5 min readMoving from one home to the next is a unique kind of headache, but it’s not usually the truck ride over that’s annoying. It’s what comes before and after: the packing and unpacking. Packing up your home can make you want to throw away everything you own, and unpacking can take months to finally get through.
But there has to be a less painful way forward, right? To find it, we consulted moving expert Najah Ayoub, chief marketing officer of Piece of Cake Moving and Storage. After over six years at a national full-service moving company, she’s seen what it takes to have a painless move.
“Moving is exhausting, and your new home takes time to settle into,” Ayoub says. “But there’s a difference between taking your time decorating and living out of moving boxes for months.”
Below, you’ll find Ayoub’s time-tested tips for packing, unpacking, and organizing yourself to get settled in your new home. Save these tips now and thank us later.
Declutter Ruthlessly
Ayoub suggests looking at your move as a chance to do some major decluttering. If you audit your possessions before you move, your move will actually get cheaper. You’ll need fewer boxes, pay for less time, and it’ll be easier to organize your new home. If you’re not sure where to begin cutting back, make your way down the following list:
- Expired pantry items and toiletries: If you haven’t used that can of beans by now, you’re not going to use it in your next place. Anything that has expired should be tossed, and if it’s remained unopened for the better part of a year, donate it. Remember: beauty products have expiration dates too, so this is a great time to clear out that bathroom cabinet.
- Broken or damaged items: This follows the same principle—if you’ve been swearing up and down you’ll fix that chair leg or sew up that hole, you’re better off getting rid of it. Moving items that have missing pieces will just lead to frustration in your new home.
- Furniture that won’t work in your new home: “If you know a piece is too large or simply doesn’t suit the new space, sell or donate it before you pay to move it,” Ayoub says.
- Clothing and shoes: Your whole closet doesn’t need to come with you. If you haven’t worn it in a year, let it go. If you have a special baby blanket or wedding dress, make sure only the absolute essentials make the cut. “For truly sentimental clothing, give yourself a limit on special pieces rather than keeping an entire wardrobe you no longer wear,” Ayoub says.
Snap a Pic Before Unplugging Anything
Our lives run on gadgets, which means you’ll likely be doing a lot of unplugging and packing up electronics to be set up again later. If you’re combing through a tangle of wires, or can’t remember which cord goes in which hole, it becomes a major headache. But Ayoub has a secret life hack to help: photograph every electronic before you unplug it.
“Before you disconnect your TV, Wi-Fi router, computer setup, or anything with a maze of cords, take a quick photo of the back [of the device],” Ayoub says. “It takes five seconds and can save you a surprising amount of frustration when you’re setting up your new home.”
Keep Your “Night One” Box Close By
Even before you’re fully unpacked, you’ll have to find a way to live comfortably in your space. The best way to do that is by having a “night one” box. It holds your essentials in an easy-to-reach place, so you’re not digging through boxes just to get through your first few days.
Ayoub says there are small things people forget about until 10 p.m. on the first night. That box needs to be kept “somewhere you can access immediately rather than letting it disappear into the moving truck.”
“Night One” Box Essentials
- Phone and laptop chargers
- Medications
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Basic cleaning supplies
- Trash bags
- Scissors or a box cutter
- A few basic kitchen items
- Coffee or tea for the next morning
- Towels, pillows, and bed linens
- Immediate essentials for children and/or pets
If you’re thinking it’ll take longer than a week to unpack, have a few extra bags set aside to live in comfort. Everyday toiletries, a kitchen box with plates and utensils, and a clothing bag. Pack a week’s worth of outfits as you’d pack for vacation.
Use Plastic Moving Bins Instead of Cardboard or Bags
When you’re choosing the right material to pack your life into, Ayoub prefers heavy-duty plastic bins to the traditional cardboard or IKEA shopping bags. “They are sturdy, stackable, and weather-resistant, and because they’re uniform in size, they can be loaded and stacked efficiently,” Ayoub says.
Soft bags won’t hold up to bumps on the road in transit, and could increase potential damage in a moving truck. Only use them for lightweight items like bedding or clothing. Plastic moving bins can also be multiuse, kept to store out-of-season clothes or holiday decorations. Or if you worry about them taking up space, rent some moving bins. You’ll have the extra incentive to unpack, knowing you’ll have to return the bins.
Time It Right
Summer is traditionally the busiest season to move in. No matter the time of year, though, the first and last weekend of any month tend to be the busiest. It’s a common lease end or start date. Aim for the weeks in between to avoid peak periods.
It’s not just about the perfect day—the time matters just as much. Ayoub recommends getting an early start around 7 to 9 a.m.
“You’re getting ahead of peak traffic, loading areas are often easier to access, and you have more of the day available if anything unexpected comes up,” Ayoub says.
Give Yourself an Unpacking Deadline
Life gets in the way after a move, and pretty soon there will be a few boxes lying around unpacked for a while. It’s key to give yourself a deadline: get the majority of everyday things unpacked in the first week or two. “The longer boxes stay packed, the more likely they are to become part of the furniture,” Ayoub says.
