10 Easy Moving and Packing Tips, According to an Organising Expert
From the unpacked cartons to setting up your new home, certified professional organiser Rohini Rajagopalan shares her moving and packing hacks that actually work!
From the unpacked cartons to setting up your new home, certified professional organiser Rohini Rajagopalan shares her moving and packing hacks that actually work!
1Expert speak:Rohini Rajagopalan says, "I would always break house moves into three phases – the times before the shifting, the actual day of the move with the packers and the period post the move in the new house. At each phase being organised and systematic can help reduce the stress and anxiety."
So, here are a few things you can do in each phase:
2Before"This is something I would recommend you start doing the day you decide you are going to move to the new house. The best thing you can do or perhaps the main thing you can do to ease this entire process is decluttering. Decluttering can be overwhelming but when broken into small projects it’s easier to tackle," she says.
3Step 1: Make a"Have a place where you can constantly make your lists...of things to buy, of address change emails, of people to connect with and such. You will constantly have things you will remember and its best noted on a notes app on your phone or a cloud document or in an old fashioned notebook."
4clock20ticking.pngShe adds, "Keep a fixed slot of 15 to 20 minutes each day when you would tackle these tasks."
5Step 2: Store stuff for the new house"As you will begin to shop for the new house, ensure you put all the new shopping items in one spot. If you have the luxury of space, use an empty cupboard or even just an unused suitcase. Keeping them in one spot will ensure you don’t stress finding them when you actually move."
6Step 3: Begin a ruthless"Begin to declutter every corner of your home. Don’t attempt to do it all over one weekend. Break the whole house into smaller projects and consistently spend 30 minutes each day to cover one shelf or one section. In this process, ensure you remove everything that you have not used or will not use, things that are worn out and things you plan to replace in the new home. Be ruthless and let go of all that you have not used but accumulated over the years."
7Step 4: Discard the unwanted"Discard or give away everything that did not survive the decluttering prior to the move. Things will ensure that you pack only what you require."
8Step 5: Store similar items"Bring all similar items together in one spot. If you have your important documents kept in multiple spots bring them all together. The same applies to medicines, winter clothes or linens."
9Day of theRohini says, "This day will perhaps pass of the quickest as its always action-packed. I would highly recommend packing a suitcase with all your essentials in advance. I usually pack like I would for a mini-vacation. When the movers and packers come in they work in lightning speed. There are just a few simple things to be done in this stage."
10Step 6: Label"Make sure to label all the boxes that are packed. You need to mention two things – What items are in the box and which room they need to be placed in the new house."
11Step 7: Be ruthless with the"Fight the urge to pack anything that you will not use in the new home."
12Step 8: Set it up for easier"As the boxes arrive in the new house, ensure that they are kept in the right room to make the unpacking process easier."
13In the new"We all always have a vision of how we want to organise and decorate a new home but at this stage, it's important to stay focused. The key task is to just unbox and find the right spot for each item. In the days to come, you can invest time and energy in the aesthetic aspects of the home."
14Step 9: Just unbox, place and"The first step is to move from each room and unbox the boxes. Just place the items inside the right shelf or the designated spot. Remember, you can organise it later, for now just place it in its spot."
15Step 10: Keep it"Have a designated spot for all items such as towels, medicines or even batteries. This will ensure you have a system in the new house and each item can be found with ease. These simple steps can ensure that the task of a home move is eased out to a great extent. Shifting home is a great opportunity to purge and edit what you own. Do make the most of it and ensure you enjoy the process of setting your a new space."
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