Since the pandemic in March 2020, about 22% of people reported moving to new towns, states, and areas. Some of those people moved because of the virus, and others had reasons like their family or jobs.
Whatever your reason is for moving, nothing changes the fact that the stress can become unbearable. After all, you have countless responsibilities and tasks to manage to ensure you and your family get from one home without issue. That is why it is critical to devise a moving checklist and strategy for each room in your home.
1. Packing the Living Room
About 1 in 8 Americans say that packing is the primary source of their moving stress. After all, it is daunting once you start looking around your home and realizing how much stuff needs to go into boxes.
That is why it is best, to begin with, the largest rooms or the rooms that may take the most time. For most people, that is the living room.
The first thing you want to do is make an inventory list. You will want to do this for every room in the house. By taking inventory, you ensure that you don’t lose anything during the move.
Have a piece of paper handy and catalog every piece of furniture like:
- Sofas
- Love seats
- Armchairs
- Chairs
- Ottomans
- Entertainment centers
- Desks
- Side tables
- Coffee tables
- Hutches
- Stereos
- Bookshelves
It is also helpful to add in the measurements for your furniture. That will help the movers when they pack the truck. It will also help you figure out where to place everything in your new home.
The next thing to do in your living room checklist is to separate everything into categories. For instance, if you have tons of books in the living room, separate them into piles.
That way, they go into one box that you can then label as books for the living room bookshelves. Keep up that organizational method for other parts of the living room, like your entertainment center. If you have knick-knacks or photos set out on shelves or tables, pack them in a box and label them accordingly.
2. Packing the Kitchen
The kitchen is another room that holds a great deal of anxiety. That is because many people worry about their dishes and how to pack them.
All you have to do is use a printable moving checklist for the kitchen. The first thing you want to do off of the checklist is to take inventory. Once you know how many plates, bowls, spoons, and other items you have in your cabinets, you can organize them into your boxes.
So, make piles that fall under some of these categories:
- Everyday plates
- Guest plates
- Fine China
- Bowls
- Silverware
- Tupperware
- Cooking utensils
- Pots
- Pans
- Cookie sheets
After you have everything sectioned out, it is time to find some bubble wrap. You can find large rolls of bubble wrap at your local hardware store, or you can call your movers to see if they sell or provide it as well.
Be sure to wrap everything from the kitchen that is fragile in the bubble wrap. If you want to go the extra mile, you can even put your dishes in the newspaper and then wrap them up.
Afterward, put everything into a designated box with a clear label. You will also want to mark these boxes as fragile, so the movers know to be careful.
When it comes to your food, figure out what is perishable or not. If it is close to your move-out date, take the perishable food to a donation center. That way, it does not go to waste.
3. Packing the Bedrooms
Your bedroom might have the most personal items. Some of these, you can designate as “non-allowable” boxes. That means the movers are not allowed to load those items onto their trucks.
Instead, pack them away in your vehicle to ensure the safety of your most personal belongings. You will also have to deal with your clothes. Again, your movers should provide wardrobe boxes for you.
Once again, separate your clothes by shirts, pants, shorts, and other categories. Instead of an inventory list, you could take pictures of these clothes with your phone.
Afterward, hang them up inside of the wardrobe boxes and pack tight. Now that you have your clothes and personal items sorted, you can move on to the rest of your bedroom.
Measure your bed, desk, vanity, and dresser and jot that down on your moving house checklist. Be sure to label any other boxes with your name or the name of another family member and put the word bedroom on the top.
4. Packing the Bathrooms
You will want some non-allowable boxes for the bathroom, too. Any medication or sensitive items you have in your medicine cabinets need to stay with you.
Everything else, like your shower curtain and toiletries, can go into boxes. Be sure to label these boxes with the word bathroom and other markers, like towels, pictures, and rugs.
As you pack, you can also clean and keep an eye out for any signs of plumbing issues. That will save you time down the road, so you aren’t scrambling to clean the entire house.
5. Packing the Garage
If you have a garage, you likely have tons of items stored there. However, if you already have everything packed in boxes that will save you time.
Double-check to ensure that the boxes do not have damage and if the labeling matches what is inside. If not, you can either cross out the previous wording and write something new.
The garage is an opportunity to purge unwanted items. Go through all of those stored away packages to see if you have an attachment to the things inside. If not, you can put that in a donation pile.
Afterward, take those boxes to your local church or local Goodwill for others to use. If you do not know where to take your unwanted items, you can contact your local movers to see if they offer junk and removal services. That will lighten your load immensely and keep you as organized as possible as you go down your moving packing checklist.
Add Go Smooth Move to Your Moving Checklist
No matter what, moving to a new home, town, or state will create a whirlwind of stress. However, as long as you follow the moving checklist and organizational tips for each room, you will keep everything in working order.
If you need to hire some of the best movers in South Carolina, Go Smooth Move is here to help.
We offer a range of services and professionals that will ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us today and get a free online quote!