How to Unpack Your Home After Your Move

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

We've all read about the best approaches to pack up a residence, but what about the opposite? As with most things in life, unpacking from a move to Houston does have methods that work the best. You can certainly simplify the unpacking portion of the moving process by planning ahead.

Part of a smooth unpacking process involves organizing for it as you're packing. Some items to remember as you pack include the following:

• Label boxes. This is common knowledge, but you'll never be more pleased about listening to this advice as when you are walking around your new residence looking for the carton with the spoons in it. Is it labeled? Yay!
• Pack a day bag. A small backpack or duffel bag can hold your toothbrush, a change of clothes, and other items that you are sure you will definitely need quickly in the new place.
• Donate items you don't need. The fewer belongings you move, the faster it will be to unpack. There are a few items that you won't want to give away, but if there are items that you do not need, consider giving them to someone who can use them.

After the moving company has unloaded the boxes at your new digs, the order and organization you use during unpacking can also ease confusion. Here are a few of our popular tips:

• Put together your bed first. There are few things better after a exhausting 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 glad later. This goes for each member of the house. If you hired professional movers, they should do this task for you.
• Start with the necessities. Things like coffee mugs, plates and glasses and eating utensils, and your computer equipment are some of the important things you'll need as you start life in your new house. Prior to diving into the nitty gritty, think about what you need to have in place today and tomorrow. Begin there.
• Box your boxes. Many times, rooms become piled with empty boxes and packing materials halfway through the unpacking process. You cannot keep track of what you have left if it's hindered with discarded packing materials. Keep one box intact and pack it with other empty boxes that you've broken down. That way, you can see how much you still have to unpack. Your box of boxes can be trashed or, preferably, recycled.
• Group your shopping trips. Even if you have planned, you will more often than not need to run to the store to get toilet paper, more bags, light bulbs, or other new things. Rather than making a run each time you need something, create a running list of needed materials so that you can purchase everything in one trip. You'll save time and money, and also cut down on your stress.
• Do not settle on furniture set up too soon. Too many people get stuck on room layouts the day they move into a new house. Allow yourself some leeway—not everything must be unchangeable immediately. Old sofa that you liked at your old home may feel out of place in your new home. That is alright. Grant yourself some time to get settled and you will figure out 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 handle the task step by step. Instead, we attempt to unpack the complete house at once. Once everything has arrived at the residence, take the time to figure out which areas are most critical. The rooms that you usually spend the most time in are the rooms that should be unpacked first.
• Set Feasible Goals. In most situations, you aren’t going to be able to tackle all of the unpacking in one fell swoop. Do not push yourself too much on the first day or two. There is going to be plenty to do and none of the chores are going anywhere. Set attainable goals and stick to them. Pick the room that needs to be focused on first and finish it before moving onto the following job.
• Pick a Reward for Meeting the Deadline. For those who are moving with an entire family, it could be a challenge to wrangle everyone going in the same direction. Everyone will have their own agendas and getting everyone on the same page can be quite exhausting. Establishing a reward for meeting a predetermined deadline is a great way around this conundrum. By picking a reward, you are doing your part to keep the members of the family on task. 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 Houston and gotten somewhat settled.

Since 1974, A-1 Freeman Moving Group assisted individuals and families to move their belongings safely and securely. Contact us today so that we can help you pack, move and unpack in Houston.