Organizing Your Move To A New Property

jane-field-vernon-realtor Moving to a new home is a positive and exciting experience. However, you want to be sure you are not arriving with baggage and belongings that won't suit or fit into the new place. Instead of packing and moving everything you own, focus only on what will be pleasing and necessary to you in your new environment.

Packing up the old place is an opportunity to sort and discard. As soon as you have decided to move, get into your storage areas and get rid of everything you have not used for two years. Too many of us keep items "just in case". It is pretty good odds if you have not used something for two years, you will be comfortable living without it. Then get into your closets and apply the same philosophy.

Next, assess what furniture and decor accessories will both fit into and look attractive in the new space. Then, hold a garage sale or donate the remainder to charity. This way you have pared down to only things you use and enjoy and you'll have a much simpler move.

The next step is packing. Easiest to pack early are china and giftware. I suggest you wrap as many items as you can using tea towels, face towels, etc. They provide excellent protection to your precious items and you won't be faced with having to wash newsprint ink off everything when you unpack. Be sure to wrap each item individually. If possible, move the china boxes yourself.

Pack each area of the house systematically, keeping kitchen, bathroom and each bedroom items separate from one another. Marking the boxes is of critical importance. I have two suggestions. As you pack each box, write on a separate sheet of paper all items you are putting in the box and tape the sheet onto the box. This eliminates guesswork as to contents when searching for items you need. Secondly, buy some big colour coded dots or labels at the office supply store. Decide on a colour for each room and apply the colour code dots/labels accordingly. This way you and your movers can tell at a glance which room the box should go to. When you unpack, you will find every box in the rooms it is to be used in. Simple. Easy.

Last, but of utmost importance, is your box of necessities. This box is to be kept in your possession so that it arrives with you at the new place. Don't give it to your movers! In this box should be coffee, cereal or muffins for breakfast, plastic cups and cutlery, sheets and bedding for your first night, toothbrush and one change of clothing. When you arrive you'll have the peace of mind of knowing you'll get a decent night's sleep and your first breakfast. This system will start your process of settling in, in a more manageable and less stressful manner.

Download a printable version and read it later.