You’ve reached agreements on the sale of your current home, and the purchase of your next one and closing dates are approaching for both. Here are 7 tips to stay organized during the moving process so you don't lose your mind – or you belongings!
1. Get Estimates from Movers
Moving costs can vary significantly. Have the mover come and give you an estimate in person. The mover will see all the items that need to be shipped, and can identify any complications in advance. What to tip your movers.
Things your movers won’t put on the truck:
Car batteries
Charcoal
Darkroom chemicals
Batteries
Nail polish
Scuba tanks
Liquid bleach
House plants
Perishable foodstuffs
2. Gather the right packing materials
Gather organizational tools like packing tape, black markers, and labels in a tote; that way, you don’t have to rummage through drawers whenever the decluttering bug bites. After all, you’re going to need to get this stuff for moving day anyway, so there’s no harm in kicking things off early.
3. Sort, sort, sort
Go through each room of your house, from least-used to most-trafficked, and sort each and every item you see. Divide them into three piles: keep, donate, and toss.
4. Pack with your end game in mind
Proactive packing can make the unpacking process much smoother. So what does that really mean? Consider the space you’re moving into: Where will each item go? Where would you like to store your dishes, your extra toilet paper, your winter clothes? Knowing all this ahead of time means you can direct each box to its proper location, instead of dumping them all into a room and sorting them out later.
5. Don’t overload boxes
There’s a reason book boxes exist—books are heavy, and putting too many in a large cardboard crate guarantees a very rough day of moving.
For heavy items, make sure you’re keeping the box’s cumulative weight into account. Packing a full set of dumbbells? Divide them equally among a number of boxes, filling extra space with lightweight items such as pillows and comforters.
6. Create an ‘open first box’
Create an “open first box,” complete with toilet paper, lightbulbs, toiletries, basic cleaning supplies, and bed sheets. This genius idea keeps you from having to dig through every box to fill your basic needs on your first night in your new place—just open, kick back, and relax. Just make sure to label it clearly and instruct your movers to leave it somewhere obvious.
When you're done “Broom Clean” your home.
All in all, if you’re a home seller who’s been asked to leave your place broom clean, remove your clutter and sweep or vacuum the floors, but don’t worry if they’re not mopped and waxed. New owners moving into your place should be prepared to wipe down kitchen cabinets and drawers, clean the floors, and give the bathrooms a good scrub.
Source: Realtor.com
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