We are in the midst of a strong seller’s market. Real estate is booming as the pandemic has forced people to reevaluate their living choices. Whether you are the seller or the buyer, moves are stressful. The key to reducing stress is to be as organized as possible. I’ve invited guest blogger, Guy Fuchs, Chief Information Officer at Oz Moving & Storage, to share his strategies for how to get organized before you move. Enjoy!
It's easy to get lost in the excitement of moving, between finding the perfect new home, coordinating the move, and closing on a new mortgage.
But if you don't take time to plan out your move, you run the risk of making mistakes that could cost you time and money—not to mention a lot of unnecessary stress.
Part of the problem is that most people don't know where to start when moving. Before you even consider hiring a company like Oz moving & storage, you need to be organized. But when should you start packing? And what about all those things you've been meaning to get rid of but haven't yet?
Keep reading to learn more about how you can be organized when moving. Let’s roll!
9 Steps to Get Organized Before Your Move
Getting organized before a move can seem daunting at first. Fortunately, these nine steps can make the process a smoother and less stressful experience.
Start With a Plan
You will first need to decide on a plan of action before you begin packing. Start by making a list of tasks that need to be done as quickly as possible. Then, make another list that can wait until later in the moving process.
Organize your boxes according to each room of your house and label them accordingly. You don't want to get caught up in the chaos of a moving day, so it's best to know exactly where certain items are going ahead of time.
By taking some time to organize your belongings, you can save yourself from re-organizing everything later on down the road.
Start Early
While this may seem obvious, it is not always easy to do. The sooner you start getting organized, the less stress when moving. If possible, start planning your move at least six weeks in advance so that nothing sneaks up on you by moving day.
Keep in mind moving days can be stressful enough without worrying about packing everything up at the last minute!
Create a Budget
Moving is expensive, so having a firm budget before you get started will make it much easier to stay within your means. Make sure your budget includes moving supplies and truck rentals. As well, consider any costs associated with hiring movers or professional packers.
Don't forget other expenses either, such as setting up utilities and making travel arrangements.
Declutter Before Packing
Moving gives you the perfect opportunity to get rid of unused items—clothes, shoes, electronics, books. Anything that has been sitting in the garage or storage room for years.
While it might be tempting to pack everything up and then sort it all out later at your new home, this isn't the best approach. It will only cost time and money when unpacking at your new place.
Instead, go through all your belongings before packing them up. By being proactive, you may save on moving costs and make unpacking much easier when the time comes.
Create a Digital Inventory of Your Belongings
Before you get started packing, create an inventory of your belongings. You'll want a detailed list to know exactly what you have and what to pack. The format doesn't matter—it could be a spreadsheet, document, or even a long text file—but make sure that it's easily accessible and searchable.
Then, as you pack each box, add its contents to the list along with its location (e.g., "living room," "bedroom," etc.). That way, if any of your stuff goes missing after the move, you'll know where to look for it.
Pack Only the Essentials
The less stuff you pack yourself, the easier your move will be. Take out only what you will need in the days leading up to your moving day and pack everything else right away. Ensure that your valuables and important documents are easily accessible during the move.
Or, for added security, consider keeping them with you at all times during the move.
Packing Supplies
Have enough boxes for the items you will be packing away first (extra kitchen items, old clothes, etc.). Save larger boxes for heavier items such as books and framed pictures. Gather packing tape and tape guns, markers for labeling boxes, bubble wrap for valuables, and any other supplies you may need along the way.
Be sure to keep all of your supplies together so that when unpacking, everything is in one place! You can score free boxes from grocery stores.
Create a Moving Binder
You will need to track a lot of paperwork during a move, including inventory lists, moving estimates, and receipts for other expenses related to the move. Create a single place for all of this by making a three-ring binder with tabbed dividers for each document type.
Include printed copies of your moving quotes and make sure they specify what services are included in their prices. They should also provide an inventory list, including weights and measurements. With this information, they can't charge you more later.
Notify Your Utilities and Other Service Providers
Typically, there will be countless service providers that need to be notified of a move. Make a list that includes cable, internet, and phone companies; energy providers; school districts; banks and credit card companies.
Then go down the list, making calls to notify each provider of your impending move. In many cases, you'll be able to fill out an online form instead of having to pick up the phone. If you have time before moving day, call or log in online a couple of days after notifying utilities and other services to confirm the changes.
Bottom Line
Well, there you have it—the complete guide to the best time-tested ways for getting your stuff together and staying organized before you move. With these steps on hand, you will be ready to go come moving day.
After all, remember that the key to a successful move is preparation. If you haven't started working these tips into your life yet, then now's the time.
And, once you’re organized, you can make the big day even less stressful by bringing in Oz moving & storage. With a little bit of time and effort, you’ll be back to living, not packing boxes.
Let Your Space BLOOM offers hands-on organizing, move preparation, unpacking, downsizing, rightsizing and everything in between. For more information, contact Amy. A special thank you to Guy Fuchs, for this informative guest blog post.
