The movers came and delivered all your large items to your new place. Make sure that they set up the bed and any furniture that was taken apart when they packed it all up.
Start unpacking boxes as soon as the movers start bringing them in. You will need the following items to assist with the unpacking:
- Box cutters
- Large trash bags
- Picture hanging tools (hammer, white nails, gorilla hooks, screwdrivers of different varieties and sizes)
- Cleaning supplies
- Level
As the movers are bringing in the boxes and furniture, the best place to start unloading boxes is the kitchen because you will not get in their way and it is usually centrally located. Everything should be labeled, so you should be able to find those boxes quickly. You will stay out of their way, but at the same time direct them where the furniture should go.
As you unwrap the kitchen items from their boxes, use the large black garbage bags for all the paper. You will fill quite a few of the garbage bags as you unpack. Break down the boxes as you unpack them and stack them neatly leaning them against a wall outside the front door, in a garage. or any other location where they will not be in the way.
When the bed is put back together, locate the bedding box and make your bed. This is very important as you will be exhausted after the movers depart. A bed with sheets will be a welcome sight at the end of the day.
The moving kit you prepared with some essentials will also be a lifesaver. Order dinner from Grubhub, UberEats, pizza delivery or something to pick up to go for your first night at your new place. You will be glad you did. Pizza is always a favorite if you have a bunch of people helping you on moving day.
After the movers leave, spend some time moving the boxes they dumped all over into the rooms according to their labels. Then proceed in the following order:
- Find the lamp boxes and set up the lamps.
- Go around your new place and cut the plastic wrapping from around the furniture if they did not do it.
- Remove any paper that was stuffed in drawers.
- Hang clothes in closets
- Unpack the remaining boxes in order of importance. Unpack kitchen items first and bathrooms second. Those rooms are the most important for most families.
- Wall decor is the very last thing. Unpack all the wall decor at the same time. After all are unpacked, take them to the room in which they will hang. Once all are where they will go, you can make arrangements to hang them. Sometimes hanging wall decor is a two-person job.
Unpacking boxes takes some time, but it can be done quickly if everything is in its place. Unpack one room at a time. It is feasible to unpack one room a day, depending on the number of boxes you have for each room. Moving is a stressful life event, but if you follow these guidelines for packing up, moving and unpacking, you will be less stressed out.
Happy moving! Enjoy your new space!
To see parts I and II of this series, click on the links below:
