Moving is an overwhelming process—but after reading this blog post, it will get a lot easier! We have put together pre-move organization tips and practices that will help you get prepared for your relocation while easing your stress. As Southern California movers who have been helping customers since 1996, we at Affordable Quality Moving and Storage know what it takes to organize before a move. We've compiled the following pre-moving tips to help make your move easier!
Tip 1: Create a Main Moving To-Do List
There are endless things to do before moving out of your home—so many things that it is likely you will forget some tasks in the process. Creating a master moving list will help you ensure that you complete every task needed before you relocate.
Regardless of whether it’s a small task (e.g. returning your cable box) or a big task like changing your address, keeping a detailed to-do list will help keep you organized during this hectic process.
Buy a notebook dedicated to your moving list, or create reminders on your phone—either will make it easier to make sure every important item gets handled.
Tip 2: Get Rid of All Junk Before Packing
There is nothing worse than moving items that you decide to throw away after your relocation. Every item you keep is another item you have to find space for—the less you pack, the easier it will be. Go through all your belongings thoroughly before packing to ensure you are only moving the items you really want to keep.
Chances are, you will want to redecorate your new home. If that is the case, you might want to get rid of the furniture before you move. Think about your new home décor before you pack up.
Furniture items are the bulkiest to move and if you leave them behind, it will make your life much easier—trust us! However, if there are large furniture items you can’t live without, give AQMS a call for help packing it up. We’re licensed and insured, so we’ll make sure it’s packed away safely and securely.
Tip 3: Sort Things by Category
A useful organizational tip is to organize your belongings by category and not by room.
For example, packing all your books, shoes, or important documents together will make it much easier to know where everything is when you need it.
Instead of spending a day clearing out an entire room, you can spend a few hours gathering all the books in your current home. This will make the packing process much easier and will help you identify what books you might want to keep or give away.
Tip 4: Pack Decorative Items First
Packing all art or decorative items is a useful moving tip that will make your packing process much simpler. Packing these unessential items first is useful because these often are the trickiest items to pack. They tend to be fragile or oddly shaped which can require extra materials to wrap them up properly.
Not leaving these items for the last minute will save you time and stress.
Tip 5: Make Copies of Important Documents
This may seem like a tedious job, but it is important to have copies of all important documents—including every birth certificate, passport, proof of insurance, and social security card just in case of an emergency.
Having a copy of these documentations is important—you don’t want to risk losing track of the originals and not having a backup.
Tip 6: Label Moving Boxes Like an Expert
Labeling boxes effectively will save you from great pain when unpacking and organizing.
Since most boxes are stacked on top of each other, labeling boxes on the side is easier to see. You can be detailed with your labeling based on categories or by room—such as Books or Ally’s Clothes.
Don’t stop there! Numbering your boxes is also a useful tip to ensure you don’t lose any boxes in the transportation process.
This can also help you keep track of what item is in each box; instead of looking for the towels in a “bathroom box”, you know they are in box #20.
Some veteran movers even have a room-by-room numbering system. For instance, the kitchen could be designated as Room 2, and then you’d number the boxes in that room. So a box of silverware might be labeled “2-13.”
It also helps if you have a master list/key with all of the boxes and their contents written down. If you’re moving a household with more than 2 occupants, this helps keep everything straight—and it saves you time from answering “Where did we pack X item?” a thousand times.
Tip 7: Gather All the Tools You Need to Assemble Your Furniture
It is essential to have all your hardware supplies prepped before unpacking to get your furniture up as soon as possible. If you are planning on disassembling large furniture, like your dining table or bed frame, it is helpful to have all the hardware at hand that will make unpacking faster and easier.
Thinking ahead of the items you might need to assemble/disassemble is useful to ensure you have the best tools—a drill gun is much more effective than a regular screwdriver to disassemble a bed frame.
Those few minutes may not feel like much, but you won’t regret it when it’s 11 PM and you’re exhausted from a day of hauling boxes up and down the stairs.
Tip 8: Pack a Personal Overnight Bag
Packing an overnight bag will save you the burden of having to go through all your boxes for the things you will need right away. Pack essentials like an extra set of clothing, a toothbrush, and charging cables for your electronics to save you another headache!
You can also pack a clear box with other important items you will need in the transition, such as cleaning supplies, toilet paper, shampoo, and conditioner.
If you need help planning, managing, or executing your local, long-distance, or international move, reach out to the movers at Affordable Quality Moving and Storage today! We have offices in Santa Clarita, Temecula, Burbank, and San Diego to better serve customers throughout Southern California.
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