Moving is a great opportunity to clear the clutter and enjoy a fresh start. When a client hires Kuzak’s Closet to help manage their move and organize their new home we take care of all of the details – from the space planning to the unpacking.
We’ve been working on several relocations lately and today I wanted to share my favorite tips and some pictures to inspire you to embrace the opportunity to start fresh.
Tip#1: Sort and purge before you move! So many people pack up all of their possessions and take them to their new home without sorting and purging. Why bring unwanted clutter into your new home? Take the time to eliminate all of the items you no longer use or need. You’ll be surprised at how much easier it is to unpack!
I develop a sorting and purging schedule with my clients prior to their move. We typically schedule 4-5 sessions to work on each space in the home. This helps me understand their storage preferences and gives me an idea of how often things are used which is a great help when it comes to setting up systems in their new home. This is a picture of a toy pile that I sorted through the day before one of my clients moved…
Tip #2: Hire a moving company to pack up your home if you can. It may seem like a luxury but this service is worth every penny. I work with All Reasons Moving and Storage and I’m always amazed at how fast they work. They are able to pack up most homes in 4-6 hours.
Here is a stack of boxes ready to load up on the truck, what a beautiful sight!
Tip #3: Unpack all of the boxes in a space before you start to put things away. Take advantage of the blank slate and plan where things should “live” based on who uses them and how often.
I always start unpacking and organizing kitchen on moving day. It’s the heart of the home so I typically have the movers bring the kitchen boxes in first so I can start to unpack and sort the items right away. This picture is of Jennalynn on moving day. The space looked wild with all of the packing paper but it ended up clutter free by the end of the day.
Tip #4: Label all of the boxes with accurate descriptions so the moving company (or your friends) know exactly where things go. If you have a large home or relocation project make a sign for each room so everyone is clear.
For this project the movers were able to find the pantry boxes and put them right into the space, making it a breeze to unpack. Isn’t this pantry amazing!
Tip #6: When you are unpacking your clothing and shoes- spread it out! The biggest mistake I see people make is cramming all of their items into one drawer or shelf. Be realistic about how much stuff you have and make room for it!
This is a master closet that I recently unpacked. I set it up for a my clients who share a closet, I swapped out the hangers and designated the left side of the closet for one person and the right side for the other.
Tip #7: Label, Label, Label! Labeling makes everything easier! Even if you live alone a friendly label reminds you to put things back where they belong. The more users in a household the more essential labels are.
I labeled all of the drawers in this master closet so the housekeeper would know exactly where things go. I separated all the items so there is enough room to breathe.
The next string of pictures is of the kids room where I also labeled shelving and drawers. I love seeing all of the tiny sneakers lined up on the shelf.
Tip #8: Shop for products AFTER you are unpacked. Go to the store with a list of what you need to store and measurements. Only buy what you need and what will make your life easier.
My clients are always amazed that I can go to the store and bring back exactly what fits without having to take things back. It’s all in the planning! Here’s a picture from a recent relocation trip to Target…
I used clear drawer organizers to separate and organize my client’s makeup. I used velcro to attach the trays to the drawers so they don’t slide around.
Tip #9: Don’t forget about the dishes in the dishwasher! I always remind my clients to run and unload their dishwashers before they start to pack up the kitchen. It can be really easy to move out and forget about the cups and dishes that you probably use most.
Tip #10: Pack a bag for each person in your family that will last them 2-3 days. Include pajamas, a few changes of clothing, beauty, hygiene, and medical products.
It’s always my goal to unpack the kitchen and have the beds set up and made on moving day. It might take me a day or two to get the rest of the rooms organized and out of boxes. Packing a bag can prevent moving day madness.
I hope you enjoyed my top 10 tips and the pictures from this post! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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