Tips for an Organized Move

Well we have finally sorta kinda nailed down a closing date and moving day :) As long as there is no big flubs we will be able to close on Friday the 18th....worst case scenario, we close Monday the 21st. For my sanity and everyone else involved in this process, lets hope it works on the 18th because I can't even begin to think about what kind of nightmare a mid week move with no sitters, no moving helpers and a holiday weekend on the horizon. Ya..............lets just not even go there ;)

So right now I am really focusing on getting everything packed up and squared away. As I mentioned before I have moved 8 times in the last 10 years...so I have become quite the expert on the whole pack/move/unpack process. 

I figured I would share some of my stay sane tips and a free printable for you to organize your own move!

I will preface this with saying I am only moving 3 streets over (same neighborhood...same school...I don't even have to cross a main road to get to my new house tehe) so my moving tips might not ALL apply to someone who is packing up for a cross country move, but most of these can be tailored to fit any move of any size.

Make a timeline.

From the minute you get that "you've got the place" phone call the first thought that goes in to most peoples head is "omg I gotta pack!" now...don't rush in to packing mode if your move is 6-8 weeks out...that would just cause a lot of unneccesary chaos for your whole family. follow this super easy timeline and it will help you get from "you got it!" to "home sweet home" :)

6-8 weeks out: DECLUTTER!!! Round up the whole family and go through every room and closet throughout your whole house and ask yourself this question "Do I love this enough to move it?" Keep in mind when asking yourself this that if you say "yes" you are saying that its worth priceless box real estate (boxes arn't cheap!), worth the effort to carefully pack it, worth the effort to lug the box to the moving truck then worth the effort to move it to its new home, unpack it and put it up. All of that right there should reallllllly make you think about how much you love your stuff.

1 month out: have a moving sale! check you my tips for an organized garage sale  here!

3 weeks out: pack up your decorative items, books, and rarely used items such as holiday decor, extra linens and specialty dining items.

2 weeks out: get down to "staged" mode...get your house down to the bare minimum...the things that you use on a daily/weekly basis...it should almost look like a staged model home by now. This would also be a good time to start taking pictures and shelves off walls and patching/repainting walls.

1 week out: It's like a vacation! think about the things you would need on a 2 week long vacation...everything else should be packed...now is not the time for fancy meals and craft projects...pack it all up, eat off paper plates and spend this time getting the last of your goodies packed up!

Check back next week and i'm going to give you some tips on what to do on your first day in your new place and how to make your first week at home a time for organized unpacking and fun new memories!

Get all your info in order.

There are a LOT of loose ends to tie up when you move, its so much easier to have it all in one easy to find place. I have created a Moving Info Sheet to house all of my important information such as new utility information, address changes, a time line for the first few days in the house and a list of moving helpers and babysitters.

Get Packing.

this is the obvious part of moving...but rather than having a bunch of boxes labeled "MISC." take the time to organize your boxes at least by rooms that they are going in to at the new place. Even better if you can keep similar items in the same box. Once you have your boxes packed up CLEARLY label each box with the contents, room it should go in and any special notes to the movers such as "Fragile" or "Heavy." It also helps to have a running log for you as the MOMager to keep on you through out the process...that way, when you move in and you need to get to the box that has your linens and towels you know to go to box #17 rather than sifting through all 6 boxes that are sitting in front of your upstairs linen closet. To make this easy, I have created this simple printable...I keep it on a clipboard and make notes of each box as I tape it up.

Make a Supply Box.

A moving supply box is going to make everything easier on everyone...but especially easy on you. The box should be located in a central spot and should be stocked with:

-a tape gun

-extra packing tape

-scissors

-screw driver

-newspaper or packing paper/bubble wrap

-various sizes of ziplock bags for small items

-label maker

-dry wall filler supplies to patch holes from pictures

-sharpies and a pen

-Colored sticky notes to make note on large furniture items as to where the item goes (if you are moving a long distance, I suggest using blue painters tape for this and writing directly on the tape...this will keep the sticky from falling off mid move)

-a clip board with your packing list

-a work apron to keep it all together when you are on a big packing binge.

Make a Box Room.

This might not be possible for everyone but if you have an extra room or a rarely used room (formal living area? dining room?) make this the box room. this will keep your living spaces from looking like a box mine field. This is actually our living room that has been empty for about 2 months now..........see those gorgeous stripped walls? swoon...ya, I spent about 12 hours on those one sunday afternoon.....we signed on our new house the following Thursday lol. never fear, I have a plan to do something very similar to this in the new house :) 

And when it all seems way overwhelming and like the biggest most unmanageable task ever....walk away. clear your head. remind yourself of the beautiful space your about to inhabit...the clean slate...all of the possibilities...put your big girl panties on and get back to it. 

And because I <3 y'all so much...here are my moving printables just for you all for freeeeeee!!

Moving Printable

This too shall pass :)