We often tout the joys of moving into your new Eastwood home. After all, you get the shiny new appliances, that deep farmhouse sink you’ve been dreaming of, and how about that subway tile backsplash! But truly there’s no way to avoid the pains of moving. Some of those pains are physical, and others are purely mental, but both are just as exhausting!
If moving has you stressed out, we have some tips to help make this task as painless as possible! Need even more tips? Check out these hacks from moving.com.
Plan, plan, and plan some more
First and foremost, call your old and new utility companies as soon as you make the decision to move. The earlier you can schedule the internet company to set up your wi-fi connection, the more likely you are to get the appointment that is most convenient for you. This is the biggest reason not to procrastinate here. (We are speaking from experience!) If you wait until the last minute, you may find yourself streaming Netflix using your phone’s hot spot. Keep a notebook with related to-do lists (including dropping off that old modem so you don’t have a surprise bill in two months), dates you called, appointments you’ve made, etc.
Next up in the planning department: find a mover and secure your date. Be sure to ask about rescheduling policies in case of unexpected delays. Consider using a service like Pods or ZippyShell so that you can move boxes out of your home and into a storage container in the weeks leading up to the move. Your real estate agent may also recommend this in order to declutter your existing home for showings!
Make a habit of not eating out in the month before your move. Not only will this help you save up for the move, but it will also help you eat through the items in your freezer and pantry resulting in less food to move or throw out.
Trying to guess how many boxes you’ll need, and overwhelmed at the idea of how much stuff you’ve accumulated since your last move? Check out this packing calculator from Moving.com for help.
Want more planning tips for your move? Print this Moving Timeline Checklist to keep you organized.
Be a pack rat
You’ve definitely heard this before, but simply labeling or color coding your boxes by their destination room will streamline the unpacking process. Use your pots to hold other kitchen items, and use your suitcases as moving boxes, too. Your linens and towels work great to wrap up breakable items like vases and lamps. Other tips: don’t unpack your dresser drawers, instead just secure their contents with plastic wrap. Also, leave your clothes on the hangers and use large garbage bags to protect them in the move!
Snap a photo of the back of your television before you unplug all the wires since this is nearly impossible to do when you are mentally drained from moving. Take a picture of each box's contents to help you remember where you put things like your dry shampoo after the move. Speaking of shampoos, wrap plastic wrap around anything that might spill.
Let’s be real though, you shouldn’t pack away that dry shampoo. Instead, put it in an essentials bag. This is for the items you’ll need in your first night and includes a change of clothes, medications, chargers, basic toiletries, etc.
Moving day
No one likes moving day, but it can be especially hard on our kids and pets, so find a sitter for them if possible. Pack a cooler for those who are helping that day, and stock it with water, energy drinks, snacks, and sandwiches to keep energy levels up!
It can help to start unpacking the kitchen first because it is a big task. But you’ll feel much more settled if you can find those wine glasses when you are ready to unwind after a long day! If you have friends and family helping you, divide and conquer and start with the most important rooms first: the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
Another small but helpful tip: break down and recycle moving boxes as you empty them. This will aid in providing you that sense of accomplishment! And really, moving day is all about celebrating those victories, most of which is moving into your brand new home!
If you’re in the market for a move-in ready home or if you’re interested in building your home, we would love to chat with you about our communities throughout the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia! We build in the Charlotte, Raleigh and in the Triad areas of North Carolina; Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville areas of South Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; and Atlanta, Georgia. Please feel free to call us at 866-551-7995 or email our team!