Getting organized before a move does more than tidy up a junk drawer. It cuts down what you’re paying to move, makes packing faster, and gives your Santa Clarita moving crew a clearer path to work with on moving day.
Here are 10 ways to get there, plus a few reasons it’s worth doing before your movers arrive.
1. List Every Room and Space Before You Start
Write out every room, then every space inside it that needs attention. “Kitchen: junk drawer, pantry, under-sink cabinet” is more useful than “kitchen.” A full list keeps you from missing anything and lets you tackle one space at a time instead of getting overwhelmed.
2. Sort Before You Pack, Not During
Decide what’s coming and what isn’t before boxes come out. Items you don’t move don’t cost anything to move, and a smaller load means a faster, less expensive day for your crew.
3. Use Drawer Organizers for Everyday Clutter
A junk drawer full of loose odds and ends takes longer to pack and longer to unpack. Drawer organizers group items so you can lift them straight into a box instead of digging through loose contents.
4. Repurpose Old Bowls and Cups as Organizers
Old bowls and cups you’re not using make decent holders for small items like cotton swabs, paperclips, and charging cables. It keeps small things contained instead of loose in a box where they get lost.
5. Group Clothing by Outfit on the Hanger
Hanging full outfits together, rather than individual pieces, makes closet boxes faster to pack and faster to unpack at the new place. A second hanger hooked through a soda can tab works if you want to double up without buying new hangers.
6. Get Paper Clutter Off the Counter
A wall-mounted file holder gets mail and documents off your counters and into one place before your movers walk through. It’s also one less pile someone has to ask you about on moving day.
7. Use Over-the-Door Storage for Anything Loose
Over-the-door hooks and organizers clear cabinets and counters of loose items before the crew arrives. Fewer loose items on surfaces means faster loading and less chance of something getting left behind.
8. Add Drawer Dividers Before You Pack Drawers
Dividers keep small categories of items separated, which makes it easier to pack drawer contents into boxes by category instead of dumping everything into one box. It also makes unpacking at the new place faster.
9. Store Seasonal Items Separately
Off-season clothes, holiday decorations, and rarely used items don’t need to travel with your everyday boxes. Set them aside for storage, whether that’s a garage, a closet at the new place, or a storage unit if your move-in date isn’t set yet.
10. Use Stackable Bins in the Pantry and Fridge
Clearing out expired or unused pantry and fridge items before a move means you’re not paying to move food you were going to throw out anyway. Stackable bins also make what’s left easier to see and easier to pack.
Why This Matters Before a Move, Not Just for Everyday Life
An organized home means a faster in-home estimate, since your AQMS estimator can see what’s actually being moved instead of what’s buried in a closet. It also means a more accurate quote, since less guesswork means fewer surprises in the final price.
Beyond the move itself, organized homes are easier to keep clean and easier to find things in once you’re settled. Several customers who worked with AQMS crews on packing services have said the process felt less overwhelming once boxes were already sorted by room and category.
Where AQMS Fits In
AQMS crews are trained through the AMSA Certified Packer Loaders Program (CPL), covering packing technique, load sequencing, and fragile item handling. AQMS holds CAL-T PUC # 188503 and US DOT # 125563, so packing and moving are handled by the same licensed, insured company.
If you’d rather not pack everything yourself, AQMS provides full packing and unpacking services with all materials included, and customers can also choose a hybrid approach: pack the easy stuff yourself, and let the crew handle the rest.
If your move-out and move-in dates don’t line up once everything’s organized and boxed, AQMS operates its own 40,000+ sq ft storage facility with 24-hour surveillance and no minimum duration. The first two months of storage are free when AQMS handles the move.
One Angi reviewer put it this way: “I was astonished at what a tremendous and careful job they did while moving us. The storage facility was great and they were very fair priced.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I start organizing before a move? Start decluttering as early as 8 weeks out for long-distance moves, and at least a few weeks out for local moves. The earlier you sort, the more accurate your in-home estimate will be.
Does AQMS help with packing, or just loading and transport? AQMS offers full packing and unpacking services with AMSA-certified crews, or you can pack yourself and have AQMS handle loading, transport, and storage only.
What should I do with items I’m not taking? Donate, sell, or dispose of them before your in-home estimate. Items you don’t move don’t add to your moving cost.
Does AQMS have its own storage facility? Yes. AQMS operates a 40,000+ sq ft facility with 24-hour surveillance and sanitized private vaults, with the first two months free when AQMS handles your move.
Ready to Get Organized and Get Moving?
A little organization ahead of time makes moving day faster and less stressful, for you and for the crew handling your things. AQMS has served Santa Clarita since 1996 with local, long-distance, international, and commercial moves, all backed by a free in-home estimate and no hidden fees.
Call (661) 622-2636 to schedule yours, or visit aqmsnationalmoving.com.