The Move

You have found your new home! The moving day has arrived. I love to organize, so setting up a new home is fun for me. But, the packing process and emptying of a house makes me a little itchy. It is so chaotic. Just keep in mind, this step does not last forever.

Packing

I have moved across the country, and I have moved two miles away. How to pack for each move is different. When you are doing a long move, everything must be packed well. When you are moving close, I tend to take short trips between the two houses. I would take a car load, and if possible unpack the car. By the time my furniture came, a lot of my new home was already set up.

Long moves, require more organization. For long moves, label all my boxes the same in the same place. The side is the best. Anything that is packed last is normally useful things needed for everyday life. I mark these boxes so that I will know to unpack them first. The Buzzfeed staff suggests using a clear tote for this and that it “includes things like a box cutter, paper towels, trash bags, eating utensils, select cookware, power strips, phone chargers, toilet paper, tools, etc. The clear bin allows you to see inside; it also separates itself from the myriad of cardboard boxes,”

Moving

If you are moving yourself, it is easy to forget the important things you need to do to protect your belongings. The most likely to be damaged is your furniture. The corners and decorative items that stick out are the most vulnerable. I like to get a huge roll of plastic wrap. These are special moving rolls. There is a special art to wrapping your furniture. I put towels, bedding, etc. around the things I want to protect and then use the wrap to hold it in place. You need to wrap it enough to keep it safe, and yet, not too much that it is impossible to pick up and move with a few hands. The move will be easier if you take this good advice from Moving.com: “pack heavy items in small boxes and lighter items in larger boxes.” The moving step is where your properly labeled boxes will save you some pain. When there are a lot of people bringing in boxes, having every box and new room labeled will lessen the chaos.

Unpacking

The first thing I do is unpack those last packed boxes. I set up one bathroom as soon as possible. Then, I set up the essential kitchen things. Last, I make our beds. The first night sleep in your new home will be so great when you are sleeping in your familiar bed, and then wake up to be able to drink your morning beverage of choice first thing. It always puts me into a good frame of mind. It is a good start to beginning a new life in your new home.

Here are some great moving tips from What's Up Mom:

Moving Tips

Top 10 Packing Tips to Get Your Home Packed and Moved

Ten Tips for Surviving a Move with Kids