Unpacking 101

After coordinating with the home builder, waiting anxiously for the mortgage lender to get back to you for approval, and signing mountains of documents, it’s finally happened. You are officially a homeowner! The property is yours, the keys are yours, and now, all you have to do is move in. Easy, right?

Well, not so much. As a matter of fact, moving homes can be one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through. It can be difficult to uproot your family, leave your comfort zone, and start over somewhere new. But as tough as the move can be, unpacking can be a therapeutic and productive experience, providing it’s done correctly. Read on for a few tips to make unpacking at your new home easier.

• The first thing to do is to make sure you have clothing and toiletries ready to go. Ideally, pack 2 days worth of clothing prior to the move, and 2 days for after the move.
• After you’ve unloaded the moving van, set your sights on the bedrooms and set up your sleeping areas. Move beds into their respective rooms, and make them with fresh sheets, blankets, and pillows. It’s a fact that the first day of unpacking is exhausting, and by the end of that day, you’ll be very motivated for a good night’s sleep.
• After bedrooms are squared away, move onto the kitchen. Unless you’re planning on eating takeout for the next month, you’re going to need to eat. Kitchens also seem to have the highest amounts of stuff that needs to be packed, so if you can knock out all of those boxes early on, you’re in good shape.
• Next, hit the bathrooms. Fill up medicine cabinets, hang shower curtains and towels, and throw down bathmats. This will make your life easier if you have a place for medications, toiletries, and shower accessories. There’s also something very comforting about seeing your toothbrush in its place of honor.
• Next on the list is unpacking your clothing. You’ll feel more at home when you’ve gotten your duds out of boxes and suitcases and put them in closets and dressers. This is also a good time to figure out what you need to add to your wardrobe. You might wonder why you bothered to pack certain items in the first place. This is a great time to set those aside for donation.
• During all of this, you may be tempted to push some boxes off to the side and get to them later. You’re better off unpacking every box initially. When you pull out stuff you need, you can find a home for it. If there are things you’re on the fence about keeping, you can always consolidate those items into empty boxes, which will reduce the amount of stuff you’ll end up storing.
• Speaking of unpacking boxes, you’ll probably come across items that need to go into a basement, attic, or a storage space or unit. If you have a few boxes that are specifically dedicated to storage, you’ll gain the perfect opportunity to reorganize as you unpack.
• Lastly, wait to set up your TV and entertainment system after you’ve done the lion’s share of unpacking. We all think we can watch our favorite show while we unpack, but we know we’ll end up binge watching and not getting anything done.