Buying or renting a new home is a great opportunity to start fresh and create a space that reflects your style, but it’s not without its challenges. Whether you’re moving cross-country or just a few blocks away, the process of packing and unpacking boxes is stressful.
Without a plan in place, it can feel overwhelming or unorganized — but it doesn’t have to be. Below we’re sharing a few of our top tips for staying organized, decluttering your space, and getting settled into your new home faster after a move.
Declutter As You Go
Depending on your timeline for moving, it’s possible you didn’t get a chance to go through your belongings before putting them in boxes. But as you settle into your new home, start things off on the right foot by being selective with what stays and what goes. As you’re unpacking your kitchen boxes, for example, you might come across some old appliances you haven’t used in years.
Think of it this way: If you didn’t use it at your last home, chances are you won’t use it here either. Take this opportunity to edit and rethink what you really want to keep and what you can afford to let go. This can be especially helpful if you’re downsizing your home or otherwise working with less space than you had before.
Map Out Your Plan of Action Before Unpacking
Efficiency is the name of the game, and your new space will only get more cluttered the more you unpack boxes. Take advantage of this clean slate by moving boxes to their appropriate destinations in the home. If a box contains your clothes, move it to the bedroom closet. If it has pots and pans, put it in the kitchen. Getting as organized as you can now will help you contain the clutter and unpack each room more efficiently.
Once you have boxes organized by room, make a game plan. Some people prefer to move through the house room by room, completing one entirely before starting on the next. If you have multiple family members helping out (like a spouse and kids), think about how you might want to divvy up the chore of unpacking. Your kids can work on unpacking in their own bedrooms, and your spouse can take the guest room, for example. Dividing and conquering can help move the process along quickly.
Start With the Kitchen
If you’re not sure where to turn your attention to first, start with the kitchen. Most people consider the kitchen to be the social hub of the house, and getting it settled in first can really help you feel at home faster. It’s possible to live out of a suitcase (or boxes) for a few days when it comes to your bedroom and bathroom, but it’s hard to cook and dine in an unpacked kitchen. Even just getting the essentials out and stored away will help you feel more organized — your pots, pans, utensils, plates, and coffeemaker, for example.
Clear Out Boxes As You Go
Imagine the frustration of unpacking every last item in one room, only to turn around and see a heaping pile of moving boxes in the corner. Save yourself the annoyance and break down or remove boxes as you go. Set aside a designated corner or area of the home where you can put flat boxes and contain the clutter. Getting boxes out of the way from the start will help your house feel more like a home from the get-go.
Don’t Try to Rush the Process
Moving is one of the most stressful events in a person’s life, and unpacking is no easy feat. It’s going to take time, so allow yourself to move through the process at a manageable pace. Don’t expect to unpack an entire home in a weekend, or even a week — especially if you have other responsibilities to manage (like going to work or raising kids).
Start with the essentials first, and work your way through those moving boxes in order of importance. You might find it helpful to set aside time each day (even just one hour in the evenings) to focus on unpacking. That way, the job gets done over time, and you’re not taking time away from other responsibilities to do it.
Special Considerations for a Military PCS Move
You’ll be required to show paperwork upon arriving at your new home on base. To make things easier before hitting the road, create a special binder or box that holds all of your paperwork including copies of your orders, birth certificates, Social Security cards, mortgage documents, rental agreements, etc. As you relocate, put this box in an easy-to-access location for when you arrive at your destination.
Preparing for an Upcoming Move? We Can Help
There’s no getting around it, moving is a stressful life event we all experience at one point or another. If you’re preparing for an upcoming move (or have recently started unpacking at your new place), this can be an opportune time to have your home cleaned by a team of experienced professionals. Our team at Kingdom Keepers knows how to come into a new space and transform it into a clean and welcoming environment for you and your family. To learn more about our services, please contact us today.
