Moving is stressful. Packing is hard work. And the disassembly? Done right, it can help you settle into your new home quickly and comfortably. Getting it wrong can be annoying.
People have been known to bring boxes to their first home which was never unpacked after moving into their last apartment. Others had buried cleaning supplies and shelf papers from the previous owner in a hastily filled cupboard.
Planning your room-by-room unpacking can help ensure a smoother landing and a more organized space.
It Begins With Packing
The more organized a move, the better. Boxes should be packed by room and assigned an appropriate number or color code.
It’s best to not wait until the last minute to pack up your home. Don’t rush to throw dusty memorabilia or a closet full of old clothes in a box while you’re cleaning, instead selecting donations can help lighten your load during your move.
Keep in mind that while many people have helped place the right box in the right room, there are much fewer hands helping unpack the boxes. An inventory list that identifies the contents of each box can help you decide which of the dozen of kitchen boxes to open first. In addition to packing by room, you should consider packing by area in the room. Getting glasses, plates, and cutlery together will be more important on the first night than finding the waffle iron.
Be sure to pack a box (or boxes) with the essentials to get your home up and running quickly: toilet paper, towels, soap; basic cleaner; kitchen utensils for preparing simple meals; medicines; chargers for phones and computers; important documents; maybe even the bed linens you need for the first night.
Getting There
First things first: if you can, clean it. Once the cupboard or closet is full you’ve missed your best opportunity to give it a good scrubbing.
Then start placing your essential items in their proper spaces – which should be removed from the truck first (or better yet, among the items you carry in the car).
Now it’s time for the big load.
Space Race
Once you know your house plan, you can load a moving truck with the intent to move through the new living space. If everything has to go through the front door, it’s best not to unload the front room items first.
This infographic was created by Moving of America, moving and packing services
However, unpacking is usually a two-step job, starting with unloading. As soon as all the boxes are in the correct rooms, the real work begins. Some people find it better to take a break after unloading the moving truck and being the unpacking process the next day.
Regardless, you should tackle the rooms in an organized manner. Here’s one way to prioritize unpacking based on the room and the items in it
- Bathrooms: These rooms will likely be used before unloading and unpacking is finished, so it’s best to start here. Necessities first (toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and brush, towels). Leave everything else for later.
- Bedrooms: Skip the guest bedrooms unless they will be used on the first night; immediately make a bed for the homeowners. First assemble the furniture, then make the bed. Clothing can wait.
- Kitchen: Install any large appliances first, then unpack the smaller ones (microwave, toaster, coffee maker), then pots, pans, plates, glasses, cutlery and cookware.
- Living room: Move the furniture in, then electronics, then decorations.
- Home office: Put furniture together, get your computers and other devices online if possible, and save all other desk items for later.
- Other rooms and storage: Guest rooms, bonus rooms, entrances, closets, and basements or storage garages should be prioritized based on which rooms and equipment are used first or most frequently. Is it time for a lawnmower and a bicycle or a snowplow and a winter coat? Unpack the appropriate boxes.
Appreciate the Journey
Whether you want or have to move, you have a choice of how you proceed. So, while thinking about practical things — like unpacking boxes, or waiting for everything else to be done before unpacking the remote — don’t forget to take time to enjoy your new space and meet your new neighbors.
Author bio: Adam Warner is Content Strategist Manager at Moving of America. Previously, Warner wrote short stories across different magazines.