How to Unpack Your Home After Your Move

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

We've all read about the most productive ways to pack up a house, but what about the flip side? As with many things in life, unpacking from a move to Austin does have some approaches that work better than others. You can certainly simplify your unpacking piece of the moving process by thinking ahead.

Part of a flawless unpacking process involves preparing for it as you're packing. Some tasks to remember as you pack include the following:

• Label boxes. This is not rocket science, but you'll never be happier about listening to this advice as when you're running around your new house searching for the box with the spoons in it. Is it labeled? Great!
• Pack an overnight bag. A small satchel or duffel bag can contain your toothbrush, a clean outfit, and anything else you are sure you'll definitely need quickly in the new abode.
• Give away items you don't use. The fewer things you move, the quicker it will be to unpack. There are some items that you will not want to give away, but if there are possessions that you don't use, ponder donating them to someone who can use them.

Once the moving company has unloaded the cartons at your new home, how you unpack can also diminish confusion. Here are several of our preferred tips:

• Set up your bed first. There are few things better after a demanding day of moving and unpacking than to crawl into a soft bed. If you set up your bed and put on sheets first, you'll be thankful later. This goes for each member of the household. If you hired professional movers, they will do this chore for you.
• Begin with the necessities. Things like coffee mugs, plates and drinkware and eating utensils, and your computer station are some of the first things you will need as you start life in your new home. Prior to diving into the nuts and bolts, plan for what you want to have in place in the next 48 hours. Start there.
• Box your boxes. Frequently, rooms become messy with empty boxes and packing materials during the unpacking process. You can't see what you have left if it's hindered with discarded packing materials. Keep one box intact and fill it with other empty boxes that you've broken down. That way, you can view how much you still have to unpack. Your box of boxes can be trashed or, preferably, recycled.
• Group your shopping trips. No matter how well you've planned, you will inevitably need to go to the store to purchase cleaning supplies, more bags, light bulbs, or other new things. In lieu of making a trip each time you need something, keep a running list of necessary materials so that you can purchase everything in one trip. You will save time and money, and also reduce your hassle.
• Don't settle on furniture arrangement too hurriedly. Too many people find themselves stuck on room layouts the day they move into a new place. Give yourself some space—not everything must be set in stone right away. The furniture that you loved at your old place may feel out of place in your new home. That is okay. Grant yourself some time to get settled and you will get a better idea if you can make it work. This also goes for artwork on the walls. It's your home! There's no need to hurry.
• Determine Which Areas Are Most Important. The most common error that is made during the unpacking process is a refusal to perform the job piece by piece. Instead, we attempt to unpack the entire house at once. After all of the items have arrived at the residence, take a minute to look around and decide which areas are most crucial. The rooms that you usually spend the most time in are the ones that should be given priority.
• Set Feasible Goals. In most situations, you are not going to be able to get to all of the unpacking in one attempt. Do not push yourself too much on the first day or two. There is going to be lots to do and none of the tasks are going anywhere. Set feasible goals and stick with them. Select the room that needs to be addressed first and finish it prior to moving onto the subsequent chore.
• Establish a Reward for Accomplishing the Deadline. For those who are moving with a whole family, it might be a challenge to wrangle everyone on the same page. Everyone is going to have their own agendas and the process of making sure that everyone is pulling in the same direction can be quite arduous. Setting up a reward for meeting a goal is a wonderful way around this fiasco. By creating a prize, you are doing your part to keep all members of the family working together. No one will want to slack off. Setting a deadline will also keep you from the annoyances of tripping over various items that haven’t been put away yet after you have already moved to Austin and gotten somewhat settled.

Since 1974, A-1 Freeman Moving Group helped individuals and families to move their household goods safely and securely. Contact us now so that we can help you pack, move and unpack in Austin.