Moving into a new home is exciting, exhilarating and – let’s face it – it can be chaotic. But it doesn’t have to be! Here are some proven packing tips to help you stay organized and keep calm, cool and collected while packing, transporting and unpacking your stuff.

Tip #1: Start by Cleaning Out

Weeks before you plan to move, pare down your belongings to only what you really want to bring into your next chapter. A new home means a fresh start, so make sure your belongings aren’t weighing you down. Take lessons from Marie Kondo – practice minimalism and let go of objects you don’t like or use and anything broken or expired. Donate gently used items and relish in how good it feels when everything is cleaned out.

Tip #2: Get Lots of Boxes

You’re going to need boxes – lots of boxes. Ask friends and family or local businesses if they have any you can have or borrow. You can even rent eco-friendly boxes from companies like U-Haul. Once you have the boxes, label them with numbers and prepare a reference paper where you can keep track of what you pack in each box.

Tip #3: Pack a Suitcase

Not just any suitcase – use this suitcase to store some of your favorite clothes as well as toiletries, snacks, medication and important papers or anything else you might urgently need during the move. In the moving process, your stuff will be inaccessible, and you don’t want anything important buried deep in the mountain of boxes. This suitcase should have everything you need to make it through the packing, transporting and unpacking process.

Tip #4: Pack Room by Room

Tackle rooms one by one and place similar items together if possible. Make sure to write down what you pack in each numbered box on your reference sheet, so you can easily find everything you’re looking for when you start the unpacking process.

Tip #5: Hire Professionals

If you can, hire professionals from a moving company. They are experts on how to get your stuff from one place to another. Let them do the heavy lifting.

Tip #6: Treat Yourself

Moving can be a stressful process, so while your stuff is being transported, treat yourself to an iced coffee or something else that makes you smile.

Tip #7: Set Up an Unpacking Station

Choose a space in your new home to be ground zero for unpacking. Make sure you have a way to listen to music or podcasts to keep you entertained while you work and remember to take breaks. Use your numbered reference sheet to easily find what you need and have fun organizing your new space!

Tip #8: Remember, Settling In Takes Time

No matter how well prepared you are, settling into a new home takes time as you adjust to a new layout and new routines. Be kind to yourself and enjoy the process, and you’ll feel right at home in no time!

If you’re moving soon, we wish you all the best! And if you’re looking for the perfect new home, browse the many beautiful options available from Brookfield Residential here.