plan accordingly if you have such materials to move.

●      Ask for help when you need it. Get friends and family to jump in, and hire professionals when you can, as they have the knowledge and equipment needed to do the job safely.

 

Moving is often overwhelming, but with these tips and many more, moving day does not have to be chaotic. Plan ahead of time and get started packing early. Follow these tips, and you’ll be settled into your new house in no time.