Do you have a move in your near future? I’ve made 4 (yes, 4!) moves in the past ten months. I sold my home in May, moved into a temporary furnished condo for two months in June, moved into another temporary apartment in September (after a cross-country move), then moved into an apartment I thought I would be in for a year while I looked for a home to buy. That move turned out to be more short term than anticipated so I moved yet again, this time to a house I leased for the coming year. All of these moves came after being in the same home for almost 20 years. Stressful? Heck, yes!

What I learned over the past ten months is that a) moving isn’t fun and b) moving is definitely less stressful when I’m organized.

Here are a few tips I wish I had known before starting on this adventure:

1. Purge first. This is one I followed and I am so happy I did. I moved from a 2,000 square foot house knowing the next place would most likely be a smaller cottage or a condo so I was pretty ruthless in getting rid of extras. I was also committed to buying new furniture for my living, dining, and guest rooms so that made things easier. I carefully culled books, linens, kitchen items, decorative items, and the general clutter. I’m guessing that I donated (or sold) at least half of my belongings. My goal had been to keep just what I loved or absolutely needed and I think I met that goal.
2. But don’t purge too much. This might seem contradictory but when I moved into the unfurnished apartment and my belongings were finally delivered, I realized that in my quest to lighten the load I had dumped some things that weren’t all that heavy and that I now needed to replace–items like a mop, broom, organizing bins that had held cleaning supplies, an ironing board–all had to be replaced and it quickly got expensive. Think carefully about tossing items that you know you’ll need no matter where you live unless they are ready to be replaced. It’s probably cheaper to ship them then it is to buy them new.
3. Pack a suitcase. The first thing you should pack is a suitcase with the same items you would take on a trip: clothing for a few days, all medicines you might need, extra eye glasses or contacts, toiletries, a few towels and any other items you know you’ll need in the first few days. Even if the move is local, that suitcase should be in your car so you can access everything quickly. 
4. Pack a “get unpacked” box. Fill one box with all the things you’ll need to help you unpack and get settled: scissors, measuring tape, basic tools, nails, paper towels, garbage bags, bottled water. Put this box in your car as well or mark it clearly and ask the movers to put it in the truck last so it comes out first.
5. Label, label, label. Don’t just write “kitchen” on the box, be specific. Write “everyday dishes” or “wine glasses” on the box so you know exactly what’s inside. This allows you to prioritize the order of unpacking. There’s no need to unpack the holiday platters when you haven’t yet unpacked the dishes or the coffee mugs you need for breakfast. 
6. Use your cell phone. Take pictures of the back of your TV and your computer so you know how to set it up in the new place. And, don’t forget to take photos of your apartment or house after you empty it out and clean up so you have evidence in case of a claim.
7. Hire a sitter for your kids and send your dog or cat to daycare. Moving is stressful enough without having a toddler or a Golden Retriever underfoot. Arrange to have a sitter take care of your child– you can hire someone through an online resource and have them watch your child at your new home if you don’t know anyone in your new city. Take your dog to daycare for the day as well. You’ll get so much more accomplished if you aren’t dealing with kids and pets on moving in day!
8. Use smaller boxes for heavier items. It seems like a no-brainer but I made the mistake of packing two large boxes with books. The movers didn’t have a problem with the boxes but I certainly did. I couldn’t move the boxes out of the way as I was unpacking and had to empty them before I was ready to put them in their new spot.
9. If possible, have the movers put all boxes in one, out of the way spot. If you have a garage, this is probably the best spot. Otherwise, a dining room, office, or guest room would work. Organize the boxes by room and then get to work. I found it easier to work on one room at a time. I started with the bedroom, making the bed and arranging my nightstand first so that I could get a good night’s sleep. After that I got my clothing put away leaving decorative items for later. I moved on to the basic kitchen unpacking–daily dishes and glasses, pots & pans, and silverware. With boxes clearly labeled, it was easy to grab the right box, put the items in their new spot, and then dispose of the box. Having the unpacked boxes out of the way made it easy to see progress and not get caught up in finding homes for items I didn’t need yet.

Yes, moving is stressful but if you take your time and stay organized you can lighten the load and be comfortable and snug in your new home no time!