Check out these tips for organizing your next family move…
Many families move at one point or another, whether across the town, state or clear across the nation due to work or other responsibilities. If you’re organizationally challenged, a family move can throw the whole plan into chaos. You’re basically taking your whole life and tossing it into a moving van. It can seem overwhelming, but if you have a well-thought-out plan, you can tackle this task with ease. Check out these tips for organizing your next family move.
Grab a Business Planner
The first step is to write down your plan. A simple notebook or business organizer purchased from the local office supplies store will do. This is where you can jot down all the little details of your move, from dates and reminders to needed supplies and to-do lists. Get one with pages for every day of the week, with big blocks of spaces where you can time everything down to the hour. You may also want to pick up a zippered pouch for business cards and receipts. Take notes about your conversations with the movers, your expectations, budgeting information, and anything else pertinent to the move.
Make a Survival Box
If you’ve got kids, you know you need a survival box, and it’s just what it sounds like. Whether you use a crate, bin or cardboard box, decorate it so it stands out from the rest. The items you place in here should be just for the first day and night in the new home, with all the essentials you’ll need without having to scramble through all the boxes. Suggested items include a few toys or comfort items for the kids, toilet paper, napkins, paper plates and bowls, cereal, coffeemaker, laptop, and phones.
Pack the Important Stuff Last
At the back of the moving van, you want all your quick-grab items to get through that first day or two, including the survival box. In addition to that all-important box, you can also place the DVD player and movies to keep the kids entertained, cleaning supplies, a vacuum, and handy snacks here. You don’t want to be clawing through the stuff at the back of the truck just to retrieve these life savers.
Labels and More Labels
Rather than get carpal tunnel syndrome labeling all your cardboard boxes in marker, make it easy on yourself and use computer-generated labels purchased from the office supplies store. You can never have enough labels! Nothing is worse than having a million boxes at the new house labeled MISC and you have to play find-the-linens for an hour. Mark each box clearly in big font for all the rooms of the house. Aside from the living room, dining room, bathroom and kitchen, get specific for the others such as boy bedroom #1 , boy bedroom #2, office on second floor, etc. Place the label in a clear position so everyone in the family can see it, such as upper left hand corner, or front and center in the middle. Whatever you choose, do it consistently.
The informed mover is a happy one! Heed these tips for a successful family move that’s organized and hassle free.
