When you're moving, between the packing, organizing, and planning to reach your destination, few people stop to worry about how you'll unpack once you get there. However, standing in your new home hauling boxes out of the truck, there are a few things you'll want ready right away as opposed to everything else that could wait a few days. It's important to think about your first few hours, night and week in the house and what you'll need to be able to easily unpack at each stage for the most convenient and comfortable move possible. Here at A-1 Freeman Moving, we've helped thousands of people move and can offer a few helpful tips on how to pack up your things so that unpacking is a breeze.
Last In, First Out
When packing both a single box and the entire moving truck, it helps to remember a simple formula known as FILO or "First In, Last Out". What this means is that the first thing you pack will have many other things stacked on top of it and will, therefore, be one of the last things you unpack. The first thing in a box will always be at the bottom and the first box in the moving truck will be at the back behind everything else. However, the better way to think of this in terms of your experience is "Last In, First Out" meaning that the things you pack last will be what you can access as soon as you arrive.
Smart Packing Strategy
When packing your entire house, it's easy to simply pack everything indiscriminately into boxes based more on where it's stored than whether or not you'll need it. Instead, start by making a list of what you'll want when you arrive, on the first day and over the first night. Remember that you'll probably be at the end of a long road or plane trip. If you don't get a hotel room for the first few nights, it's important to have a few things ready.
Personal Items
During the first day in your new empty house, you will probably want a number of perfectly human things that the residence may or may not be equipped to offer so you'll want to have packed accordingly. The thing that is most often missed is a full kit of toiletries. Make sure to pack toilet paper, hand soap, and towels along with your tooth brushing and shower gear. Naturally, you'll also want a few changes of clothes available until you unpack your closet.
Practical
The next set of things to consider is what you'll need while unpacking. If you don't want to sit on boxes, bring a camp chair or two so you can rest between unpacking sessions before the furniture is set up. You'll also want a box cutter or pocket knife for tape, a dolly for moving heavy or stacked boxes, and your set of tools for reassembling the furniture. You can also skip this step if you've hired professional movers to unpack and reassemble for you.
Unpacking Order
Finally, you'll want to consider the order you'll want to unpack things, especially if your items are coming in more than one shipment. The primary rooms to worry about are the bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom in that order. Make sure to pack the rest of your important bathroom items like towels and medicines somewhere easy to find and quickly accessible. The kitchen is the next thing people miss and find themselves eating on paper plates while looking for the box of dishes. Your kitchen boxes should be clearly labeled and packed last so you can access your dishes, pans, and spices on the first night. Finally, make sure you can make your bed before you're exhausted at the end of the day with clean sheets, pillows, and blankets.
Once you or your movers have carefully sorted, packed, and labeled everything, working with your movers is the best way to ensure that the right boxes are available early and delivered to the appropriate rooms. This way, you won't have to sift through stacks of heavy boxes to find what you're looking for as each room will have exactly what it needs.
