Home Moving Timeline for Homeowners Selling Their Homes

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 15 million people will move each year in the United States. That is a lot of people experiencing a great deal of stress. In fact, it amounts to over 40 million people organizing, packing, pleading with friends and finding new living space every 52 weeks. People move for lots of reasons, buying or selling a home, a job transfer or retirement. While moving may never be “easy”, here are some tips to make moving more simple.

Plan Ahead

Many people create self-inflicted stress when moving simply because they didn't give themselves enough time and plan ahead. They can underestimate the time it takes to pack every item they own into boxes or secure enough vehicles to facilitate the move. As soon as you've made the decision to move it is time to secure boxes or other packing material and begin packing for the move to that new Magrath Heights home.

Pack by Room

When packing you should remember you will need to ultimately unpack. As simple as that sounds, it means that packing room by room can make it so much easier when unpacking. Have a box in each area of your home and place items you won't use for several weeks or months in them until the box is full.

Label Boxes Clearly

It is important for all involved in your move to know where each box is headed and what is in it. Labeling makes it easy to determine whether items are fragile or are important to open quickly. Make sure language is clear. For example, not everyone is going to understand what room is “Billy's Room” or “Office”. That can be resolved with sticky notes or signage on the doors of rooms in the new home that coordinate with box labeling. It may be simpler to number bedrooms as 1, 2 3 etc. and label boxes accordingly.

Use Boxes and Materials Appropriate for Packing

Many will try to save a few dollars by getting free boxes used from a local grocery or department store to use for moving. These boxes may not be appropriate or have the capacity to move the items you wish to transport. They may even contain insects or other bacteria you may not want on your items or in your new home. New boxes and clean packing paper can provide peace of mind when packing.

Take Caution when Packing Liquids and Chemicals

Liquids and chemicals can cause a variety of problems when moving. Take the time to make sure spray bottles are in the off position and jars and cans are properly sealed. In some cases, it may be worth sealing screw-on lids with clear plastic wrap. Make sure that chemicals that may negatively interact with each other are not packed together. Ideally, pack any liquids or chemicals in plastic bins that may prevent leaking liquids from damaging other items.

Move Valuables Personally

Keep your most valuable items near you and move them personally. It is simply not worth the risk.

Plan ahead and make wise decisions when making a move. It will create less stress and make your move a bit more enjoyable.