Four S’s to Remember When Moving to a New Home

Moving into a new house is a stressful activity. Why? Obviously, it requires lots of time and energy. That is why it is recommended to get organized ahead of time for a hassle-free transition.

No matter if you are moving to another state or city, there are simple things to keep in mind to make the packing task – stress-free. In fact, you and your family can make this activity a bonding moment. Below are four S’s to remember to pack your things and valuables properly and securely.

Sort Things

Upon deciding to move to a new home, it is wise to sort all the things inside the house to determine which should go away and which should be packed. Ask each member of the family to store in a box those items that they no longer use such as old clothes, bags, shoes, books, toys etc. Check every room in the house if there are things you must dispose, including furniture, old linens and extra decorative items. Throw away the things no longer usable.

Everything you do not want to take with you should be disposed. If there are still useful things, you can give them away to charity or to your neighbours. Start a garage sale to earn extra money out from your old stuff.

Store Items in Right Boxes

Two months before the scheduled move, start saving boxes and other packaging containers.  Pick the right container for every item. Pack bulky items in big boxes like kitchen appliances. Smaller boxes may contain medium to small-sized objects as well as heavier items, such as books. Keep similar items together in one box. Never mix things from the living room with items from the kitchen to avoid misplacing stuff. To economize space, do not leave empty spaces. For instance, you can put small items and objects inside the microwave before placing the appliance into the box.

Remember to keep as many newspapers as you can – several months before the move. Wrap fragile items, such as, dishes, figurines, glasses, glass pitcher and mirror with newspapers before placing inside the box. Newspapers can protect these items from breaking. After packing, choose a designated room where you can store all the filled boxes. Make sure the room is not in use so you can pile the boxes  properly without worrying they can obstruct the room user.

Seal the Boxes

Before stuffing items inside the box, it is important to tape the bottoms of all the boxes. Secure the flaps of the box to provide support. If the box is meant for heavier objects, make two to three more lines of tape for additional strength. Do not put too many things in a box, wherein you can no longer close the upper flaps. Overstuffing could be dangerous specially in stacking the boxes. Pack enough items so you can close properly the box. Tape the upper flaps together to secure the valuables.

Set Labels for Each Boxes

Right after sealing the boxes, mark them accordingly. Label each box to determine what things are inside. For instance, write kitchenware outside the box containing the dishes, spoons and forks. Box containing the linens should be labeled with linens. Labeling the boxes makes it easier to identify when you are in your new home. Do not forget to mark “fragile” if the box holds breakable items. This should warn the carrier to be extra careful when loading and unloading the box.

Moving out sounds exciting – specially if you are transferring to a new place. A good example is if you are moving to Texas from other state, or from overseas. As you can see, there are many newly-built houses and apartments in Dallas, as well as in other cities that can become your new home. Thus, it is essential to pack things properly and orderly to make the experience more memorable. Several removal services can also help you. Just remember these four S’s and you are all set to enjoy your home.

Ashley O’connor is a social media blogger specializing in home improvement ideas and family matters. Writing occupies much of her time, but she finds time to relax by watching tv and reading books. Follow her on Twitter @AshleyOconnor82, Google+ or add her on Facebook. Ashley is writing for http://www.expatinfodesk.com.

Photo by Gio Bartlett on Unsplash