Since relocation represents a significant change in your life, it is crucial that you plan for your move early. To make the relocation as painless as possible, you must make sure that you pack in an organized and systematic manner.
It is very rare for people to look forward to packing even if they’re super excited about their upcoming move. This may be because not everyone knows how to prepare for the task, let alone execute it.
To help you out, here is a five-point packing plan from certified packing professionals that you can use to move all of your belongings without breaking the bank, your favorite vase, and especially your back.
1. Declutter
Since you’re already going through all your stuff, you should also consider decluttering to make sure you only bring the things you really need. Have a dumpster rental howell service if you must so you won’t have to go through the trouble of clutter disposal as they’ll take care of it for you.
Getting rid of the things that have been unused for quite some time or those that can be considered unnecessary will help you reduce the number of items you need to pack, transport, unpack, and organize in your new house.
Follow a strict rule when purging: If an item hasn’t been used for the past six months, it either goes to the trash, a charity, or a garage sale.
Also Read: What To Do When Moving Into A New House
2. Get Your Packing Supplies Ready
Now that you’ve reduced your belongings for packing, you should already have a good idea of how many items you need to box up. Using this information, you should start preparing the packing supplies that you will use.
First on your shopping list should be moving boxes that come in a variety of sizes. Make sure that these are sturdy enough to keep the heavy load secure.
You should also consider purchasing the following items:
- Bubble wrap or packing peanuts
- Wrapping paper
- Blank newsprint paper
- Scissors and cutters
- Heavy-duty packaging tape
- Colorful labeling stickers
- Permanent markers
3. Create an Inventory and Sort Your Things by Category
Creating an inventory of the stuff you have would help ensure that packing is organized and systematic. Once you have drawn up a spreadsheet on your computer or even a hand-written list, you can now sort them according to different categories, which is useful in determining which ones to pack first.
4. Pack Items According to Frequency of Use
Packing systematically allows you to live your daily life as you always have without having to dig up clothes and kitchenware you use every day from your already-full moving boxes. This is the very reason why professional movers and organizing gurus recommend boxing things according to their frequency of use.
Below are the things you must pack first:
Already-Stored Items
Since they’re in storage, there’s a good chance that you won’t need these items anytime during the preparation for the move. There’s a high probability that they are already in their boxes, so packing them should be a breeze.
Start by going through your storage unit if you have one. From there, work your way through the garage and up to the deepest parts of your closet.
Since they’ll most likely be in boxes, you have to take the items out to check if you still need them. You should also make sure to consolidate boxes and reduce the number as much as you can until you have only a few boxes.
Out-of-Season Clothing
Some of the best examples of out-of-season clothing are winter jackets and summer swimwear. Gowns and other types of formal attire that are only used occasionally should also be included in the items to be packed first for your move.
Wall Decorations
While packing framed paintings and wall décor can be tricky, it is vital that you include these in the things you need to pack first. Since they most likely serve decorative purposes only, you won’t have any practical need for them while preparing for the move.
5. Prepare an Essentials Bag
Whether you’re moving alone or with your family, you have to make sure to set aside a separate bag containing immediate necessities such as clothing, toiletries, food, drinks, and bedding. These should be able to last you several days in your new home without the need to dig into moving boxes.
Some of the items you should have in your essentials bag are:
- A small bar of soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste
- Two sets of comfortable clothes like T-shirts and jeans
- Towel
- A pair of pajamas
- First-aid kit (must include maintenance and emergency medication for fever, colds, and allergies)
One Last Piece of Advice
To make sure you know where everything is, always record the items you packed and where you put them. One way to do this is to use color or number codes for things that go in specific rooms of the house. You can also dive into a different packing strategy and pack your things according to the room they belonged in at your old home.
