10 Practical Things To Do Before You Move

Two weeks ago we moved into our new home. I thought I was prepared before the move, but it turns out I was not. Please learn from our mistakes and these 10 Practical Things To Do Before You Move. Your future self will thank you for preparing your move in advance.

1. Eat the Food You’ve Got

Use the food you have in your pantry, fridge and freezer to prepare meals before moving day. The combinations might get interesting, but the less food you have to pack the better. Things could thaw out or be forgotten in the car. Save yourself that unnecessary headache by utilizing the groceries you have before you move.

2. Declutter Everything

Go through every box, drawer, closet and cupboard in your current home to declutter what you can. Moving is exhausting. The less stuff you pack now, the less you have to carry into you new home or unpack later. We decluttered a shocking amount of stuff before our move and still had more to declutter once we got here. Just be honest with yourself about what you actually need, wear and use.

3. Pack Intentionally

The first half of the boxes I packed were done so with intention, so the items inside the boxes made sense. I knew where they needed to go. The second half of our boxes, however… They were not marked and were filled with the most random items. We’ve lived here two weeks and there are still things I cannot find. Be sure to pack each box intentionally and with care. It will save you confusion in the new home.

4. Label Boxes Clearly

Speaking of packing with intention, it’s also vital you label all your boxes clearly. Labels like these on Amazon are very helpful when packing to move. I used them on the first half of our boxes and wish I had taken the time to label the other half. When labeling, just remember to be clear and possibly color coordinate for each room.

5. Ask for Help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Moving is hard work, physically and emotionally. If your budget allows, I recommend hiring movers. If you are not able to hire movers, then be sure to communicate early and often with your friends and family who volunteer to help. And give them a little something for their help, too. You could give them dinner or pay for gas, whatever feels right to you. Just don’t be afraid to communicate your need for help on moving day.

6. Buy the Essentials

The next item in my list of 10 Practical Things To Do Before You Move is to buy the essentials. Pack one specific box of all the essentials you will need for your new home. Things like toilet paper, blinds for your windows, medicines or cleaning supplies. What will you need the first day you move to your new home? Gather all of those things and set them aside from all the other boxes. You don’t want to misplace the essentials.

7. Pack a Suitcase

And speaking of the essentials, I recommend you pack a suitcase before you move. It’s shocking to me how many things were misplaced in our move. Y’all, we moved an hour away and we lost things like our socks and towels. I could not find our socks and towels for at least three days. Before you move, pack a suitcase with three days of clothing and toiletries. You will thank yourself later.

8. Clean Your Old House

Don’t be that person who leaves a messy home. Take the time to clean the house before you move. It’s the right thing to do, no matter how tiring it may be.

9. Clean the New House

Something I didn’t think about before we moved was how much cleaning I would need to do at our new home. We moved into a new-build home, so there were little carpet fibers and dust everywhere. Sure, they did a quick clean before we moved in, but it wasn’t Chelsea level clean, you know? Give your new home a good cleaning before you unpack to many items. It will save time in the future.

10. Relax

The final recommendation in my list of 10 Practical Things To Do Before You Move is to relax. Moving day is like your wedding day. No matter how much you plan, something will always go wrong. Things will be misplaced and you will likely be stressed. Remember, you are moving to a new house and that is exciting. Set aside the stress and relax. It will all be okay. I promise.

Thank you for reading the 10 Practical Things To Do Before You Move. For more home organization tips and tricks, check out this additional content:

How to Reduce the Paper Clutter in Your Home
5 Questions to Ask When Decluttering Your Home
How to Add Hygge to Your Cleaning Routine
10 Organization Tips that Will Make Your Life Easier and Save Time

As always, if you have any questions feel free to send me an email or message me on Instagram. Follow @bestillandhygge on Pinterest for more travel tips and tricks and subscribe below for new content every week.

Love Always,