Most people consider MOVING a four letter word.  And it isn’t love. Summer is the busiest family moving time, but the process doesn’t have to be a sweaty mess that ruins vacations.

Moving can even be an exciting opportunity to refresh and shed unwanted items.

A master closet after a recent Kuzak’s Closet relocation in Portola Valley…

As a professional organizer and relocation specialist I’ve learned to streamline the moving process, and I’m sharing my hard-earned tips for pre-move preparation, moving day success, and the art of unpacking along with some Kuzak’s Closet behind the scenes relocation pics from recent projects. You can be an unpacking artist! With simple organization and basic prep, moving can be a cinch. Some tips may seem obvious, but the mania of moving can do a number on cogent planning.

Love it or leave it

• Purge.  Don’t move things you don’t want.  Work in one room at a time, not all around the house. Take a laundry basket into each room for items to donate – or to give to friends. Face it, you never used that Sous Vide cooker and you never will.
• Space plan.  Make a list of each room in your new home and map out the furniture.  Don’t keep what you can’t use.  Friends, Freecycle, garage sale.
  Same-size boxes makes truck loading a breeze. A book box is my favorite: it holds just enough and most people can lift it.
• Research and book your moving company in advance.  The month’s end and weekends are busiest – consider moving mid-month and on a weekday.
• Make a pet plan.  Don’t risk an anxious Labradoodle on moving day. Have your 4-legged friend stay with a pal or reserve a spot at a local daycare.
• Pack an overnight bag for each member of your family. Medications, your child’s favorite toy, and clothing for a few days.
• While things are getting packed, label clearly! The more information you have on each box,  the easier it will be to get things placed in your new home.

I love this monochromatic wardrobe that we unpacked in Menlo Park!

A home command center for a busy family in Woodside…

A tween closet in Menlo Park…

A tween bedroom in Menlo Park…

Moving Day Mindfulness:

• If you’ve  hired a professional moving company build a rapport with the crew leader.  If you are moving on your own, designate a crew leader to insure decisions remain consistent.
• Pack a lunch or enjoy Door Dash. That friend who kept asking if he could help–yes he can–by bringing you an iced latte at 3pm, with chocolate chip cookies for the crew.
• Be present on moving day, physically and mentally.  You are paying hourly for the movers  and want to make sure everything gets into your home undamaged and efficiently.  If you can’t be there, consider hiring a professional organizer to manage the project–having a second set of eyes on site is priceless.
• Pack electronics and valuables yourself. Leave them with a trusted friend before moving day, to reduce worry.

We’ve seen several moving companies in action over the years but we continue to recommend the professionals at All Reason’s Moving & Storage! They are the best professional partners and I love knowing I don’t have to be stressed out about the little things, they are ahead of the game!

We always tackle the kitchen first, it is the heart of the home!

The Art of Unpacking:

• When it comes to unpacking stay organized and always finish what you start.
• Prioritize the order in which rooms will be unpacked.  Typically the kitchen is unpacked first.  The heart of the home usually has the most boxes, but also the most storage areas.
• Set up in-room unpacking areas with folding tables for a flat surface to work on.  Unpack one room at a time and sort as you go.  Once everything is out of boxes you can quickly create a storage plan since everything is pre-sorted.
• Have a designated area for donations and trash as you unpack.  Just because it made it to your new home it doesn’t mean it belongs there!
• Don’t buy organizing products until your are completely unpacked.  Have a list with measurements and a purpose for each product in hand before you hit up The Container Store.

 

After measuring and creating a list, Kuzak’s Closet bought only the products that our client needed. Nothing had to go back!

I love an organized kitchen on moving day!

I love this action shot of Taylor unpacking a tech-driven library on a relocation in Portola Valley!

The garage is always the last room to be unpacked but that doesn’t mean it can’t be organized! Don’t let your space be a dumping zone post-move, set up systems right away!

Stay tuned for more behind the scenes photos on Instagram! We have several organizing projects and relocations on the schedule and are currently scheduling into December so if you are interested in services before the end of 2016 please send me an email today!