Moving to a new home is incredibly stressful. In fact, it regularly ranks as one of the most stressful events a person can experience. It’s right up there with the death of a loved one and divorce!
Even if you don’t feel that strongly about it, chances are you’re still feeling pretty overwhelmed with your upcoming move.
Nearly all aspects of a move are difficult, but packing up your home might be the most challenging. If you’re not sure how to approach the packing process, or if you’ve just been putting it off because you don’t want to deal with it, keep reading.
Explained below are some important details on how to pack your house and keep your belongings safe while you head to your new home.
How to Pack Your House
Packing up your house can be a daunting task. But, before you start trying to read more about moving your whole house to a new plot of land, consider these packing tips.
They’ll help to simplify the packing process and make it easy for you to find what you need when the time to unpack rolls around:
Gather Your Supplies
Start by taking some time to gather up all your moving supplies.
That way, you won’t be rushing around trying to find boxes or packing tape at the last minute, even though you swore you had some leftover from the last time you moved.
Some supplies you’ll want to have on hand include:
- Boxes in a variety of sizes
- Packing tape
- Old newspapers
- Bubble wrap
- Labels
- Markers
Once you have all your supplies gathered, you can start the packing process.
Start Early
To make your move a low-stress as possible (because, as far as we can tell, a no-stress move doesn’t exist), start packing as soon as you can.
Ideally, you’ll begin at least three months before your moving date.
If you don’t have three months, start right now. You might not have as much time as you would like, but it’s still better than nothing.
Start with the Least Important Items
When you’re packing up your house, it can be hard to decide where to begin.
A good rule of thumb is to start with your least important or least used items. This might be holiday decorations or winter or summer clothes.
Weigh Your Boxes
Many people make the mistake of cramming as many items into a box as possible, without giving any thought to how heavy that box will be.
Weigh your boxes and, whenever you can, limit them to 30 pounds. That way, you’ll be able to load them onto the truck and into your new house without throwing your back out.
Label Your Boxes
Be sure to label your boxes, too. That’s why labels and markers are included on the supply list. It may take a little longer than you’d like, but it’s absolutely worth it.
Clear labeling makes it much easier for you to sort through your belongings and find what you need when you get to your new home.
Clear Out the Clutter
A move is a great time to go through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need.
Don’t haul all that dead weight with you to the new house — this is your opportunity for a fresh start!
Hold a garage sale to get rid of old or unwanted items. Donate whatever doesn’t sell to a local charity.
Invest in a Storage Unit
One of the best things you can do to keep your belongings safe during a move is to invest in a storage unit.
A storage unit provides you with a space to store bulky or fragile items until you can get situated in your new home. And, the less clutter you have in your current home, the easier it is to prepare it for a sale.
Store Heavy Boxes on the Bottom
Whether you’re transferring boxes to your storage unit or loading them onto the truck, do your best to store heavier boxes on the bottom. That way, you’ll be less likely to break any of your belongings during the move.
Consider using colored stickers or another special symbol to denote heavy boxes when you’re packing them up.
Fill in the Gaps
If you have empty space in your boxes, fill those gaps in with crumpled newspaper or bubble wrap. This will keep items from getting jostled during the move and will help to prevent cracks, nicks, and other damage.
Pack an Essentials Box
Finally, remember to pack an essentials box for the day of your move.
Use the essentials box to store a few dishes, a few sets of clean clothes, your coffee maker, important papers, and other items you’ll need during the first few days of your move.
Simplify Moving Day
You’ve packed all the boxes, now it’s time to actually move your belongings to your new home. Moving day is never easy. But, you can make it easier by keeping these tips in mind:
- Arrange for child or pet care so you can focus on the move without distractions
- Organize your volunteers and plan for them to arrive in shifts so no one has to give up a full day to help you move
- Consider hiring professional movers (if your budget allows) to minimize the physical stress of transporting your belongings
- Keep cash on hand to tip the movers (if you’re hiring them)
- Double check all areas of your home (including the garage, attic, and crawlspace) to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything
These moving tips, combined with your early preparation and packing expertise, will ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible.
Need Help Selling Your Home?
You know how to pack your house and keep your belongings safe during your move. But, are you still having trouble selling your home?
If you need to get your house sold, we’ve got lots of resources on our blog to help you out.
Start by checking out this article. It will teach you four awesome home staging tips to help you make your house more appealing to potential buyers.
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