Moving is chaotic. However, there are some things you can do to organize your belongings so that you can find them easily. Here are five tips to help you.
1. Get the correct supplies. You want to have plenty of high quality boxes (especially for heavy or fragile items), packing tape with a tape gun, bubble wrap, packing paper, scissors, colored duct tape, and markers. Create a "packing" caddy with everything you need so that you don't waste time searching for your moving supplies. It is good to get some special dish boxes for your dishes so they will be protected.
2. Use colored duct tape. Choose one color for each room of your house. Then, as you pack boxes, close them with the correct color. This will make your boxes easy to sort when you arrive in your new home. You can even tell your movers which color goes in which room and have them sort the boxes for you. If you end up storing your items for any period of time, it will make it so much easier to find something if you need it, too.
3. Create a master list. Put it on a clipboard and place it in your packing caddy. Write each section of your home on the list (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom) and their color on your list. As you fill each box, number it and write the contents (and box number) on your list under the correct category. Since you have the colored duct tape, it doesn't matter if your numbers are chronological (you can pack box number one in the kitchen and box number two in the bathroom). You aren't organizing by them. You just need to know what is in each box. If you have professional movers moving your boxes, this will really help you keep track of how many you have and what is in them.
4. Keep like items together. Since each room has a color, make sure you keep only items from that room in the box. While you can always put things away correctly later, it will be much easier if you pack them correctly in the first place.
5. Don't pack anything that doesn't make you happy. If you don't want to pack it, you won't want to unpack it. This is a great time to dejunk and get rid of stuff you no longer want or need. That ugly sweater your friend gave you? Get rid of it. Only move the things you love into your new home. Moving is a chance to start over and recreate your life. Let go of the any parts of the past that you need to and look forward to the future.
As you plan ahead, you can make your move easier and smoother. Good luck!
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