Moving to your New Home

When you purchase that first home, there can be a lot of excitement, but getting ready for a move can be very stressful.

As a New Westminster realtor, I’m fully aware that packing up all the rooms of your current place is a time-consuming process. People are often surprised by just how long it can take to get things organized and ready to go. Be sure to prepare everything for your move in advance. By planning ahead and organizing, everything will go more smoothly. Keep all the important documents in an easily accessible place so you don’t lose them in the move. To make sure so that everything is ready to be loaded up on moving day, have your apartment or old home staged. Simple preparation will save time and make everything easier as you move from one home to another.

For each person, create a single suitcase or backpack filled with all the necessities you would need if you were going on a 3-day vacation. This includes 3 changes of clothes that you can either unpack in or go to work in, depending on your schedule, plus toiletries, prescriptions, eyeglasses, and other vital items. By keeping these items separate from everything else you packed, they will be handy when you arrive, so you will at least have the necessities if anything else is missing.

Similarly, have an “open me first” box for each room, clearly labeled in red instead of black ink, holding the things you want to have immediately available as soon as you arrive. The bathroom box could include soap, towels and toilet paper; the kitchen box might include the coffee maker and paper cups, plates and flatware; etc. Your first 24 hours in the new place will be much simpler if you do this.

One tip that home buyers can use when moving is that the less you move, the better off you’re going to be. If possible, you should put off big purchases, such as appliances and furniture, until you have moved. You will pay based on weight when moving long distances; this can add up. You’ll save a lot of money and trouble as you move if you can avoid those big purchases until you are set up in your new home. It’s a good idea to lighten the moving load, and get rid of stuff you haven’t used in over a year.

It’s easy to collect items over time that you don’t even need and they simply take up space. Give them to charity, or as gifts, or hold a yard sale. When moving day arrives, if you have eliminated items you don’t want or need, you’ll save yourself a huge amount of work.

Find babysitters to help out with children to give you some time to pack. Also, find help on moving day to avoid tears as the children watch their beloved toy chest being moved out of the house, and keep them away from those moving heavy furniture, and so on. The doors will be open, so board your pets for moving day if you can.

Moving is a challenge, in particular for first time home buyers. Moving day will go smoothly if you keep these moving tips in mind, and in no time you’ll be settled in your new home.