Moving to Richmond? Tips to Make Your Richmond Move Hassle-Free
I know, I can’t believe it either! Summer will be gone in a blink of an eye and it will be back-to-school season before we know it! Many Richmond home buyers make their move during the summer so once school is back in session, most of the stress of moving has been long gone! In this 3 part series, your Richmond Realtor has teamed up with theNeatNiche, professional organizing services in Richmond, to provide you with a plan to make your Richmond move a smooth one!
Preparing and Packing: Top Tips to Prepare for a Smooth Move
1: Stay Sane
There is no such thing as being too prepared for a move! Create a Move Binder to store all moving-related information. There will be no shortage of information you’ll have to keep straight: Realtor, mortgage information, moving companies, handymen, to-do lists, important dates, phone calls to make, notes, internet print-outs, estimates, receipts, important names and telephone numbers, business cards, decorating ideas/samples for your new home, tips from new neighbors…the list goes on and on.
Essentials: binder with pockets, sheet protectors, Ziploc bags, loose-leaf paper, pens, and calendar
2. Create a Move Hub
Choose a central location to keep your binder and all moving-related supplies: your Move Hub. All items taken from the Move Hub must be returned to the Hub immediately after using them, including your Move Binder. Avoid a last-minute scramble to find missing supplies!
Essentials: markers, labels, colored sticky dots, box tape, Ziploc bags (to corral small items), ibuprofen
3. Pack to unpack.
Remember your end goal while packing: to get everything out of your old home, into your new Richmond home, and unpacked in your new home. This last step is very important! Having 85 boxes on the floor in your new home does not mean you’re “moved in.” It’s kind of like doing laundry and saying “All done!” once you get the wet clothes into the dryer. Finished? Hardly!
When packing for your Richmond move, some preparatory steps will save you a ton of time at the end.
-Reserve 10 or so boxes for frequently-used home essentials to be packed last: bedding, clothes for immediate wear, cleaning supplies, etc. You can also use your luggage for this purpose – easy to spot quickly.
-Reserve one or two boxes for your “survival items” – your must-have possessions: your kid’s favorite stuffed animal and DVDs for entertaining, quick foods and paper plates/plastic cutlery, mom’s coffee maker and coffee, the CEO’s laptop, a toolbox for move-in day, etc. Make your Survival Box stand out! Paint it, cover it in glitter or stickers, wrap it up in saran wrap – anything to make it highly visible. Survival boxes should be the last thing to go in the moving truck.
-Color coordinate. Pick a color for each room of the house (red for living room, green for kitchen, blue for boy’s bedroom, etc.), and use colored sticky dots on all four sides of every box that belongs in that room. That’s right – every side of every box should have a colored dot, clearly visible. Your movers care much less about getting boxes in the correct rooms than you do. By making it easy on them, you’re ultimately making it easier on yourself! On move-in day, put colored signs that match your colored dots on every door or entryway. Your movers will love you…and you’ll love the ease of unpacking!
-Label clearly and on all four sides of every box. The more specific the label, the better! “Plates and Bowls” is better than “Kitchen,” and clear labeling allows your movers to easily tell which side is up.
-Make a note of important boxes by adding a label of “Priority” or “Open First!”
-If you come across something that you don’t use while packing up, donate it!
-Dust off items as you pack. No need to bring dust into your new home!
-Pack wisely. Pack infrequently-used items (guest room, bulk items) first. Keep heavy items on the bottom of boxes or in smaller boxes, and don’t overload boxes with heavy items. Take advantage of wardrobe boxes – put shoes or folded clothing in handled bags, and put them on the bottom of the wardrobe box before filling in the hanging bar with clothing. Save money (and the environment!) by using old t-shirts or rags to wrap valuables instead of bubble wrap...and avoid using newspapers to pack – the print can stain your items.
By using some of these great moving tips from theNeatNiche, you will be well on your way to home sweet home in the Richmond real estate market! Stay tuned for part 2 of this 3 part series.
Haven’t listed your home yet to even think about unpacking? Contact me, your Richmond Realtor, at Home Sweet Henrico with Keller Williams Realty Richmond West today, and let’s get you to SOLD!
Comments(4)