Posted on October 29, 2021
Moving may be stressful, especially if you’re unorganized and haven’t planned ahead of time. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. You can decrease your stress, stay focused, and be ready for moving day in no time if you follow a packing plan. Don’t know where to begin? These five moving methods will provide you with a strategy to help you execute the proper plan for you based on your needs and budget.
The method of decluttering
This method is especially useful if you’ve lived in your present house for a long time and have a lot of things you don’t want to move with you to your next house. Consider it a moving version of the KonMari Method™. You make three piles—trash, donate, and pack—and place items for packing in one of the piles as you gather them.
Gather your packing materials before you start. Moving boxes, garbage bags, packing tape, and permanent markers are all needed. You’ll also want to set up your workspace in a way that allows you to manage your three piles while still having enough room to assemble and pack boxes.
Move furniture and debris to another section of the house if required to free up space.
Begin with the home’s least-used room. For example, a guest room might be an excellent option. Move things from this room to your staging area, then sort them into one of the three piles one at a time. Make sure you don’t make a fourth pile for stuff you can’t determine what to do with for now. You’ll simply have to deal with the item again later, so deal with it right away.
After you’ve completed one room, move on to the next. It’s also fine to use this approach to move from one area to another, tackling the clutter and least-used items first. As moving day approaches, you’ll be able to focus on more important matters. However, because most of the items will be useful at that time, you’ll probably just be packing them instead of throwing them away or giving them.
Maintain control of your piles throughout the process. Donate goods when the pile grows too large to handle, discard garbage bags as they fill up, and box the items you wish to relocate. Make sure each box is labeled with the room to which it belongs.
The method of color coding
If you’re moving to a house with a completely new design or downsizing, this method can help you move your belongings to the appropriate room with very little hassle. As with the prior technique, you’ll begin by establishing a staging area in a large room with plenty of floor space. You should also collect packing boxes, packing tape, and color-coded moving labels.
To begin, write a list of all the rooms in your new house and put a box next to each one. Then, for each room, select a color. Pre-printed color-coded moving labels with common rooms are available for purchase. If you have them, simply place the proper label on each box.
Bring items to your staging area as you walk around your house. Decide where you want that item in your new home and place it in the appropriate room’s box. Keep a donation box and a garbage bag handy for stuff you no longer need. When you’ve finished a box, seal it and assemble another one to replace it.
Place a label on each room’s door at the new house on moving day (be sure it can be readily removed without ruining the paint) to make it easier for your movers to recognize which boxes belong in each room.
The method of room by room
This popular approach focuses on decluttering one area at a time in your present home. You concentrate on one area at a time, packing and cleaning it out. When you’re through, you close the door to that room for good. As previously described, pick a staging place and gather your materials before you start.
Begin in the area you use the least—this might be a guest room or dining room—and discard or give any items you no longer need. Pack the items that are left. Don’t forget to remove bedding, take down wall art and paintings, and empty all drawers. Pack everything. If furniture has to be dismantled, do so.
Move smaller pieces of furniture to the staging area, leaving bigger items in place for your movers. When completed, close the door and go to the next room.
This approach also works well with other techniques. You may simply combine it with the color-coded technique, especially if your new home has comparable spaces. Alternatively, you might bring the things from each room to your decluttering piles.
The friends and family method
Most of us have sought the help of friends and family to help us relocate, but there are successful and poor ways to do so. Having friends and relatives help you can be difficult for you and irritating for them if you don’t have a plan.
Plan and make a list of every single task that has to be accomplished for your move. Then, split those tasks into those that may be accomplished ahead of time and those that must be finished only on moving day. You’ll want to finish everything you can ahead of time. Nothing is more infuriating than promising to assist a buddy only to discover on moving day that he is just getting started.
Ask your friends and family if they can help you on moving day while you are packing and preparing for the move. Make a list of people who respond positively. Then, assign tasks to people who have committed to help.
Older children can pack their own rooms (prior to moving day) and assist with carrying goods to the moving vehicle. Your brother may be a suitable fit for moving furnishings and connecting the TV in the new house. However, avoid delegating important chores, such as renting a moving van, to others. Nothing is more frustrating than relying on someone just to have them fail to deliver.
The Professional method
While there is a cost involved, hiring a professional moving company to pack and move your belongings can be the least stressful and involve the least amount of time and work on your part. Try hiring a moving company to pack your house (normally in a single day) and then have them transport it (typically the next day).
Professional movers make moving simple and because all reputable movers are licensed and insured, you can be certain that they will do the job correctly. Call us today to help you with your moving day!