Moving to a new home can be an exciting experience, but it can also be a stressful one. Time manages to fly by, and before you know it, the moving day is fast approaching, and you still have a long to-do list to get through. It’s important to organize yourself as best you can when moving to a new house to minimize last-minute panics and stressful situations, and to make sure you haven’t missed any important details or forgotten to pack anything. Here are some useful tips on how to organize yourself the next time you move house.

Time Management

Once you have finalized the paperwork, you will have a definite moving date in mind. Even if you have over a month before the move, don’t underestimate how long packing and organizing will take. Set yourself deadlines for when you want certain things to be done by, for example, dropping off all unwanted clothes to goodwill two weeks before the moving date. It’s very easy to leave things until the last minute without even realizing you have done so. Giving yourself these deadlines will relieve a lot of the stress from that final week before the move.

Divide Belongings

Firstly, divide items into three categories: Keep, Bin, Give away. Once you have established which of your belongings you’re going to take with you to your new home, divide them into necessities and items that can be lived without (e.g., decorative items or seasonal clothing). The belongings that aren’t necessary to everyday living should be packed up first; only leave out a few outfits that can be washed and worn again in the last week or two before your move. This way, everything is packed away and ready to go, only leaving the last few boxes to be packed up the night before your move.

Storage

You might be moving to a smaller home, and therefore, might not be able to take all of your belongings with you. On the other hand, you may be moving to a larger space but need somewhere to store new purchases before you move in. Although friends and family may be able to help you with this, if that isn’t the case, you should look at renting a storage unit instead. They can be used as both short-term and long-term storage solutions and come in a range of sizes and prices. Look up storage units near me to find the closest available units to rent for the duration of your move, perhaps longer if necessary.

Budget

Moving can be expensive when factoring in the costs of a removal company, van hire, cleaning services, etc. To save yourself a shock at how much the moving process can deplete your bank account, consider carefully what services are essential and what you can do yourself. Also, take the time to shop around and research which companies offer the best rates and how you can move house on a budget.

Make sure your moving experience isn’t unnecessarily stressful and use these organizational tips to help you get through your to-do list quickly and efficiently.