Hi there! I’m back once again with more tips on how to tackle a big move! In the previous posts, we talked about preparing for the move, and I gave you tips on how to pack your old place systematically. Now that you are in the new digs, let’s talk about how to unpack quickly so that you aren’t living in an abyss of moving boxes for the next six months!
#1. Have your new home cleaned
If you’re lucky, your new apartment will have been professionally cleaned before you move in. But, that’s not always the case. Don’t make assumptions. Ask the leasing staff if the apartment will be cleaned and move in ready. If it won’t be (or if you are a germaphobe), schedule to have a cleaning company come in and give the place a good scrub down before you move in.
#2. Place boxes into the rooms labeled…
If you read my last post, you saw my suggestion for how to systematically pack your old home so that the unpacking process would be a breeze. Place the boxes into the rooms labeled on the sides of each box and then …
#3. ….And unload boxes immediately!
Let’s be honest, the fastest way to unpack is with help! Get your friends to help you open the boxes, and place everything on the floor in that particular room. Because you’re items are all placed on the floors, you won’t feel the anxiety of boxes closing in around you, and you should easily be able to find things over the days/weeks until you are fully settled in.
#4. Get help discarding boxes and packing debris
Remove all trash, paper and boxes while your friends are still there to help. This will definitely give you a jump-start on getting settled in.
#5. Systematically work on one room at a time until completed.
Tackle one room at a time and work through that room until the space is completely settled. Start with the spaces that are most important to your daily activity, and then work your way through the rest of the apartment. My suggestion is to work in this order: kitchen, master bathroom, master bedroom, living room, dining room, office.
The boxes are all gone, and now you simply need to put things away in places that make sense for your everyday routine. Now that the bulk of the work is done, you are on track to make your new place a home!
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