How to Make Your Move as Efficient as Possible

Moving is no easy feat, but there are ways to make the process more seamless. Consider this blog to be your step-by-step guide to mastering the art of moving, from proper packing techniques to the ultimate cleaning checklist.

Step 1: Prepare Your Current Home for Moving

Prior to moving day, make sure your stuff is ready to be moved. You don’t want to be throwing items in boxes the morning of your closing. Pack everything up in boxes, bins, and bags in the weeks leading up to your move. 

Pro Tip: If you need boxes, create a post on your town’s Front Porch Forum page or Facebook group to see if your neighbors have any they’re looking to part with. 

While you’re packing, have a marker and tape on hand to label your boxes. Be as specific as possible with your labels. Include what’s in the box, what room the items go in, and whether or not the box is heavy or fragile. This will help your friends and family assist you in your move, as they won’t have to turn to you with as many questions.

A few days before closing day, place boxes closer to the door to make moving more efficient. Leave larger and heavier items in their respective spaces until you have more help to move them.

Step 2: Set Up Your New Home for Success

While you typically can’t get into your home before closing, there are a few ways you can prepare your new home for move-in day. Schedule utilities like electricity, water, and heat to make sure they will be usable during your move. Check to see if you can turn on Wi-Fi ahead of time so people can access it as needed.

Drive by your new home a few days ahead of the move to ensure you have a place close to the house to park a moving truck or multiple cars.

Step 3: Assemble Your Teams

Have family members or friends helping out with the move? Break them into two teams with task lists so no one is awkwardly waiting around.

Team 1: The Cleaners

This team will go to your new house and start the cleaning process. While you don’t have to get all your cleaning done on moving day, it will be significantly easier to clean before your stuff starts coming through the door. Give The Cleaners this list, in order of highest to lowest priority, so they can get started: 

1. Vacuum and shampoo carpets.
2. Sweep and mop floors.
3. Wipe down walls and baseboards, including removing heater grates and cleaning out any crumbs, dirt, or pet hair that might have accumulated there.
4. Wipe down counters, drawers, and cabinets in the bathrooms and kitchen.
5. Deep clean bathrooms, including toilet, sink, and shower.
6. Deep clean the dishwasher, refrigerator, and washer and dryer.

It’s important to prioritize the floors so you can give them a good clean before your belongings start filling up the space. Otherwise, you’ll have to rearrange in order to deep clean areas under appliances, furniture, or other large items.

Team 2: The Movers

The second team will be doing the heavy lifting. This team will load up the U-Haul or other vehicles with items from the old house. 

Here are a few tips to give to your moving team:

1. Load larger items first and distribute weight as evenly as possible. Place large furniture and appliances against the wall. Load in the boxes and bins next, placing heavier boxes on the bottom and lighter ones on top. Lastly, load your fragile items.
2. Pack a bag or box with first night essentials to keep separate from your other items. Make sure to label this box properly so your moving team knows not to put it in the back of the U-Haul. Knowing where you can find a change of clothes, necessary toiletries, etc. will be very helpful during your move.
3. Give your moving team the right supplies to get the job done. Be sure to have bungee cords, ratchet straps, dollies, and moving straps as necessary.

With so many people helping you on moving day, you want to make sure they’re well nourished. Choose a point person from either team to grab snacks and meals as needed. Be sure to supply water and Gatorade as well.

Step 4: Unpack with a Plan

Now that everything is in your house, how do you go about unpacking everything? Go into it with a plan so you aren’t left with stray items and random boxes. Use these steps as a guideline to set yourself up for success: 

1. Prioritize the essentials. Within the first few days, you’re going to need your pots and pans, but your picture frames can be hung in the weeks after your move.
2. Work on unpacking one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. 
3. Place sticky notes on cabinets and drawers with lists of the items that should be placed inside. This way, others can help you put away your mugs and plates without asking where you want them.
4. Use an empty box to collect items that don’t fit in your new home, decluttering before you put everything away.

Moving doesn’t have to be stressful. By breaking the process into manageable steps, you’ll find yourself settled into your new space faster than you might expect. The key is staying organized and enlisting help from your friends and family where you need it. Before you know it, those labeled boxes will be empty, your carpets will be clean, and you’ll be enjoying your first dinner party in your new home.