How to Organize Your Next Move

Two years ago we became the proud owners of a beautiful new home. We had two months to pack everything up and get it ready and I was as nervous as I could be. We had moved before, but this time I wanted to actually be organized and pass on the horrible feeling of not being able to find anything for months after moving. I also had one thing working against me in this whole moving process, and that was the fact that I was having major surgery the week before the move.

So how does a person organize a move? With a whole lot of planning and dedication you should be able to get everything packed up and ready to go for your next big move. Unless you can afford to pay the high prices of a professional moving company, it’s up to you! Here are some tips and tricks on How to Organize Your Next Move so you can be prepared and have your belongings in order.

How to Organize Your Next Move

1. Buy a moving notebook! It doesn’t have to be a big extravagant notebook made just for moving or anything. Just a notebook from the Dollar Store will do the trick. You just need a place to keep checklists and notes all in one place. This book should be your best friend for the next few months.

Keep track of everything in your notebook. Start making a checklist of what needs to be packed first and move on from there. †You can also track what is in each box by numbering your boxes and adding them to the notebook as you pack them. When you add the box number to your notebook go ahead and write down what is located inside the box. Be specific when you right it down. This will save you a lot of time and trouble when you get to your new home.

2. Pack storage areas first. Start packing up all the areas that you don’t use on a daily basis like the garage, basement, and storage closets. Go through all your items before you pack them up and get rid of anything that you have not used in the last year. I’m sure you have plenty of things to pack and there is no sense in packing things you don’t need anymore. Take anything that you don’t want to a local thrift store or women’s shelter.

3. Move on to the kids’ bedrooms. Keep out about two weeks worth of clothing and pack the rest. You can just wash the clothing as it gets dirty and then these bedrooms will be out of the way. Have your kids fill a laundry basket or plastic bin with their favorite toys so they will still have things to play with until you get to the new place.

4. Next, pack up your own bedroom. Do the same thing that you did with your children’s room and keep out about 2 weeks worth of clothing and pack the rest up. Go through everything and donate what you don’t want.

5. Finish with the kitchen and bathrooms. You will want to save the kitchen and bathrooms as your last steps. These rooms are very important in our everyday lives and it’s much easier if you pack them last and unpack them first thing when you get to your new home. You can actually use your towels from the bathroom to help aid in wrapping up the breakables in the kitchen.

Now that you have a better idea of how to organize your next move I thought I would leave you with the following tips. You tend to learn things over the years when moving that really help save you time and energy. I hope these tips help you as much as they help me.

Label all boxes with the name of the room that they belong in. Such as bathroom, kitchen, master bedroom and so on.
Place labels on the top of boxes and also on the sides. When boxes are stacked high you won’t be able to see the top of the box to know what is in it.
Be specific when labeling boxes with their contents.
Pack heavier items in smaller boxes and lighter objects in bigger boxes. Place screws and bolts and nuts from beds in a plastic zip-lock baggie. Tape them onto the furniture to keep them from getting lost.
Wrap furniture with heavy blankets to help keep it from getting scratched or dented.
Pack an overnight bag with everything your family will need for the first night. The first night is a rough one, and if you have everything that you need in one spot it will make it much easier.
Make a box for all important paperwork and keep it with you. Things like birth certificates and passports are something you don’t want to loose and must be kept close to your side.