For many families, moving can be a very stressful event. Besides coming to terms with your new life in a new home, you and your family will also need to think about moving day. Too often, families get caught up in various activities before moving day and fail to make the proper preparations. If you and your family are preparing to move, try to stay calm and organized throughout the process. For a few extra pointers on how to make your moving day a success, consider the simple advice outlined here.
Make a detailed checklist
It can be difficult to keep track of all the tasks associated with moving. Try to organize your days leading up to and beyond moving day. If you have a reminder of what needs to be done and where you need to be, you are more likely to have a smooth moving day.
Prepare for day 1
Prior to packing all of your boxes, you may want to assemble one box of necessities for the whole family. As most families finish unpacking their trucks late in the evening, there is often little desire to open several boxes to find pillows and toothbrushes. To prevent a stressful first night in your new home, try to place anything your family might need in the first 24 hours in a separate box, mark it clearly and keep it accessible during moving. Also, if you have any valuable or irreplaceable items – such as jewelry and personal keepsakes – you should try to wrap the items well and keep them with you while moving.
To help with your checklist, you should try to include all of the following items in your day 1 box:
* Personal toiletries
* Soap
* Toilet paper
* Snacks and drinks
* Flashlight
* Screwdriver
* Pliers
* Set of plastic plates and cutlery
* Paper towels or tissue
Pack manageable boxes
Unless you have lots of large, lightweight items – such as down comforters and blankets – you shouldn’t need too many oversized boxes. Oversized moving materials often force homeowners into packing boxes that are too heavy and unmanageable. Instead, try to find plenty of midsized boxes and distribute weight evenly. Furthermore, if you are moving yourself, make sure you have all the necessary materials on hand before packing, including bubble wrap or packing peanuts for fragile items.
Label every box
When packing your boxes, try not to place items for different rooms in the same box. After sealing up each box, simply mark which room the items belong in. When you arrive at your new home, you will be able to take each box to its rightful place and each family member can spend time organizing their own space.
De-clutter as you go
As you prepare to move out of your home, try to organize your belongings and set aside unwanted items. After unpacking in your new home, you will be happy having more space and fewer items to arrange. Before moving out, you can hold a yard sale or make a charitable donation to get rid of your unwanted belongings.
Get the family involved
If you have children, help them get excited about moving. With something to look forward to – like the chance to decorate a new bedroom – children often get more involved in the moving process. Also, you may want to ask your friends and family for help on moving day. Even if no one is able to move furniture with you, a family member could watch your pet for the day or take care of errands.
Though moving day can be a very overwhelming time for families, proper organization can make help turn that stress into excitement. If you follow your timeline leading up to moving day, you and your family will have no problem approaching the big move with confidence.
