Packing up your belongings to move home can be tiring and time-consuming, but being prepared and planning your move will make the process much easier.
Getting organized early is the key – this will ensure nothing is left to the last minute, stress is kept to a minimum, and there is less chance of something going wrong.
The 10 key tips for packing to move home are:
1. De-clutter
Moving is the perfect opportunity to relieve yourself of much of the unnecessary clutter that may have accumulated in your time living in your current home.
Less clutter means less packing, physical effort and expense, so consider de-cluttering all areas of your home, including the basement, attic, shed, garage and even the garden.
Items no longer needed can be sold, given to friends or family, donated to charity, or disposed of.
2. Plan what will go where
After de-cluttering you should be left with only essential and favourite/sentimental items, and it’s time to plan where they will go in your new home. Careful planning will make unpacking easier.
Group items together based on which room they will end up in, and prepare them for transport by packing them in original packaging where possible, or boxing and wrapping items where appropriate.
3. Use a variety of boxes and containers
Some items are suitable to be stacked or packaged together, such as clothes, linen items and books, but others should be packed individually or in small numbers.
Tough plastic tubs are generally available in a range of shapes and sizes, and are useful for transporting more delicate or uniquely-shaped items, as well as being stackable.
Glasses and cups can be transported in small boxes appropriately wrapped or with cardboard dividers, while large electrical items can be wrapped individually with bubble wrap and/or blankets, and placed in boxes to fit, if available.
4. Pack one room at a time
Systematic, ordered packing is easier as you can plan and track your progress more easily.
Items in the parts of your home you use least, such as guest bedrooms, basements and attics, should be packed up first. Similarly, rarely-used items, if not being sold or gifted, should be packed first, and the most commonly-used items last.
5. Colour code/label boxes clearly
Another important organisational tip is to ensure boxes are labeled or colour-coded correctly. Boxes stacked in a truck and potentially passed through several pairs of hands before reaching their destination run the risk of ending up in areas of the home they weren’t meant for.
Save yourself a sorting headache in your new home by correctly labeling all boxes, and making sure your movers are aware of the labels and their meanings.
6. Take photos
Taking photos of your items before moving home can have many benefits.
Photos can help with anything that needs to be disassembled and reassembled, a record of how items in rooms were arranged, and can provide an element of security if any issues arise with damaged or lost items.
7. Don’t overpack
Transporting overpacked boxes risks damaging not only the items inside but also the person or persons moving them.
Avoid overpacking by making sure you have an appropriate number of boxes and containers to transport all your items comfortably, without having to overload any. If a box feels too heavy to lift, don’t try to. Open it and transfer some of the items into another container.
8. Protect your valuables/keep important items with you
On the day of your move, you will need to be able to access your important items, so ensuring they are at hand and not at the bottom of a box of items is important.
Important financial documents, keys, mobile phones and chargers, essential children’s items and the like should be kept in a small, portable bag for easy transport.
Similarly, important items such as family heirlooms or jewelry can be transported separately or given to a trusted person for safekeeping until you are settled in.
9. Hire professionals/Don’t overstretch yourself
Ultimately, if the workload is too big, too difficult, or too stressful, help is at hand!
Moving home is an industry in itself, and there are a number of professional companies who can help you make the move. Experts in finance, contracts, downsizing, removals and storage are available to make your transition a smooth one.
If you are making the move to a retirement community, village staff will be able to assist with your enquiries relating to your transition to village life.
10. Plan for your first night in your new home
Moving home is tiring, and after a long day shifting boxes, furniture and other large items, you’ll probably want nothing more than a bite to eat and a well-deserved rest. However, the gas and electricity haven’t been connected yet, the box with all the food can’t be found among the dozens of others, and the bed is in 72 pieces on the floor.
Plan ahead to avoid this scenario and enjoy your first night in your new home!
Read more resource articles here.
