The process of relocating to a new location is unique to each individual. Some people find packing and unpacking at their new home to be toil, but it’s a time of excitement and new beginnings for others. Regardless of which group you fall into, procrastination in the final steps of a move is not good for anybody. You can take a few steps to ensure you unpack efficiently after moving.
Think about unpacking while you pack!
The beginners’ mistake in moving is to forget about unpacking while you pack. Pre-planning is always good, but when you’re relocating, it’s crucial! In order not to waste your precious time and nerves once you have to begin the unpacking, apply these tiny hacks while you pack:
- Keep track of what’s in each box. You can assign a number to each box and then take a picture of it when it’s stuffed. That way, you won’t be confused about the content of your moving boxes.
- Sort your boxes by color (or label). Don’t waste time wandering between boxes looking for the right one. It’s way more manageable when you group them together. Additionally, it might be a good idea to organize colors by the rooms where the boxes will be placed. That will save you a lot of time when you start unpacking systematically.
- Have two ”essential” boxes on the side – for the bed and for you. One of them should contain everything you need to make a bed when you arrive. The other should carry the bare necessities such as clean clothes and personal hygiene items. They should not mix with other boxes – you’ll need their content in the first 24 hours of moving, so you don’t want to lose them.
Overcome procrastination by throwing a party
Set a deadline for when you plan to finish unpacking, and be sure to stick to it. Organizing a housewarming party or a get-to-know-the-neighbors barbecue at your home is the best way to do this. That alone should give you a healthy motivation to get everything out of the way and organized before your guests arrive.
Friends or family members coming over on a specific date may be enough of a motivator for you to get around to unpacking your belongings finally. Plus, the thought of tasty meat on a braai or juicy beef biltong is more than enough to make you move mountains, not only unpack some boxes!
Making a plan is crucial to unpack efficiently after moving
Even if you’re not such a fan of doing things in order, unpacking is the situation you will want to make an exception to. It’s a good idea to prioritize some rooms so that you won’t get lost in semi-full boxes with various content.
First and foremost, get the kitchen done
Considering you will get hungry after an exhausting move, unpack and put away the kitchen items first. If you’ve labeled your boxes correctly, you should be able to locate what you’re looking for relatively quickly. We recommend that you line the kitchen cupboards and cabinets with plastic wrap. If you don’t have time to finish the kitchen, unpack only what you’ll need, such as pots and pans, and leave the rest of it packed. Start by connecting all of your major appliances, and plug in any small devices that will make your life a little easier, such as the coffee maker and toaster. After the rest of the house has been unpacked, you can return to the kitchen and complete the organization of the space there.
Following that, arrange a place to sleep.
After completing the kitchen, assemble the beds and unpack the linens for each bedroom. You may have thought ahead and set aside a single set of linens for each bed when packing; if this was the case, getting your beds ready for the first night should be simple.
First of all, decide on furniture placement and closet organization before you begin unpacking your boxed belongings. It will be more productive to unpack after you have installed shelving and closet organizing units. You will also have less work to do in the future. Also, don’t forget to find a slightly more discreet place in the room for your high-value items.
Next stop – bathroom
You don’t have to go above and beyond with your bathroom arrangement at first, but trust us – give your toilet paper a residence as soon as possible. Bathroom fixtures are mostly functional when you first move in, provided that the water has been turned on, but you will quickly discover that you need to unpack towels, toiletries, and other bathroom items as soon as you arrive.
Nothing makes a house feel more like a home than having a bathroom that is both comfortable and well-stocked. Once again, begin by unpacking the essential items first: medications, body care products, the shower curtain, and towels, among other things.
Last but not least, deal with utility areas
The garage, basement, and other utility rooms are the last rooms to be unpacked before moving in. Because most garage items aren’t vital, try to organize the space before you begin unpacking.
The good idea is to unpack any tools and materials you will require to keep your home operational. Utility shelving units and storage containers are some examples. You can unpack the items for the patio or deck last and set them up whenever you have the opportunity.
Put some music on and – begin
Having the radio on is a proven method for boosting your motivation while working, especially when there’s some arranging involved. It doesn’t matter if you prefer jive or mbaqanga; jamming to your favorite song can help you unpack efficiently after moving. So, don’t waste any time, put your jam on and begin the new chapter of your life happily!