Getting organised for a house move can be so overwhelming. There are so many different things you need to do. Taking into consideration where you want to move to, inspecting sites, checking the surroundings, getting your house ready for sale or if renting, getting the house ready for inspection and doing the paperwork…just to name a few!
The biggest hurdle can sometimes be packing up all your personal belongings. Moving house can show just how much ‘stuff’ you truly have because at the end of it all, the house you are leaving must be completely vacant.
If you’re considering moving and not sure where to start with decluttering and organising to prepare for your move, this blog is for you!
Grab your boxes, sticky tape, your sharpie and let’s get into it!
1. Declutter your home pre-move
One of the best ways to ensure a stress-free move is to declutter your home. Decluttering is also a great way to honour the memories you made in your old home before starting a new chapter.
That is why the best time to get rid of all the excess is when you are preparing for a move. Getting rid of items you don’t want or need will save you valuable time, money, and effort.
Decluttering before you move means you won’t spend time packing up things you no longer want or need. You’ll use fewer boxes, take up less space on the moving truck, and require fewer movers to help you get everything to your new home.
Yes, it can be difficult to decide where to begin and you will have an urge to try and do it all at once, but the truth of the matter is, you cannot!
Just focus on one space at a time and take it easy. You can even divide up spaces further, for example, if you are focusing on the kitchen, give your attention to just one space in the kitchen i.e. the cupboards. When that one space is conquered, turn your attention to another space within that space i.e., the pantry and so on.
Breaking it up into smaller, more achievable spaces will allow you to do targeted decluttering within that space, resulting in you being more productive with your time, achieving great result.
2. Use the D.R.E.S.S Formula pre- and post-move
When sorting through each space (or a space within a space like explained above), use our D.R.E.S.S formula to help you declutter. Our formula is…
DECIDE.
The ‘no brainer’ first step of selecting which area of your home will be tackled first!
REMOVE.
Everything comes out of the space, leaving a blank canvas.
EVALUATE.
Place like-items together into categories (….and subcategories) and decide what you want to keep, sell, repair, store, donate and throw away.
If you need help in deciding what to keep, donate, sell, or throw away, here are 10 decluttering questions to ask.
If you have a lot of sentimental items, then check out how to declutter when you’re sentimental.
Once you have decided, with what remains, it’s time to pack those sorted items that you would like to take to your new home. Grab the boxes, sticky tape, and your sharpie. Label the box so that later you can identify what category items are there inside.
Pro tip: Give the box a number or a code, and then keep a record of the number/code along with the item category your phone. So, for example, if you are thinking to organise your dinnerware in your new kitchen and you have labelled the box that carries all the dinnerware: #01 Dinnerware, you exactly know which box to open!
SYSTEMS.
After your move, it’s time to plan which items will go into which area or section, measure your storage, drawers etc and research any products you may need.
This step has now become less stressful as you already decluttered and sorted your stuff pre-move. You have your items categorised and packed. So, grab the right box to unpack, take all the items out and once again group them in sub-categories, measure the space, then look for the right storage solution.
STYLE.
This is the fun part! It’s time to place the items into their new designated space. This is where you will also style and label your space so that you can settle in quickly into your new home.
It is much easier to use this formula than going unplanned and disorganised.
It can save you time!
3. Create a ‘Packing Caddy Station’
To stop yourself from continuously searching for the tape, the scissors, the sharpie…(which can be SO irritating especially if you have left it at the other end of the house!), create yourself a ‘packing caddy station’. This will be your portable space that holds everything you need when packing e.g…
- Scissors
- Sharpies (for labelling)
- Sticky Tape
- A Stanley knife
- Coloured Sticky Notes (I’ll explain this further below!)
- And anything else you think may be useful
This will save you time and energy because everything you need to pack your boxes will be right with you! As you go through the different spaces in your home, take the portable packing caddy station with you so you have everything in hand.
4. Give each space its own set of moving boxes
When you are ready to pack away your personal items, pack them based on the space they live in. For example, if you’re packing the kitchen items and have just gone through your pantry, put only the pantry items together in a box.
When labelling, label it exactly what space it will be in i.e., Kitchen – Pantry, this way when you are unpacking it will be so simple and you will have everything already together! If you have more than 1 boxes for pantry, then add categories on your labels such as sauces, herbs, snacks, etc.
The same goes for any other space in your home. Pack items according to the space they belong to.
This will make it much easier to unpack and won’t be as overwhelming.
5. Colour code each space
After your boxes are packed and labelled, it is also a great idea to tape a coloured sticky note on the outside of the box, depending on what area of the house it belongs to.
For example, anything that belongs in the kitchen is blue, anything from the master bedroom is orange and so on.
This way, when you arrive at your new home, it is so easy to know exactly where to take each box without having to go right up to the box and read the label. It will save you time and create a more efficient flow when unpacking post-move.
Create yourself a reference sheet with what colour is for which room so you don’t lose track! Don’t forget to take a photo and keep a copy on your phone. It’s so easy to lose papers and notes when moving, so keep a copy on your phone.
Give these ideas a go when moving house. It can be a big and daunting job so anything to make it easier is always a plus!
Do you know that Ducks in a Row offers Pre-Move Decluttering and Post-Move Home Organising services?
We can help you get started with your journey in your new home with only the things you use, need and love, alongside creating a beautiful and functional space for you and your family.
To start the process, complete our enquiry form here, where you share the details of your moving house or relocation needs. From there we decide on the time required and schedule your first appointment. Our service works alongside the movers of your choice.
Follow me on Instagram for more home organisation tips, advice, and inspiration!
