How to Unpack Your Home After Your Move

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

We've all heard about the best approaches to pack up a home, but what about the flip side? As with anything in life, unpacking from a move to Killeen does have some best practices. You can certainly simplify your unpacking piece of the moving process with a little organization upfront.

Part of a seamless unpacking process involves preparing for it as you are packing. A couple items to remember as you pack include the following:

• Label boxes. This is common knowledge, but you will never be more glad about listening to this advice as when you're running around your new residence searching for the carton with the coffee mugs in it. Is it labeled? Yay!
• Pack an overnight bag. A small satchel or bag can carry your dental floss, a clean outfit, and other things that you know you'll definitely need fairly soon in the new abode.
• Donate items you do not use. The fewer belongings you move, the quicker it will be to unpack. There are some things that you will not want to donate to charity, but if there are things that you do not want, think about giving them to someone who can use them.

Once the moving company has unloaded the boxes at your new digs, how you unpack can also mitigate disarray. Here are several of our preferred tips:

• Put together your bed first. There are few things better after a long day of moving and unpacking than to sink into a comfortable bed. If you set up your bed and put on sheets first, you will be glad later. This goes for each member of the household. If you hired professional movers, they should do this task for you.
• Begin with the necessities. Things like a coffee maker, plates and glasses and spoons and forks, and your computer station are some of the first things you will need as you begin life in your new residence. Prior to diving into the nuts and bolts, contemplate what you want to have in place today and tomorrow. Start there.
• Box your boxes. Many times, rooms become messy with empty boxes and bubble wrap during the unpacking process. You can't see what you have left if it's impeded with discarded packing supplies. Keep one box complete and fill it with other empty cartons that you've broken down. That way, you can observe how much you still have to unpack. Your box of boxes can be trashed or, preferably, recycled.
• Group your shopping trips. No matter how well you've planned, you will most likely need to go to the store to purchase a new trash can, curtain rods, light bulbs, or other new things. In lieu of making a run every time you need something, start a running list of required supplies so that you can group everything in one trip. You'll save time and money, not to mention cut down on your hassle.
• Do not settle on furniture layout too soon. Too many people get stuck on room layouts the day they move into a new place. Allow yourself some elbow room—not everything must be unchangeable immediately. Old sofa that you liked at your old place may look awkward in your new residence. That is alright. Allow yourself some time to settle in and you will know whether you can make it work. This can also be applied to pictures on the walls. It's your home! There's no need to rush.
• Establish Which Areas Are Most Vital. The most common mistake that is made during the unpacking process is a refusal to perform the chore a little at a time. Instead, we try to unpack the complete house at once. Once everything has arrived at the residence, take the time to figure out which areas are most important. The rooms that you are going to be spending the most time in are the rooms that should be given priority.
• Set Feasible Goals. In most instances, you aren’t going to be able to handle all of the unpacking in one attempt. Do not push yourself too hard on the first day or two. There is going to be lots to do and none of the chores are going anywhere. Create feasible goals and stick with them. Select the room that needs to be focused on first and finish it before moving onto the next chore.
• Establish a Reward for Achieving the Deadline. For those who are moving with an entire family, it can be difficult to have everyone working together. Each family member will have their own agendas and the process of making sure that everyone is pulling in the same direction can be quite exhausting. Establishing a reward for meeting a predetermined deadline is a great way around this fiasco. By selecting an incentive, you are doing your part to keep the members of the family on task. No one will want to be lax. Creating a deadline will also keep you from the annoyances of having to deal with numerous belongings that haven’t been put away yet after you have already moved to Killeen and gotten somewhat settled.

Since 1974, A-1 Freeman Moving Group helped individuals and families to move their household goods safely and securely. Contact us now so that we can help you pack, move and unpack in Killeen.