Congratulations, you’ve purchased a new home! Now, it’s time to move.
For some homebuyers, the excitement of closing on their new home quickly dissolves as the reality of moving sets in. The thought of packing up furniture and belongings (and all those random boxes in the attic) can be quite stressful.
However, with a little extra preparation and attention to detail, the daunting task of packing and moving can be a positive and successful experience.
These tips will get you on your way:
Seek out supplies
Start stockpiling newspapers, tissue paper and magazines for your packing purposes. You’ll use these to wrap your fragile plates and glassware and fill extra spaces in your boxes.
Speaking of boxes, you’ll need quite a few. Ask friends and family for any extras they may have on hand and consider visiting your local grocery and warehouse stores to ask for discarded boxes.
Pack in stages
Will you close in a month? Don’t wait until the days just before you close to start packing. Start now.
Packing in stages, little by little, will help you get ahead of the game. Focus on one room at a time. Pack away non-essential items that you can do without until you are in your new home.
Go room to room
Avoid packing items from different rooms in the same box—even if there is extra room in the box.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when packing is to mix and match items from different rooms in their house. It may see like a good idea on the front end, but it will be quite frustrating when you are unpacking your kitchen and can’t find your coffeemaker because it is in a bedroom box.
Take notes
Make unpacking much easier by labeling boxes during the packing process. It may seem tedious initially, but it will save you time and energy when you are trying to decide which boxes you’ll unpack on the first day in your new home.
Load ‘em up
After all of your belongings are safely packed and boxed, it will be time to load up the moving truck. Remember to pack the boxes that will go to your bedroom and bathroom last to ensure they will be the first off the truck.
If you are moving food from your pantry or refrigerator, plan to pack those boxes or coolers in your own personal vehicle.
Ask your agent
Would you prefer to hire a moving company to handle your move? Ask your agent for a referral. Most likely, your agent will be able to provide you with the name of a trusted mover who has worked them and their clients in the past.
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