Moving to a new place is something almost all of us have already gone through. It’s a huge decision and can be pretty stressful. Undoubtedly, the first step of this adventure is scrolling through hundreds of Austin apartments or homes (if you are staying local), or even properties out of state if you’re going for a more drastic change.
However, what’s more difficult than this is actually packing your things and organizing everything before the big day.
We put together a list of the most important things to do when relocating:
1. Create a checklist
Make a checklist of all the things that need to be packed (including the furniture), especially if you’re using a moving company to help out with everything. While most of your belongings will move with you into your new home, there may be things you want to be stored for later in a nearby storage unit. It is important to make detailed notes on what needs to go where.
2. Get rid of unnecessary things
Before everything gets packed up in boxes and loaded into a truck, make sure to carefully sort through all of your belongings. You’ll realize that many of the things you have owned for years aren’t really needed and only take up valuable space in your drawers and cabinets. You’ll probably get rid of a lot of clothes and knick-knacks in this process and believe us when we say: it’s for the best! When you’re all done sorting, take the discarded items to Goodwill or re-gift them to someone you know might want them.
3. Choose the right boxes
It’s important to invest in sturdy boxes and lots of packing tape. You wouldn’t want them to break halfway through your move, leaving you with your things scattered on the sidewalk. Another thing to keep in mind is to pack heavy items on the bottom of the box and lighter ones on top. Be sure to spread the heavy items out between your boxes so you don’t blow your back out when attempting to pick them up 😊 Also, buy plenty of packing paper or bubble wrap for fragile items.
4. Pack by category
Go through each room separately and label your boxes in such a way that it will be easy to unpack. In order to save more time when it comes to unpacking, you can label them by drawer/cabinet (linen closet, bathroom cabinet, etc.) or by function (stationery).
5. Cancel your utilities
Being all wrapped up in the move, it is easy to forget about essential things included in the process, such as calling your utility companies and letting them know that you’d like to cancel or move the services. It'll only take a few minutes and can often be done online.
6. Get help with unpacking & organizing
Once everything’s set and ready to go, all that’s left is to start unpacking and decorating your new home. Sounds fun, right? This is actually where my clients struggle the most. While some ask me to help them purge and pack before the move, I get most calls from clients who are overwhelmed finding the right place for their items in their new home. Especially in Austin, most properties lack valuable storage space, which oftentimes requires some creativity and the right organizing supplies. Taking advantage of the services of a home organizer can also be a real lifesaver when you are moving for a new job and only have a few days to get settled in. Why stress yourself out with organizing when you can leave it to someone else?