18 Dec 2021

Moving is not easy. You have to leave your old home behind and try to transport everything with you in only one or two trips, and that is without considering all the paperwork and legal information that might be involved.

Thankfully, there are some ways to make the process of moving a little easier, both before and after you officially ‘start.’ The better prepared you are, the easier it becomes to move to a new house without running into annoying unpacking problems or arguments between family members.

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Here are 8 ways to simplify things without putting too much extra stress on you or your family.

  • Yard Sales

Yard sales are a very effective way of shifting some items that you no longer want, as well as raising a little extra money to help spruce up your new home. Not only does it minimize how much you need to take with you, but selling off the clutter can help you afford some new things once you arrive.

This might also be handy if you are worried about any emergency fixes that the new house might need. A little extra cash can help if you discover cracks in the walls or a leaking pipe, things that you might not have noticed originally.

  • List Packed Possessions

When you start packing to move, try and list each item in each box. Sticking those lists to the boxes can make it much easier to tell what each box contains, which can be important when you are trying to get the bare minimum set up for your first night at the new house.

This also makes it much easier to tell which boxes are fragile and which can take a bit more of a beating, something that might be useful when you are stacking them in a safe order.

  • Pack Items In Groups

It might also be a good idea to pack items in specific boxes together, even if they are not necessarily the same kind of appliance or possession. Anything that you will need for the first night or two should be easily accessible, so it helps to put it all in the same few boxes instead of spread out everywhere.

In cases where the moving takes place late at night, and you want to sleep before unpacking, it also means that you can get out the bare minimum with very little hassle. The easier everything is, the better.

  • Mark Boxes By Room

One underused trick is to mark boxes by room, often with colored tape. This means that you can tell exactly which room each box goes to at a glance, so you do not have to open them or read the entire list to figure out where they should go.

This can also be a good way of getting boxes into the right rooms straight away, rather than piling them all up in the living room. It speeds things up and makes it far easier to avoid cluttering up your space.

  • Mark Boxes By Person

Alternatively, mark each box based on who owns the contents. This means that everybody can get to work unpacking their own possessions without getting in each other’s way. It also means that they can be placed in each person’s bedroom ahead of time, ready to unpack whenever they are needed.

This can be helpful for avoiding clothing confusion or issues where one person’s possessions are lost in another person’s boxes and also makes it far easier to avoid rummaging through each box looking for a certain thing. If you have a list of what is inside, this becomes even simpler.

  • Rent a Dumpster

A dumpster rental is a great way to easily dispose of unwanted items or trash, helping you cull your possessions before you move. This can make a big difference if you have not been able to sell everything off, especially if you cleaned out your attic and found a lot of spare materials that have no value.

Since dumpsters are picked up and dropped off without you having to be involved, it gives you a hands-off way to simplify the disposal part of your house-clearing process. Even for smaller homes, a small dumpster can work wonders and help you get organized faster.

  • Store Clothes in Drawers

It is easy to assume that you have to bag clothes up separately, but many people find it much easier to store their clothes in their wardrobes once the wardrobe is loaded into a van or truck. Not only do you have fewer bags to work with, but it does not usually add much weight.

This is a great option for moving wardrobes or drawer units since it means that they are ready to use as soon as they arrive. Even if they are a little heavier, they still free up more space in the moving vehicle, so you can take more with you.

  • Carry Something With You

If you are going with the moving van, consider taking a bag or suitcase that you can carry by hand. This might only contain something small, like some extra clothes or some food that you want to bring for the first few days, but it is an easy way to have something ready as soon as you arrive.

You might even find it useful to take a bag with some basic essentials in it, meaning that you can quickly pull out things like food, water, fresh clothing, and toiletries without having to unpack larger boxes.