We get it—moving is a big deal. It’s a drain on both physical and emotional energy and the last thing you want to think about at the end of a moving day is the mountain of boxes staring at you and asking you over and over…
When are you going to start unpacking?
Sometimes it seems as if unpacking is the equivalent of the return leg of a road trip. The excitement is over. There’s nothing new here. You’re just doing the same thing you’ve already done all over again…and you are over it.
As one of Sydney’s top removal companies, we understand how hard it can be to tackle the unpacking process, so we’ve gathered 7 of our favorite tips to help you embrace the unpacking process and get it completed in record time.
1. Consider Cleaning the New Space Before Moving Boxes In
You may be thinking but shouldn’t my new home be clean before I move in? The answer is “yes”…but it may not be as clean as you’d like. Most realtors and/or sellers ensure the floors are swept and dust is removed, but there are all sorts of reasons your new home may require a more thorough cleaning (if the previous owners had pets living in the home, were smokers, or just weren’t fans of deep cleaning).
You might consider hiring a professional cleaning crew to come in before you move your belongings into your new home. If not, have a box of cleaning supplies at the ready so you can take care of any issues.
2. Have a Plan in Place
It’s important to have a plan in mind when it comes to tackling the unpacking process…but that plan should not include getting all the unpacking done the first night you’re in your new home. Not only is it wildly unrealistic, it’s also unfair to you and your family. There’s no question that everyone is going to be tired after the move, so take a breath and plan to start small in the beginning.
3. Organise Boxes According to Room
If you hired a moving team, they likely took care of this step for you…but we wanted to include it in case you are doing a DIY move.
All boxes should be labeled with the area where they belong (living room, kitchen, kids’ bedroom, etc.). As boxes come into your home, take the time to place them in the room where they belong. This is helpful for a couple of reasons. First, it feels less overwhelming to see a few boxes in each space rather than a mountain of boxes piled in one area. Second, it allows you to prioritise rooms that need to be unpacked right away vs. rooms that can wait. Which brings us to…
4. Unpack High Priority Boxes First
You should have a priority box for most rooms—a box with enough kitchen essentials to allow you to cook and serve a simple meal, bathroom necessities like paper, soap, a couple of towels…you get the idea.
Make unpacking your priority boxes your highest…well, priority…once you start unpacking. You’ll be grateful to have access to clean towels before bed and hot coffee in the morning.
5. Prioritize Spaces
If you have children, getting their space back to some semblance of normalcy is very important. This will help ease the fear most children have that their belongings won’t make it to the new home. Give them some control over where their belongings will live in their new rooms and let them help with the unpacking process.
Your bedroom is equally important as it serves as your personal sanctuary, followed by the bathrooms.
Kitchens and living rooms are next on the list as they are common gathering places for family and friends.
Other spaces like playrooms, spare bedrooms, and offices can take a backseat to the previously mentioned areas of the home (unless you work out of your office…in that case, you’ll need to move that area to the top of the priority list).
6. Tackle Utility Areas Last
Spaces like basements, attics, garages, and storage sheds on the property will likely be the last areas that get unpacked. Take a look at the spaces before the unpacking starts and see if you need to add space savers like shelving or hooks to keep the area organised once everything is unpacked.
Off-season items can also be saved for last—there’s no hurry to get the life jackets and water goggles unpacked if you’re currently up to your knees in snow.
7. Enjoy the Moment
It’s important to remember that unpacking is the tail end of a process you’ve been dreaming of for a long while—moving into your new home. So, take the pressure off yourself and do what you can when you can….and from all of us at Holloway, welcome to your lovely new home!