This article was contributed by Sara Fritsch, owner and founder of Moxie Space
We’ll go ahead and state the obvious: moving to a new home is stressful. In fact, in one
recent survey 45% of respondents said that “moving was one of the most stressful
things they’ve ever experienced.”
There is so much to manage no matter the size or distance of your move: coordinating
with movers, packing, cleaning, updating accounts, and everything in between. Whew,
it’s enough to make your head spin!
5 Things to Do Before You Move
The good news is there are a few things you can do before you move to make the
whole process a little more organized and a lot less stressful (and even save you time
and money).
1. Purge what you don’t need
If you do nothing else, do this. Make an effort to declutter and purge before you move.
Don’t waste time or money packing and unpacking the stuff you no longer want or need!
If you’re pressed for time, prioritize your closet, kitchen, or your garage or storage
space, which are more likely to be full of things you haven’t seen or used in a while.
2. Avoid shopping
Give your credit cards a break for 6 to 8 weeks before you move and don’t buy any non-
essential items. More stuff = more to pack, more time, more money, more stress! This
includes groceries, too; don’t fill your pantry to the brim if you can help it. Try to finish
the food you have and only buy what you need so there’s less to take with you. Look
forward to a big grocery store run to fill your new pantry instead!
3. Pack non-essentials ahead of time
If you’re doing the packing yourself, start as early as you can with belongings you don’t
really use in your daily life, such as décor, extra linens, and off-season clothing. Be sure
to label your boxes clearly, and store them in a spare room or closet for the time being.
Doing this will prevent the overwhelm of last-minute packing and help you stay a little
calmer.
4. Put together overnight bags
The first night in a new home is always a bit disorienting. Everything is still in boxes,
nothing feels quite settled, and everyone is exhausted. It helps if every family member
has an overnight bag with essential toiletries, medications, pajamas, a couple of clean
outfits, and maybe some favorite books or activities for the kids. This way you’re not
rummaging through boxes for clean underwear – you’ve got everything you need for a
night or two!
5. Book professional organizers to unpack for you
Most people focus all their energy on moving from their old home, but not as much on
what happens once they’re in their NEW home. We regularly hear from clients who
moved into a space and just never fully unpacked or set it up properly.
And we get it: unpacking and organizing a new home take a lot of time and energy that
many people just don’t have! But not organizing your home soon after you move in
leads to more disorganization and clutter down the road.
So, do Future You a favor and book professional organizers to unpack for you. Even
just focusing on high priority spaces like your kitchen, pantry, or closet can make a huge
difference in how your home functions, and it will save you a ton of stress in the
meantime!
Sara Fritsch is the owner and founder of Moxie Space Professional Organizing. They
offer home organizing and unpacking services to residents in Austin, TX and
surrounding communities, including Dripping Springs, Lakeway, and Cedar Park. Visit
www.moxiespace.com for more information, and sign up for their newsletter here!