The Best Way To Stay Organized Before Making A Big Move

If you're planning a big move, you're probably feeling stressed. According to T-N-T Moving Systems, there are three qualifications that define a move as big and not small: If you have more than 2,000 pounds of belongings, if you're moving into a larger home, or if you're traveling more than 400 miles, then you're making a massive move that will take some planning.

One of the most important things to do when packing up your home is to stay organized, especially if you own a lot of things. There are a few obvious ways to do this: place similar items in the same box, use labels, and pack room by room. However, all of your best efforts to keep everything in order will be useless if you start packing too late. Therefore, the best way to stay organized when making a big move is to start boxing as early as possible.

Below, you'll find out exactly how early you should begin packing, as well as the many benefits of starting early.

If you search "when to start packing" on the internet, you'll find that most people recommend beginning eight weeks before the move. For instance, Moversville advises preparing your home by cleaning and decluttering six to eight weeks before, then actually starting to box everything three weeks before.

However, while this could work if you were moving out of an apartment or just taking your belongings down the block, a big move may require some extra time. Therefore, it would be smart to begin as early as possible, per Square Cow. In some cases, if you have a lot of possessions, this may mean as early as a year before you make the transition or maybe six to eight months instead of weeks before.

When starting to pack this early, you'll obviously need a strategy. The first thing to consider is where you'll be keeping your boxes; the garage or a guest room could work. Then, you should begin by packing seasonal items or things in storage that you won't need until after your move. After that, you can go through each room and start boxing nonessential items, per PODS. For instance, you could bundle up extra toys, clothes, special dishware, decorations, and books you don't plan to read. Then, as your moving day approaches, you can continue packing up things you won't need until you enter your new home.

Packing early will provide you with a number of benefits. To begin, PODS points out that it will give you a chance to declutter thoroughly. If you rush the moving process, you would most likely throw everything into boxes without a second thought about what the items are. Instead, packing early will give you extra time to carefully consider if you want or need each item in your new home.

Moving.Tips adds that boxing everything early will give you a greater likelihood of packing your house in time, as you won't have to rush to get everything done. And, after you declutter, you'll have time to host a yard sale where you could possibly make some money from your unwanted items. Additionally, you'll be able to take more time wrapping up your delicate items in lots of bubble wrap so they don't get damaged in the move. Further, you could save money by not having to hire a packing company, and you'll most likely have less stress overall, which is a huge positive.