As someone who has moved almost every year for my entire life, I’d like to think I’ve learned some things about making moving easier. In the next couple weeks, I will be moving again into my new apartment. While doing so I wanted to put together these tips for moving into a new apartment with everything I will be doing during this time in order to help others moving into a new apartment or home too.
These tips for moving into a new apartment will make any move easier in multiple ways. From not being able to find essentials the first night, to endlessly digging through boxes trying to figure out what is inside each one, or unpacking broken items that didn’t get packed right, I’ve dealt with my fair share of stressful moves. Use these 9 tips for moving into a new apartment to skip the hassle and ensure your move goes smoothly.
Start your stress-free move with these tips for moving into a new apartment
Tip 1: Have a plan for your new space
Going into your new space with a plan for where everything will go will help tremendously! For example, if you’d like new paint colors for certain rooms or renos for others, then you’ll want to avoid placing furniture or storing items that would otherwise belong in that new room until you’ve finished cleaning and prepping the new space!
Tip 2: Declutter your space at least 6 weeks out
This goes hand in hand with the first tip, but after you’ve planned out your new space, you’ll want to declutter. Decluttering when moving into a new apartment is good for a few reasons. The earlier you do this the better. You don’t want to be packing things that aren’t needed, both using extra supplies and the extra work that goes into it. Plus, you will still get rid of it in your new space.
I began posting large items for sale to ensure I’d have time to sell them. This can also help with moving costs. The new apartment is also a much smaller space, so there are many things that I had to downsize on. I will have much less kitchen space but a lot more closet space, with keeping all this in mind I knew exactly what I had to declutter and downsize in my home.
Tip 3: Start packing your decor 4 weeks before your move
Decor is the first thing I like to pack. It is not essential to daily life and will give you a good start on getting things packed.
Packing in smaller boxes is a good idea to ensure boxes don’t get too heavy to easily carry. This also helps things stay even more organized. Instead of having decor from multiple rooms in one larger box, get smaller boxes to pack decor and non-essential items in each room.
When you get to your new space, this makes it even easier to unpack too. You can choose one room at a time and feel less overwhelmed when unpacking a smaller box.
Tip 4: If buying new furniture, ship it to new apartment
I am buying a lot of new furniture for my new space, and I know a lot of other people do too. Make sure you plan accordingly when having things shipped and delivered to ensure they get to your new home on time.
This may mean ordering some items over a month in advance, or this could mean leaving something in your cart for a few weeks to not have it delivered too soon.
Make sure to take measurements when touring your new home. In some apartments, online layouts are available on their website where you can also easily find dimensions on rooms. Check all your dimensions not only when ordering things online, but you may want to do this when ordering in store too. You may find something that you think will fit perfect, but since too haven’t lived in this space and it can look larger when furniture isn’t inside yet, you don’t want the hassle of it not working out.
Related: 100 Amazon Apartment Must Haves You Absolutely Need For a Better Space
Tip 5: Label boxes specifically
The more specific with labeling the better. Label what room each box belongs in, but also the contents of each box. Most moving boxes now will have dedicated check boxes but also lines to do this easily. You can also use colored tape to help identify boxes easier.
This makes things very helpful when unpacking. You most likely won’t unpack everything in one day, but you’ll need certain things out first. For example, you should pack the least used items first, so then you can have them out of the way while you’re sorting through the rest of your stuff.
If you want to be able to easily re-use the boxes, put tape over where you will be writing on the box. When you unpack you can remove the tape and be able to use the box for anything in the future.
Tip 6: Use garbage bags to pack clothing
An easy way to save from using boxes and keeping clothes together on hangers which is much easier when moving in.
Separate clothes in small groups, depending on how large of garbage bags you have.
I’ve seen this method done two different ways/ The first way is to put the garbage bag around the bottom of the clothes and pull up, then you can tie the top of the garbage bag around the hangers.
The second way I’ve seen people try this method is to tear a small hole in the garbage gag to pull the hangers through and tie the garbage bag at the bottom.
I’ve tried both, and they both work well.
Tip 7: Use socks, towels or blankets to pack fragile items
This is a great way to save on space when packing. Instead of spending money on more moving supplies to pack fragile items simply wrap them in your clean socks, towels or blankets.
These items would take up a lot of room being packed in their own box, but are perfect to wrap glass dishes, fragile artwork and more.
Tip 8: Pack everything not used daily 1-2 weeks out
The last couple weeks in your place will surely fly by and you want to be as prepared as you can be to make this move as stress free as possible.
Everything that is not being used on a daily basis should be packed away and labeled correctly in these last couple weeks. You should leave out just enough to get yourself by for a couple of weeks.
Think about going on a two-week trip. Just how much would you need to be comfortable? Unlike a trip though you’ll still have access to everything, it’s just best to think it through to avoid having to unpack something before the move.
Tip 9: Keep a suitcase of everything you will need daily and pack the rest the last few days.
I like to pack a suitcase with all my essentials for that first night, even the first couple of nights depending on how soon you plan to unpack.
A change of clothes, essential toiletries, chargers, shower curtain and towel and bedding are all items I like to include in my moving suitcase. Create a list of anything you may need that first night at your new place to ensure you won’t forget anything.
These are all of the moving hacks I will be using, and the ones I have found most helpful over the many times I have moved.
All of the tips and tricks have helped me over the years to make my moves faster and relieve much of the stress moving can bring!
Leave a Reply