How to Unpack Your Home After Your Move

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

We have all heard about the most productive ways to pack up a house, but what about the flip side? As with anything in life, unpacking from a move to Atlanta does have methods that work the best. You can streamline the unpacking piece of the moving process by thinking ahead.

Part of a seamless unpacking process involves preparation for it as you're packing. A couple tasks 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 box with the coffee mugs in it. Is it labeled? Yay!
• Pack an overnight bag. A small satchel or duffel bag can hold your hairbrush, a clean outfit, and anything else you are sure you will absolutely need right away in the new home.
• Give away items you don't need. The fewer things you move, the quicker it will be to unpack. There are definitely some things that you will not want to donate to charity, but if there are possessions that you don't need, think about giving them to someone who can use them.

Once the moving company has unloaded the moving boxes at your new abode, how you unpack can also mitigate disarray. Here are some of our favorite tips:

• Assemble your bed first. There's nothing better after a tiring day of moving and unpacking than to crawl into a cozy bed. If you put together your bed and put on sheets first, you will be thankful later. This goes for every member of the household. If you hired professional movers, they can do this step for you.
• Start with the necessities. Things like a coffee maker, plates and glasses and spoons and forks, and your computer station are some of the important things you'll need as you start life in your new home. Ahead of diving into the little details, contemplate what you want to have in place in the next 48 hours. Begin there.
• Box your boxes. Many times, rooms become cluttered with empty boxes and packing paper halfway through the unpacking process. You can't keep track of what you have left if it is obstructed with discarded packing materials. Keep one box complete and pack it with other empty cartons that you've broken down. That way, you can observe how much you still have to unpack. Your box of boxes can be disposed of or, preferably, recycled.
• Group your shopping trips. Even if you have planned, you will inevitably need to run to the store to get a new trash can, a shower curtain, light bulbs, or other new items. In lieu of making a run each time you need an item, start a running list of necessary supplies so that you can buy everything in one trip. You will save time and money, and also cut down on your hassle.
• Don't settle on furniture layout too hurriedly. Too many people find themselves obsessed with room layouts the day they move into a new house. Allow yourself some elbow room—not everything has to be unchangeable immediately. The furniture that you liked at your old place may seem unsuited in your new residence. That's alright. Allow yourself some time to get settled and you will get a better idea whether you can make it work. This also goes for artwork on the walls. It's your home! There's no need to hurry.
• Decide Which Areas Are Most Vital. The most common error that is made during the unpacking process is a refusal to perform the job a little at a time. Rather, we attempt to unpack the complete house at once. Once all of your belongings have arrived at the house, take a moment to look around and decide which areas are most crucial. The rooms that you are going to be spending the most time in are the ones that should be receiving top priority.
• Set Feasible Goals. In most situations, you are not going to be able to tackle all of the unpacking in one sitting. Do not push yourself too hard on the first day or two. There will be plenty to accomplish and none of the jobs are going anywhere. Set attainable goals and stick with them. Select the area that needs to be focused on first and finish it prior to moving onto the next task.
• Pick a Reward for Reaching the Deadline. For those who are moving with a whole family, it might be a challenge to wrangle everyone going in the same direction. Each family member will have their own agendas and getting everyone to work toward a common goal can be quite exhausting. Establishing a reward for achieving a goal is a wonderful way around this debacle. By picking a prize, you are doing your part to keep the members of the family on task. No one will want to be lax. Setting a deadline will also keep you from the annoyances of stepping over numerous belongings that haven’t been put away yet after you have already moved to Atlanta and gotten somewhat settled.

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