If you want your long-distance move to go faster and more smoothly, you need to be organized long before the move actually takes place. But what are the most important steps to getting organized? And how can you make sure you stay organized long after the move is complete?
The Importance of Organization
Organizing for a long-distance move unfolds in a couple of different respects.
First, you must organize yourself physically, sorting out your positions and preparing them for the eventual transition. This includes things like decluttering, planning for the layout of your new home, and packing.
Second, you must organize yourself mentally and financially, so you and your family are appropriately prepared for the tasks and timelines to come. For example, if you’re going to utilize moving services like professional movers or storage units, it’s important to do your research work proactively so you understand how to take full advantage of these services and ensure everything goes smoothly. Movers and storage units can make your life substantially easier during a long-distance move, but only if you’re willing to do the right work.
Phase One: Decluttering and Early Planning
The first phase is decluttering and early planning, which you can begin even months before your move actually takes place. Even if you’re only thinking about moving, you can take some of these measures.
- Declutter room by room. One of the most important things to do before a long-distance move is to declutter your entire house. In other words, you want to get rid of any possessions that you no longer want or need; this will lighten your moving load and help you stay better organized with whatever possessions remain. Go room by room so you don’t get overwhelmed and prioritize selling, donating, or recycling possessions, rather than simply throwing them away.
- Start packing things you won’t need. Even if your move is many months from now, you can start packing things that you won’t need in the interim. Seasonal items, sentimental possessions, and tools that you only use occasionally are all good candidates here.
- Clarify your biggest challenges. This is also a great opportunity to clarify some of your biggest challenges. What are going to be the biggest financial and logistical hurdles during this move? What can you do to simplify them or make them more accessible?
- Create some backup plans. It’s also a good idea to start creating some backup plans. What if you can’t find a home in your allotted time frame? What happens if you need to move quickly and before your new home is move-in ready? What happens if your primary moving company isn’t available?
Decluttering isn’t just about making your move easier. It’s also about making some extra money and creating a better atmosphere for your home.
Phase Two: Formal Plans and Service Booking
When you get closer to your moving date, you can start making formal plans and booking whatever services you’ll need for the move.
- Arrange date targets and establish a timeline. Set some target dates, including the date of your move, and establish a timeline for accomplishing all necessary tasks leading up to the move. Make this visible and accessible to all your family members.
- Keep a binder (or a folder on your computer). If you’re old-fashioned, keep a binder full of paperwork so you have access to all your receipts and documents at all times. Alternatively, you can store these in the cloud or on your computer in a designated folder. The point is to centralize your information as much as possible.
- Note important details. When shopping around for services, note any important details that will be relevant for your preparation. For example, do all your possessions need to be in a specific type of box? Do those boxes need to be sealed or labeled in specific ways?
Phase Three: Packing and Preparing
The next phase is packing and preparation. This will usually unfold in the few weeks before your actual move.
- Devise a plan. Come up with a solid plan for each day, blocked out by hour if necessary.
- Clearly label all your boxes. There are many methods you can use to label boxes and items for your forthcoming move. What’s important is that you have some kind of system in place.
- List and keep aside your most important items. Toiletries, personal computers, and other daily use items should be kept aside for convenient access.
Phase Four: The Move
At this point, you’ll be ready to start the move itself. Thanks to all your efforts, it should be relatively smooth – but don’t be surprised if a few things do go wrong. Once you’re all moved in, take some time to relax and enjoy your new space!
