Proven Ways To Avoid a Chaotic Move and Have an Organized New Home

Is your home still suffering from your last move?

The last time you moved, how did you go about packing?

Did you purge your belongings before you packed everything into boxes?

Did you consider where each piece of furniture would go in the new house?

What happened when the movers brought in the furniture and the boxes into your new home?
How did unpacking go? Who decided what goes where?

Was there a box or two that never turned up?

Are there still unpacked boxes in your basement or garage that haven’t been opened since your last move? Do you even know what’s in them?

 I often have clients who moved in a rush or or did not realize the importance of thoughtfully considering where things would go as they moved into their new home.

When home shopping, it is so easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding a home you love, you don’t think about how your current life’s contents will fit into your future life surroundings.

These are the common mistakes I see when people move and it sets them up for organizational failure.

If you never purge your belongings in your old home, you will be paying for things you don’t need. You are paying for more movers or more truck space and for more hours than is needed because you have extra boxes filled with stuff that no longer serve you. You are paying someone to haul your burdens to your new home. You are paying to continue the clutter chaos. Even if your new home is bigger than your last, it will still be filled with junk you don’t want.

A new home is a new lease on life. It is a chance for you to improve your life, not just in newer surroundings or a bigger square footage, but also in simpler systems and cleaner areas, making for a more streamlined and easier life.

But that means you have to plan accordingly and be deliberate with your efforts.

At least two weeks before the move, you need to purge your whole house of stuff. Go through every drawer, cabinet, closet and box and be ruthless.

When purging your home, be really realistic about your future life.

If you are in your 70s, you probably are going to be boogie boarding anymore. If you will no longer have a yard to care for, you won’t need a garden hose or many flower pots. So get rid of those on Craigslist or a local Facebook Free Cycle or Yardsale page.

If you have only used that huge treadmill once while it is was in your bedroom, chances are you will be using it in your unfinished basement are unlikely.

If you will not be hosting any more holiday dinners, you probably don’t need to hang onto every serving dish and platter you had over the last 30 years. Just keep your top favorites.

If your kids are in their 20s, it is safe to donate their old sippy cups and plates. If your kids are pre-teens, you can give away the Playskool car in the garage.

Only keep what you will need for your future and what you have space for.

Consider the Space You Will Have to Work With

Measure the furniture and the spaces in your new home. It would be a waste of money and time as well as an extra hassle to move large furniture only to discover you not only have no space for it, but also now you need to get rid of it. An extra task in an already busy and stressful time is no fun. A bit of planning and forethought can help avoid this.

Label Boxes Carefully and Keep Close Track of Them

-Document each room, # of Boxes, what’s in the Boxes. Wait until whole room is packed before numbering the boxes.

Example: Megan’s Room (#1 of 6)
                 Fall/Winter Clothes
                 Stuffed Animals

- Write these down on a Master Box Tracker List that lists the Room, Box number, and what was in it.

 -Have each room have a color label. You can use colored labels or colored ink or colored duct tape.

- Labels should indicate which room they will go in, not which room they were in. So if a box from your kitchen is now going in the basement, label it Basement.

Unpack Thoughtfully
Consider the most appropriate spot for each and every item in your home. Does it make sense to house the kitchen spatulas with screwdrivers? No. But it does make sense to house the spatulas with large mixing spoons and the ladle.

- Consider the location for each. It should be as close to where it will be used as possible. Example: Put coffee mugs by the coffee maker.

- Designate each drawer, space, and closet or pantry as a home for like things.  Do not make one cabinet a mess of stuff. For example, categories the items by use or type. Give each space an identity. This is the cooking utensil drawer. This is the knife drawer. This is the coffee and tea cabinet and coffee cup cabinet.

- Unpack ALL Boxes within the first month! No excuses! If you don’t do it in the first month, you never will. Open it and see what’s in it. If it is all unimportant stuff, make the decision to get rid of it ASAP. If you want to keep it, transfer it into a clear bin and label it so it won’t be forgotten.

And finally, do not beat yourself up if once in your new home you do a second round of purging your stuff. Even I did that. Your new surroundings help you to see your belongings in a new light. So purge again if the desire strikes you!

If this all sounds good, but is beyond your scope or ability, hire me to do it for you!!

I will help you purge your home before your move, stage your home to get it to shine for the MLS and Buyers, plan your space, track your boxes, unpack and set up your home for easy living!