We've all been there. We've all wanted to pull our hair out and scream because the moving process is often a frustrating and chaotic event. However, a well-planned move will alleviate most of your anxiety. The eight tips below are proof that the easiest move is an organized one.
A Moving Binder Pays Off
Stay organized throughout with a binder that contains any paperwork relevant to your move--like checklists, invoices, receipts, and important notes. Refer back to the binder at any time during the move and present it to your accountant for potential tax breaks.
Know Your Home Inventory
During a move, items get lost in transition. A detailed home inventory list--with pictures included--of all your possessions, helps you keep track of everything. Get started on the list before you pack, so you know where to find everything at the time of your move.
Track Your Progress with a Moving Checklist
From cancelling local memberships to informing the IRS of your move, a moving checklist covers the important steps in the process--some obvious and others not so obvious. Follow and check off the list as you go so no stone goes unturned.
Stock Up by Following a Supplies Checklist
All the boxes are packed and ready to load; there's just one minor detail missing--why aren't they sealed with packing tape? A supplies checklist covers all of the necessary moving supplies and keeps you on point, so you don't have to go scrambling to the store at the last second.
Take a Room by Room Approach
Tackling one room at a time is more time-efficient than sporadically packing with no plan in mind. As you’re packing, take time to de-junk and clean so all that's left is loading the furniture and boxes into the moving truck
Know What You're Carrying, Label Your Boxes
Using a color coding system or writing the rooms on every box will keep them organized from the loading to the unloading of the moving van. Aside from labeling what room each box goes to, you'll also want the movers to be aware of which ones hold your priceless antiques.
Map Out Your New Home for the Movers
When you show up without a floor plan, you're creating more work for yourself. Have an idea of what goes where before you unload the van. Slap a post-it note on the door of each room or give your movers a quick run-through of your home so everyone goes in the right direction.
Staying Organized is a Piece of Cake
Once you've unpacked and arranged everything in orderly fashion, keep it that way! If not, you'll spend more time sifting through clutter than if you actually took the time to maintain it.
It's Here… Somewhere (by Alice Fulton-Osborne and Pauline Hatch) and Organizing from the Inside Out(by Julie Morgenstern) are two well-thought out books that make home organizing a breeze.
Put these eight tips to the test and you'll find--from the beginning to the very end of the process--an organized move leads to a stress-free move. If you fight chaos with an organized approach, you'll be relaxing in your home in no time.
This article was written by the folks at movearoo.com, your #1 resource for home services, moving guides, and expert advice. Visit their resources page for more tips on keeping your move organized and stress free.
