5 Steps to a More Organized Move

How can you turn your next move into the model of efficiency? The first step is organization. Whether this is your first move or organization just isn't your strong suit, take a look at what you need to know to streamline the process and make the day stress-free.

Declutter Before You Do Anything Else

The less stuff you have, the easier it is to organize everything. If you won't or can't bring everything you own from your old home to the new one, decluttering is the first step in the organization process. 

Before you throw everything you won't move away, take stock of the items and decide what can help you to make money. The decluttering step can add to your moving budget reserve. Separate out anything that you could potentially resell. Don't worry about staging a garage sale. If you don't have time to make posters, set up tables, and spend your weekend haggling with your soon-to-be former neighbors, simply sell your overflow online.

Create a Moving Inventory

Now that you know what will move with you, take the next step and inventory it all. This is a major organizational task that, if done well, can upgrade the overall efficiency of your move. Not only can an inventory help you to identify and organize everything you will move, but it can also help the movers. The inventory provides the moving company contractor with an itemized list of everything they will transport for you.

The best organizational strategy for a moving inventory is the one that makes the most sense to you. The categories you choose and the format you use may differ from what someone else does. This means there is no one universal or best type of inventory outline. Instead of a generic template, create a custom inventory that helps you to collect, separate, and organize your belongings.

While there is no one right way to inventory everything you own, you will find a few popular general organizational ideas. These include organizing the to-move haul by room, household member, size, or weight. You can also create categories for special items, seasonal selections, and breakables.

Organize Your Moving Containers

Will you use boxes, bins, bags, or a combination of these containers to move everything in your home? Instead of starting with an organizational task, choose the best containers for the job. Use your inventory to create a moving container plan. This plan can function as an attachment to or a part of the inventory itself.

Find One Place to Start Packing

More specifically, find one place to start packing and continue room-by-room from there. Simultaneously packing everything in your home in a random pattern may make the task seem insurmountable. It can also lead to inventory errors, leave you with leftover items that don't fit into boxes or bins and add unnecessary stress to your moving day.

Choose one room to pack first. If you will start the packing process days (or even weeks) before your move, select a room you don't use often. This eliminates the need to save specific items to pack later or keep anything you used often separate until your move day arrives. After you pack everything in the room, check the items off your inventory list or mark them as ready to move. 

Use Lots of Labels

A well-organized packing plan can fail on move day without the right labels. Without labels the movers won't know what is inside the containers, if there are fragile or breakable items to move, or where anything goes in your new home.

Choose large, white or brightly colored (such as fluorescent yellow) labels. Use black or dark permanent markers to write the contents of the container and special carrying or transportation instructions.

Are you ready to plan your move? Do you need extra help transporting everything to your new home? Contact Checkmate Moving & Storage, LLC, for more information.