After all of the time you’ve spent finding the perfect home and following the steps on the home buyer’s completion checklist, the big day has finally arrived. It’s moving day!
Possession day is definitely exciting – especially for first time home buyers – but the days leading up to it can be just as stressful. Make the most of moving day and your new home with these tips to help you prepare for your big move.
Out with the Old, In with the New
Once the papers are signed and the sale has been finalized, it’s time to start sorting through your belongings to determine what stays and what goes. Maybe you’re already dreaming about the new appliances and furniture you’ll purchase, but you need to figure out what’s coming with you first. If you’re downsizing, you’ll need to decide on which items you actually need and can bring with you to the new place. It can seem intimidating, but think about it as a spring-cleaning exercise – your new home is an opportunity to start fresh!
Tip: Instead of throwing out old household items or clothes, donate them to a local charity.
Stay Organized
Planning ahead is the key to success in most areas of life, and moving is no exception. Organize reusable boxes based on rooms or seasonal wear to help you to stay focused on packing without getting overwhelmed. Choose reusable boxes over cardboard when you can: they’re better for the environment and can be used as storage bins in your new home.
To make things even easier once you get to your new home, label each bin for its destination (kitchen, bathroom, patio, bedroom, etc). This small step will save you a headache when it’s time to unpack.
Vacuum-Packing
We all think that we’re minimalists… until it’s time to start packing. Once you’ve finished cleaning out your closet, vacuum-pack your remaining clothes. It doesn’t matter if you’re moving down the street or to a new city, vacuum-packing allows you to fit nearly twice as many clothes into one suitcase or bin. It’s also a great and cost-effective way to pack since it saves you from buying more suitcases or replacing items that got ruined in the move. Vacuum-packing linens keeps your sheets and blankets smelling fresh and clean while maintaining their quality.
One Last Walk-Through
Whether you’ve hired movers for the day or have friends helping you out, do a final walk-through of your old home to make sure that you have everything. Movers will help pack up everything that you’ve listed, but they might miss something that you wouldn’t. Even if you’re confident that everything has been accounted for, it’s nice to say a final goodbye before moving to your new home.
If you’re a first-time home buyer just beginning to look for a home, check out our blog for tips for first-time home buyers.