Preparing Yourself and Your Home for Moving Day
Moving house is both exciting and frustrating. You’re setting off on a new adventure, moving to a new community and starting a new chapter of your life. Still, you’re leaving a home and a community that you know well, which can be stressful and even a bit frightening. With such a mix of emotions it can be easy to get overwhelmed as moving day approaches. But with some proper planning, and a few helpful tips, you can get yourself ready for the big move and get your old home ready for the market place.
Packing Supplies
Moving day begins with packing supplies, and it is always better to have too many than not enough. Estimate the number of boxes you will need for all of your possessions, and then add ten or twelve as a safety measure. In the unlikely event you have any left over, you can always return them for a refund or take them to a recycling center. You will also need a good supply of bubble wrap for fragile items, packing tape to seal the boxes, and labels and marking pens to label the boxes. And don’t forget, you will also need plenty of cleaning supplies as well. Once you’ve packed up your house, and the truck is loaded, you will need to give your house a thorough cleaning.
Make Lists
Making lists may sound tedious, but it will definitely make the moving process much simpler. Make a list of the areas of the house that can be packed up first. This should include any items that aren’t in everyday use. You’ll pack up your day to day necessities last. Once the packing has begun, number each box and make a corresponding list of what each box contains. For example: “Box 1 – Julie’s Books and Papers”. This will help you keep track of what is being packed, reducing the chance of important items being lost or left behind, and will make it that much easier when it comes time to unpack in your new home.
Label Your Boxes
When it comes time to unpack in your new home, nothing is more helpful than specifically labeled boxes. It is not enough to simply label the box “kitchen” or “bedroom”. Be specific. For example; “Kitchen – Flatware” or “Living Room – Bookcase”. This will make it much easier to unpack in an orderly fashion, and will help you find what your looking for precisely when you need it.
Prioritize and Pack Ahead
Anything you can pack ahead of time will greatly reduce stress level as the moving day approaches. Leave the most commonly used clothes and household items to be packed the day before you actually move. It may be a little inconvenient for a week or two, but it will eliminate any last minute headaches.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Once the bulk of your house is packed up, and you are down to the daily necessities, it’s time to start cleaning the old homestead to get it ready for a potential buyer. This will be a deep clean, and you will want to steam clean the carpets, wash the windows, and mop out the kitchen and bathrooms. Toilets, sinks, and bathtubs should be scrubbed down, and cabinets should be cleaned out and relined. If the walls have become soiled, scrub them down as well. You want your old house to be clean and sparkling so it will impress any potential buyers. You might also consider placing a few air fresheners discreetly around the house so it has a fresh, lived in, scent.
Moving can be a stressful time, and there is a lot to do. Not only do you have to pack up all of your belongings, but you need to leave your old home clean and attractive so it can perform well on the real estate market. But by starting early, and sticking to a simple plan, you can make your moving day go much smoother, and you can leave behind a home that is ready to welcome its new tenants.
photo credit: erix