You’ve searched far and wide and have finally found the perfect house for you and your family. You’ve taken all the crucial steps needed before buying a home, the ink on the paperwork has dried, and all that’s left is to have your utilities turned on, and the packing can begin.
Whether you’re making a move to Oklahoma from South Carolina or moving just across town, the packing part of a big move can be overwhelming, nerve-racking, and beyond stressful. The trick is to follow the packing tips below so that you’ll be saved a ton of time and a lot of frustration. Before you know it, you’ll be unpacked and settled into your new home, enjoying time with your family and gazing at the scenery from your new front porch swing.
1. Necessity Bag
The first thing you should do when packing for a big move is pack and set aside a necessity bag for each member of your family. Things to include in this bag are demi bras and panties, a couple of outfits, and even a few slim jims, chips and other snacks to hold the family over while you try to find things to feed them once in your new home. These bags will save you a ton of time on the day you are going to move, and even for a few days after the big move, while you’re unpacking and trying to find things that seem to have been lost in the move but are around the house somewhere.
2. Decluttering and Organizing
It’s best to start sorting through your stuff at least a couple of weeks before the big move, if at all possible. Start going through one room at a time decluttering and getting rid of big stuff that you don’t want to move to your new house with you. Once you’ve gotten rid of the big things, go through those same rooms and separate things into different stacks. You’ll want a stack to throw away, a stack to have a yard sale with, and a stack to give to your favorite charity. The last thing you want is to take things you no longer use to your new home to just gather dust and take up space the way they did in your old home.
Once you’ve decluttered and straightened, go through and make a list of things to be moved onto the truck last to be taken to your new home. These are the items that need to be put on the moving truck last, and taken off first. These items should be the things that you’ll need first in your new home. Label them so they can be found easily once you’re in the house and need them right away.
3. Pack one room at a time.
The biggest tip for packing without becoming overwhelmed and wanting to pull your hair out is to finish packing one room before you move to the next. You don’t want to skip from the kitchen to the bathroom to the bedroom and back again. Instead, take your boxes into each room and pack it completely before you move onto the next room on your list. Don’t forget to write categories on the boxes so that you know where to put things in your new home.
Once you’ve got everything packed and moved into your new home make sure that the movers put all boxes in the rooms they belong in. You don’t want the knives and forks in the bathroom and the body wash and shampoo in the kitchen, as this just makes more work for you when the unpacking stage of your move begins.
These are just a few tips to help you pack for a big move without a ton of frustration. Make sure that you follow the tips above and you’ll be settled into your new home in no time at all.
