Relocating to a new home can be exciting yet overwhelming, especially if one is moving with family. Packing is actually one of the critical ingredients in making any move successful. Because there may be children, household items, and even pets involved, a strategically planned approach to packing can make all the difference in terms of time-saving and minimizing stress for a smoother transition of all involved. Throughout this article we will go over a few different tips that can be very helpful in enabling a family to pack for their move in an effective manner, making the process as smooth and seamless as possible.
Start with a Plan
The only way you can pack effectively is by first having a plan to your name. Before you can even begin handling a box, take some time to assess what needs packing and devise a timeline. Break down the packing process, room by room, into different days or weeks for each part of the house to avoid that overwhelmed feeling because you are trying to do everything at once. Make a checklist of all items to be packed and make sure you have all packing supplies on hand, including boxes, tape, and markers. A clear plan from the start gives you direction and helps in keeping you on track as moving day approaches.
Declutter Before Packing
One of the major steps toward effective packing is decluttering your house before you start packing it. Moving is the time when one gets a golden opportunity to sort through their stuff and get rid of all things that they don’t want any more or use. It is a great way to involve your family in the process of teaching the kids where to throw old toys or clothes that are no longer useful. The most helpful aspect of decluttering, aside from reducing the number of items you need to pack, is that it will make unpacking in your new home easier. You can donate the gently used items or organize a garage sale to help lighten your load before the move.
Pack Room by Room
You should pack room by room. This way, you will be packing everything well without mixing items from other areas of your house. Start with the rooms or items you use less, such as a guest room or seasonal decorations. Label each box clearly with the room it goes into and a short description of what’s in that box. This will go a long way toward making unpacking at your new home so much easier; boxes will just be brought to the appropriate rooms upon arrival, thus going a very long way in reducing chaos on moving day.
Quality Packing Supplies
Invest in good quality packing supplies, and this makes quite a difference in how you pack effectively. Strong boxes, good packing tapes, and protective materials like bubble wrap and packing paper play an important role in protecting your items during the move. Never hesitate to ask your moving company if they have some packing materials or can recommend where to get them. Meanwhile, the use of the right size boxes for different items is important. Heavy items like books or kitchen appliances should be packed into small boxes so that they are lighter to handle. Less heavy items, like linens and pillows, could go in larger boxes.
Pack a Moving Day Essentials Box
Make moving day easier by preparing an essentials box that will contain all items needed for the first day and night of your family in the new home. This might include toiletries, change of clothes, important documents, chargers, snacks, and any essential items your children may want or need-such things as favorite toys or comfort items. By keeping these essentials separate from the rest of your packed boxes, you won’t have to go fishing through everything immediately upon arrival in an attempt to find what you will need the first day or so in the new apartment or house. It helps to have a box containing what your family will need to survive the initial few days you are there, that way unpacking can be done piece by piece, and settling in will be comfortable.
Get Your Kids Involved in the Packing Process
Since moving is a huge transition for kids, the more involved they are with the process of packing, the more they can feel in control and excited about this change in their lives. Depending on their age, children can start packing their toys, books, and clothes. Give them a special box in which to pack their personal items and let them decorate the outside of it. This gives them ownership of their belongings and helps them feel more involved in the move. Also, by encouraging children to help, some of the pressure is taken off of the parents, as well as turning the move into a family affair.
Label Everything Clearly
Clear labeling is crucial with any move to keep everything organized. Label each box with its intended room and a brief description of its contents. This makes movers’ work easier as they’ll know which room to place a certain box in your new house. You will also find color-coding of each room with a certain colored marker. For instance, use a red marker to mark all the boxes designated for the kitchen and blue for the ones intended for the bedroom. This way, it will be visually much easier to see where everything goes.
Pack Smartly to Save Space
While packing, one must work in such a manner as to utilize the available space to its maximum. Wrap fragile items in towels, blankets, or other clothes to create a cushioning effect. That alone cuts down on an awful lot of packing materials and allows you to load items with greater ease into a box. Place heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top. This would make it easier to try not to let the boxes get top-heavy or too heavy to carry. Because of their odd shape, such items as kitchenware or toys are to be fitted around other, more uniformly-shaped items, such as books or folded clothing. Smart packing helps you not only reduce the number of boxes but also helps to well-protect everything during transport.
Packing is one of the most critical steps in assuring a successful family move. A good moving plan, appropriate cleaning, and structured packing room by room will minimize the tension and pandemonium that usually accompanies each move. Using quality packing supplies, involving the children in packing, and labeling everything clearly will keep your family on track and will make unpacking much easier when you are trying to settle into your new home. Follow these tips, and you will be all but ready for a really organized move that sets your family up for success in your new home.