Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Tips for Moving In - Stress Free!


Well, we're all moved in to our new place!  What a whirlwind!  I cannot believe that only 6 months ago we listed our house for sale and started this transition.  Suddenly the house was sold, packed and no longer ours.  We found ourselves living at my in-laws {who we could never thank enough} slowly watching our house being built.  And here we are!

I previously shared with you how to prepare your house to sell, stage your house to sell and free printable moving labels to make the moving process easier.  So, I figured I should take you through the whole process.  Here's how we moved into our new house - stress free!

Preparations

Tip #1:  Create a Schedule and Budget.  This was especially important for us because we were moving items from two storage units and my in-law's house.  Know how much money you will need for the day - especially if hiring a moving company, renting a truck or feeding your moving crew {friends and family}.  Include security deposits for utilities in your budget as well.  Know who is going where in what vehicle to get items.  Extend the schedule past "Moving Day" to cover the order in which you want to unpack the house - which rooms get top priority and who will unpack them.

If you can, plan to paint ahead of time.  Moving into a brand-spanking-new house, we had a lot of work to do before moving in.  We wanted to paint every room and install ceiling fans.  If you have the luxury, do this before moving day.  It will eliminate any delays in unpacking and settling in.

I like using excel to plan and budget.  You can download my Moving excel here.  This is a very bare bones version, but it should help kick-start your planning.

Tip #2:  Don't be a tightwad - turn on your utilities BEFORE moving in.  Yes, I have helped someone move before that didn't turn on their utilities ahead of time - which is pretty much the meanest thing you can do to people helping you move in July... in Arizona.  Yes, you will have to pay a lot to run the a/c that day, but it's one day.  Get over it.

Tip #3:  Pack a First Night Bag.  Toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, soap, clean clothes, clean towels, you get the idea.  Pack as if you're going on vacation to a cheap hotel with zero amenities... or camping.

Tip #4:  Drink plenty of water, eat well, and get lots of sleep the night before.  You don't want to be grumpy, dehydrated or hangry on moving day.


Moving Day

Tip #5:  Hire the Best Moving Crew in Town - Your Friends and Family.  I know a lot of people choose to hire moving companies to pack and deliver their items, but I love being surrounded by family and friends in a new place.  It's personal and fulfilling.  Just make sure to feed them good food and have plenty of their favorite beverages on hand.

Tip #6: Label Your Rooms.  Pick up some scrapbooking paper in various colors to match your moving labels.  Hang the paper on the door or walls of that specific room.  I chose to also make arrows to guide exactly where I want the boxes to be stacked to avoid having to move them later.  For instance, I wanted the boxes of books to be stacked on the opposite side of the room from where the bookshelves would be placed.  The boxes were already be out of the way and I was able to unpack from their location instead of pushing boxes around the room.

Tip #7: Make Your Bed.   Once the bed is installed, immediately make the bed.  Don't wait until the end of the day - you won't have the patience or the energy.  Having a pre-made bed to crash into will make the end of the long, hard day that much sweeter.


Settling In

Tip #8:  Stick to Your Schedule.  It can be tempting to just shove packed boxes to the corner of the garage and say, "I'll do it later", but do you really want to live around boxes for the next few months?  AND if you can afford to not unpack those boxes, why do you even have that stuff?  Stick to the schedule.... and...

Tip #9:  Unpack Every Box.  This is especially important when using a moving company to ensure nothing is broken.  However, unpacking every box is a great way to do a second purge of your items.  When we packed up our house, we took three full loads of unwanted stuff to Goodwill.  When we unpacked, we took an additional two loads.  A new house may bring items into a new light, good and bad.  Purge the stuff you don't want or won't need anymore.

If you're like me, you probably have stuff you just want to keep for nostalgic reasons.  If so, then be honest.  Create {one} box and fill it with those items - mark it "Keepsakes", put it on a shelf.  Having items all over your house in various nooks and crannies that you're saving for memory sake only creates clutter.  Give it a home in a box and then you'll always know where it is.

Tip #10:  Unpack the Kitchen - The Sane Way.  Post-Its are your best friend when unpacking the kitchen.  Mark the contents of each cabinet and drawer on a sticky note and leave on the cabinets/drawers for the first week of living in your new home.  You and your family will quickly become acquainted with the new layout and it will save you from the constant, "MOOOOM!  Where are the cups?!"

Final Tip:  Send Thank You's.  To your real estate agent, to your friends and family, to your temporary landlords {thanks again, mom and dad!}

We're very excited to be in our new place and the many adventures it will bring.
Stay tuned for more projects and chaos - Creative Cubby style. 

53 comments:

  1. These are GREAT tips Jen! I love the tip of labeling where you want the boxes piled so you don't have to move them out of the way later. And the sticky notes in the kitchen for a week is a fantastic idea. Enjoy your new home!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Hilda! I can't even begin to say how much easier those simple actions made our move! :)

      Delete
  2. Thanks i love both points packing and labeling.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bubble wrap is not essential, but can be used to easily protect your most delicate and breakable items. Packing paper can also protect these objects if used correctly.

    Robert@Cardboard Boxes Sydney

    ReplyDelete
  4. Moving stress increases exponentially when you complete the transition in a rush. Skip the frantic packing and aim for an attitude of "slow and steady wins the race." Plan your schedule to ensure there's adequate time for each item on your task list. Use your mobile device's calendar app to mark appointments, set deadlines and configure important reminders and alarms. Even if you don't have the luxury of a long-term move, keep your move as stress-free as possible by pacing yourself instead of leaving everything to the last minute.


    Packing Boxes Melbourne

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your way to write information, it's useful a lot. I still have over 2 weeks but I'm getting very serious about packing. Thanks for the tips. really helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  6. These are great tips! moving is part of life as a family and hiring a professional moving company can make your move stress free. They can help you have a more organized move which is crucial to a lower stress level!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is a very nice post. It is also helpful for us. Thank's for sharing your article.
    movers and packers in Bangladesh

    ReplyDelete
  8. Very Informative post. I really enjoyed reading your post.Thank's for sharing your post. To know more info about: home shift in Bangladesh

    ReplyDelete
  9. The creative cubby is pretty cool. They often have a lot of unique things.

    https://elitemovingandstorage.com/best-long-distance-movers/

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Put more information on this page, I really like your blog more. OGEN Infosystem is presented Top 5 Website Designing Company in India and they have also experienced team of Digital Marketing for SEO, PPC, and other social media activities.
    Website Designing Company in Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  13. Bangalore is the hub of IT Companies here you can find the trusted top web development company in bangalore, india. So, that its easy to you find the best web desiners from our online directory.

    ReplyDelete
  14. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who had been doing a little homework on this. And he actually bought me lunch because I discovered it for him... lol. So allow me to reword this.... Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to discuss this subject here on your blog.
    https://kbcofficialwinner.com/kbc-head-office-number-for-crorepati-inquiries/

    ReplyDelete
  15. Simsii sterile syringe filter are disposable syringe filters that are attached to the end of a syringe to remove particles from a sample, prior to analysis.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great Experience the Best Assignment Writing Services at 123movies

    ReplyDelete
  17. tik tok shayari. adventures and have been writing

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is a wonderful blog, thanks for sharing this amazing information. We are online packaging materials supplier in Australia where you can buy Packing Boxes, Mailing Boxes, Moving Boxes, Bubble Mailer, Packing Tape, Card Mailer, Poly Mailer, Printer Toner, Pallet Wrap, EFTPOS Rolls Online at a very cheap price.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the information and links you shared this is so should be a useful and quite informative!
    aPlaceCalledHome.net
    FlipThyHouse.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I really enjoyed reading this blog. It was explained and structured with perfection; Best Digital Marketing Company in Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for sharing these tips. This help me to move to new place without any hassle. I recommended you to hire professional Moving Services in Rockville for your move.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for the tips. For moving find the best Real Estate Investors for your future investment in the real estate with RealEstateCake.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Awesome post! Such a very informative article, thanks for sharing with us. We One of the best moving & shifting service provider in Bangladesh. Affordable and reliable moving services around you! Our success is measured by our clients Satisfaction . Contact us if are you looking moving & shifting companies in Dhaka. Visit:
    House Shifting Service in Dhaka
    Office Shifting Service in Dhaka
    Moving Company
    বাসা বদল সার্ভিস ঢাকা
    বাসা পরিবর্তন

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for sharing your great informative article. Hire one of the best movers and packers in Dhaka for a hassle free move.
    dorkary.com Packers and movers provide excellent shifting services at the best price

    Detail:
    Home Shifting Service BD
    Office Shifting BD
    Home Shifting Service BD
    বাসা শিফটিং

    ReplyDelete
  25. Braha moving systems provides the facility of local movers, long distance movers in New York. They have trained staff to satisfy the clients need.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for sharing these tips for moving. I will use these tips while moving.


    Moving Company Bethesda

    ReplyDelete
  27. I blog frequently and I really appreciate your content. Your article has really peaked my interest. I am going to bookmark your website and keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too. No need to search a lot of stores for your favorite knife, just visit Cheap Hand Made Knives for Sale Delivery Worldwide and place the order.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Also about par30 vs br30 : BR does a nicer job of filling the room with light, while PAR is more focused in one spot. The downside of the BR is it tends

    ReplyDelete
  29. cool things to do with led lights in your room - One of the coolest things you can do with LED strip lights is getting a custom-made fixture for your living room, bedroom, or whatever room you choose. It can be or say anything that you want— “love” or “here for a good time, not a long time,” or your favorite song lyric— and in any color you want.

    ReplyDelete
  30. read what he said Dolabuy Valentino why not find out more home this article replica bags online

    ReplyDelete
  31. replica bags online uae my explanation a9t21v0o19 replica bags from turkey check these guys out o9o16q7c90 replica bags replica bags manila replica bags philippines replica hermes bags q1u26d3u75 replica bags in pakistan

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for sharing such a Relevant post! If moving is stressful for you then checkout Transportadda and Hire Packers And Movers In Vadodara at low price.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks for sharing such a Relevant post! If choosing the best moving company is a stressful then get the list of Trucking Companies Toronto at Online Tech Daily.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Indian best packers and movers is a Expert packers and movers.We are leading packers and movers in Rajasthan. We are leading packers and movers in jaipur . We provide many packing and moving related services such as home shifting service in jaipur, <a href='https://packersjaipur.com/services/">car transportation services in jaipur</a>,office relocation services in jaipur, movers in jaipur etc. We are Professional packers and movers and we provide best services at affordable cost.
    For more details visit at our website: <a href="https://packersjaipur.com/services/">Indian Best Packers</a>

    ReplyDelete
  35. We are Professional packers and movers, and we provide best services at affordable cost.

    ReplyDelete

 
Blogging tips