How to Unpack Your Home After Your Move

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

We have all read about the most productive ways to pack up a residence, but what about after you get to your new place? As with anything in life, unpacking from a move to Tulsa and Oklahoma City does have some best practices. You can certainly simplify the unpacking piece of the moving process by thinking ahead.

Part of a smooth unpacking process involves preparing for it as you are packing. A couple tasks to keep in mind as you pack include the following:

• Label boxes. This is not rocket science, but you'll never be more pleased about following this advice as when you're walking around your new house looking for the box with the spoons in it. Is it labeled? Excellent!
• Pack a day bag. A small backpack or bag can contain your hairbrush, some pajamas, and anything else you are sure you will definitely need right away in the new place.
• Donate items you do not use. The fewer items you move, the quicker it will be to unpack. There are some things that you will not want to donate to charity, but if there are possessions that you don't need, consider giving them to someone who can use them.

After the moving company has unloaded the cartons at your new home, the order and organization you use during unpacking can also lessen disarray. Here are a few of our favorite tips:

• Set up your bed first. There is nothing better after a long day of moving and unpacking than to sink into a cozy bed. If you set up your bed and put on sheets first, you will be glad later. This goes for every member of the household. If you hired professional movers, they can do this job for you.
• Start with the necessities. Items like a coffee maker, plates and drinkware and spoons and forks, and your computer station are some of the first items you'll need as you start life in your new house. Ahead of getting into the little details, plan for what you want to have in place in the next couple days. Start there.
• Box your boxes. Often, rooms become cluttered with empty boxes and packing materials during the unpacking process. You can't keep under control what you have left if it is hindered with discarded packing supplies. Keep one box complete and stuff it with other empty boxes that you have 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 everything organized, you will inevitably need to run to the store to get a new trash can, a shower curtain, light bulbs, or other new things. Instead of making a run each time you need something, start a running list of needed supplies so that you can group everything in a single trip. You'll save time and money, and also reduce your anxiety.
• Don't settle on furniture arrangement too soon. Too many people find themselves stuck on room layouts the day they move into a new house. Grant yourself some space—not everything must be carved in stone right away. The couch that you loved at your old home may seem out of place in your new abode. That is okay. Give yourself some time to settle in 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 is no need to hurry.
• Establish Which Areas Are Most Critical. The most common error that is made during the unpacking process is a refusal to complete the task step by step. Instead, we attempt to unpack the entire house at once. After all of your belongings have arrived at the residence, take a moment to determine which areas are most critical. The rooms that you are going to be spending 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 handle all of the unpacking in one attempt. Do not push yourself too hard on the first day or two. There will be plenty to do and none of the chores are going anywhere. Set realistic goals and stick with them. Select the room that needs to be addressed first and finish it before moving onto the next job.
• Select a Reward for Reaching the Deadline. For those who are moving with an entire family, it could be challenging to have everyone going in the same direction. Each family member will have their own agendas and getting everyone on the same page can be quite exhausting. Coming up with a reward for achieving a goal is a great way around this debacle. By creating an incentive, you are doing your part to keep the members of the family working together. No one will want to be lax. Creating a deadline will also keep you from the annoyances of having to deal with lots of items that have not been put away yet after you have already moved to Tulsa and Oklahoma City 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 Tulsa and Oklahoma City.