Moving is hard work and few people enjoy the process. It’s exciting to move to a new home, but packing and unpacking are chores. If you’ve been living in the same house for a long time, this can indeed be a major undertaking. Here are a few tips to make moving easier and reduce the stress of the experience.

Make Moving Easier by Decluttering and Organizing

The fewer things you have to pack, the easier your move will be. If you’ve been in your current home for decades, you may begin to realize that a large percentage of the stuff in drawers, cupboards, and the garage isn’t being used.

Get rid of stuff you haven’t used rather than move it into your new home. To declutter, sort items into piles you can donate, sell, and throw away. You’ll be surprised at how many things you’ve collected that you don’t need or use anymore.

Don’t Unpack What is Already Packed

Don’t make your job more difficult. If you have a dresser filled with clothing, there’s no need to take the clothes out and pack them separately. The movers may be able to securely wrap the dresser so the drawers can’t slide out. You’ll be able to leave the clothing in place. The same applies to kitchen utensils stored in drawer organizers. Use clear plastic wrap to wrap the entire organizer with its contents. Unwrap it and put it into the drawer when you arrive at your new home.

Color-Coded Boxes Make Moving Easier

Label the moving boxes with a different color for every member of the household and/or for each room. You will be able to quickly group relevant boxes together and unload your belongings into the correct rooms when you arrive at the new house.

Use Smaller Boxes

If you could use one big box for everything it would be much easier, right? Wrong. If you label them properly, smaller boxes make it easier to find things you need quickly in a new home. Imagine the chaos of searching for a single item in a really huge box. Using smaller boxes makes unpacking and setting up your new house easier.

Don’t Leave Packing Until the Last Minute

No one likes packing but if you leave it until the last minute, you will struggle even more. Start packing at least a month before moving day. If you use smaller boxes as recommended above, you can easily pack one or two when you have a few minutes of free time and make the whole experience a lot less exhausting.

Keep Things You use Everyday Separate

Don’t pack your laptop, smartphone, or other items you use on a daily basis. Keep often-used items labeled in a clear plastic container where you can easily find them. Well-labeled boxes will help you quickly find items you need at the new house, but it’s also smart to have each family member pack a duffle or tote bag of daily necessities and things they want to have close at hand.

RMI Inspection Services offers inspection services to customers in South Florida. If you’re buying or selling a home, contact us to request an inspection.