It is said that 1 in 5 American families will move this year. Are you one of the a lucky ones? For many, relocation can bring the promise of better schools, nicer jobs or a bigger home; but, unfortunately, the benefits don’t make the process of moving any easier. Moving is an incredibly stressful, complicated ordeal and you are going to need all the help you can get. Included here are a few tips for remaining organized throughout your move and aiding in the unpacking.
Leave It Behind
There are few things more time and energy wasting than relocating unnecessary objects to your new home. If you have belongings that were never unpacked from the previous move, it may be time to say goodbye. This is especially critical if you are making a move across the country. Shed those extra boxes and you will be sure to have lower moving costs and more space in your new home.
Enlist Help
While you may not want strangers digging through your most personal belongings, it is understandable that your family should help you out in some ways. Children should be responsible for packing up their own rooms and doing household cleaning. Enlist the help of more removed family and friends for the loading and unloading of boxes.
Label Your Boxes
Proper labelling can save you countless headaches when you reach your new home. Label boxes according to which room they belong in and what they contain; always mark your fragile items boldly!
A great system to aid in the unpacking is the A-B-C marking. There are some boxes you are going to need to unpack the first night in your new home, examples being glasses or shower towels; those boxes can be given the A priority mark. Other things that may need to be unpacked within the week could include frying pans, pantry items or doormats, those can be marked priority B. Anything that is not urgent, like seasonal items, can be marked priority C and put on the back burner from the start.
Make a Plan
Once you have arrived in your new home, you may be tempted to unpack things willy-nilly from room to room. Take time to sit down with your family and establish organized room plans. Make sure everyone understands where certain objects should go and what is most important first. This will save time in the long-run from having to reassemble rooms.
Use the “One-Room” Rule
This method establishes that one room in the home should be set-up and kept box-free during the moving process. Typically, this is a room like the family room complete with tv and couches. Your family will appreciate having this small escape from the mess of moving when they are drained at the end of the day. It will also help the house feel like home more quickly.