How to Organize Your Move into Your New Home

Moving into a new home can be an exciting yet stressful time, especially if this is your first time purchasing a home.  You can take plenty of steps to alleviate that stress and ensure a smooth transition into your new house, such as organizing your finances, securing moving plans, and planning the layout of your furniture and key belongings.   Follow along below for some essential tips on planning and organizing your move into your new home.

Organize Your Finances

No matter how organized you think you are, there’s a lot of preparation going into purchasing a home, especially gathering your financial documents to determine what houses you can afford.  Step one is getting pre-approved for a mortgage to help give you a clear view of the houses within your budget and let the seller know you’re serious about buying.  Then you will want to organize these essential documents for your move in a way that works best for you and keep them in a safe, accessible place.  You’ll also want to stay on top of your bills during this transition period to ensure nothing gets lost and disrupts your future finances.

Along with getting pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll also want to set aside some funds for other essential moving expenses, like paying a moving company, a cleaning organization, paying for new furniture, and more.  If you’re moving from an apartment to a house, you’ll probably need to buy a few more belongings than you had in the past.  Start adding to your savings by saving a little from each paycheck.  There are other unique ways to save money: selling items or furniture you’re not planning on bringing with you, moving during the off-season, and utilizing any employer-offered relocation bonuses.  Getting your finances in order is essential for ensuring your move is as smooth as possible. 

Research Your New Home’s Location

Before purchasing a new home, you want to ensure that you’ve done all the research necessary to ensure it’s in the best location.  If you’re relocating, look at which homes are in a safe area and not too far to commute to your workplace.  Discuss with your partner or family what aspects of your new home’s location are essential for them and see where your lists align or may need some compromise in some spots.  Find a realtor trusted by friends and family or with good reviews to help you find the best location.  They’ll be more than happy to find houses that fit your wants and needs.  This is also helpful when you’re unsure how to find the perfect home and feel like it’s out of your comfort zone.

If you have children, you’ll want to research which schools and districts are the best in the area by checking out the school’s ratings and reviews.  This may make all the difference when choosing between some of your favorite neighborhoods you are considering.  Remember your child’s different learning styles and needs when searching for the right school for them, whether private or public.  If they’re interested in playing sports seriously, ensure that the school district they will be attending has a great sports system. 

You’ll want to have your kids’ medical and immunization records in a spot that’s easy to access so that it’s ready to go before their first day of school.  Prepare by purchasing their back-to-school supplies in advance, so you’re not rushing to get everything together once you’re settled in your new location.  Show them where the school is located before their first day, along with the bus route, to ease the transition to the new school and get acclimated.  Find things about the school that are notable to them so they’ll be excited to attend.  This will make things easier for both of you as you want them to adjust and fit in. 

Pack and Declutter Your Items

Once your home and location are decided, it’s time to begin getting organized before moving!  Step one of this process is to devise a timeline and move-in goal to keep you accountable throughout your packing and decluttering process.  Start by sorting through your items, making piles of what you’re keeping, and donating or throwing away.  Once you’ve set aside your belongings, you will want to organize all the ones you’re taking with you so that it’s easy and convenient to unpack.  Use boxes with organizers inside to avoid shifting throughout your move, and use packing tape to keep everything safe.  Label each box as accurately as you can.  You can request that your moving company group certain boxes to limit confusion while unpacking.  Make an unpacking plan room by room and have your necessities available as soon as you move in.  For more oversized items like furniture, wrap and place some packing material on the sharp corners to ensure they don’t damage anything on their way out or get damaged on the move.  Carpet sliders are a great way to make moving your heavier belongings easier without destroying your floor on the way out or in.

Hire Services to Help You

Moving on your own can be challenging, and having small kids can make it overwhelming.  You’ll want to hire some help who can organize your move for you and be there for you every step.  SolutionsForYou will coordinate with the movers, help organize your belongings, and can even assist with your unpacking process.  If you’re concerned with Covid, we offer virtual organization services. 

Before you move into your home, you want it to be top-notch.  Hiring a cleaning service will take away the stress of worrying about what’s left over from the past owners, and they’ll be able to make your home shine.  This is especially perfect in case anyone in your household has allergies.  They can eliminate common substances like dust that can settle between the move-out and move-in cleaning.  If allergens are your primary concern, reach out to a cleaning service with HEPA vacuums and the proper materials to eliminate as many allergens as possible.  

If planning your move and all that it entails is stressing you out, hire a moving company to help you with all aspects of the move.  You’ll want to budget for how long you’re planning on using the movers, whether you’re moving within the same state or crossing state lines and how much labor you’ll need to get the job done.  There are a few different options available to you if you’re unsure what fits best in your budget, your needs, and the number of items you have.  If you want to do the packing and moving, look into renting a moving vehicle or a storage cube.  Also, have a backup plan if anything goes awry during your move.  Double-check your move-in date and time, and confirm with the chosen company ahead of time. 

Plan Your Home’s Layout 

Before moving into your new home, walk through and make notes and sketches of the layout to understand if you need to buy some furnishings or other items ahead of time.  Maybe in this new home, you have a playroom or a den you didn’t have before or a backyard that you didn’t once have with your apartment.  If you struggle with spacial design and planning, SolutionsForYou can help.  It’s one of our superpowers!  You might even find yourself shopping and buying home decor accessories to spice up your home before you move in, then it’s one less thing on your plate after you’re trying to settle in.  

Following these tips should allow your move into your home to be as smooth as possible.  SolutionsForYou is here to keep you on your move-in schedule and take the weight off your shoulders by keeping you organized and stress-free.