How to Unpack Your Home After Your Move

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

We've all heard about the best methods to pack up a house, but what about the opposite? As with many things in life, unpacking from a move to Denver does have some approaches that work better than others. You can certainly simplify the unpacking portion of the moving process by thinking ahead.

Part of a smooth unpacking process involves organizing for it as you're packing. A few things to keep in mind as you pack include the following:

• Label boxes. This is common knowledge, but you will never be happier about heeding this advice as when you're running around your new residence searching for the box with the forks in it. Is it labeled? Excellent!
• Pack a day bag. A small suitcase or duffel bag can contain your toothbrush, a clean outfit, and anything else you are sure you will definitely need right away in the new home.
• Donate items you do not use. The fewer items you move, the faster it will be to unpack. There are some things that you will not want to get rid of, but if there are items that you do not want, think about donating them to someone who can use them.

Once the moving company has unloaded the cartons at your new digs, the order and organization you use during unpacking can also ease chaos. Here are several of our favorite tips:

• Assemble your bed first. There are few things better after a long day of moving and unpacking than to fall into a soft bed. If you put together your bed and put on sheets first, you'll be glad later. This goes for each member of the household. If you hired professional movers, they can do this task for you.
• Begin with the necessities. Items like a coffee maker, plates and glasses and spoons and forks, and your computer equipment are some of the first things you will need as you start life in your new residence. Before delving into the nuts and bolts, contemplate what you want to have in place today and tomorrow. Start there.
• Box your boxes. Frequently, rooms become messy with empty boxes and packing materials during the unpacking process. You cannot keep track of what you have left if it is obstructed with discarded packing materials. Keep one box complete and stuff it with other empty boxes 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 most likely need to run to the store to buy cleaning supplies, a shower curtain, light bulbs, or other new things. In lieu of making a trip every time you need something, create a running list of necessary supplies so that you can group everything in a single trip. You will save time and money, and also reduce your anxiety.
• Don't settle on furniture arrangement too quickly. Too many people find themselves stuck on room layouts the day they move into a new home. Give yourself some elbow room—not everything has to be set in stone right away. The sofa that you adored at your old house may seem awkward in your new abode. That's okay. Grant yourself some time to get settled and you will get a better idea if you can make it work. This point also involves waiting to hang any pictures on the walls. It's your home! There is no need to rush.
• Establish Which Areas Are Most Critical. The most common mistake that is made during the unpacking process is a refusal to perform the job step by step. Instead, we find ourselves trying to unpack the entire house at once. After all of your belongings have arrived at the house, take a minute to figure out which areas are most critical. The rooms that you are going to be spending the most time in are the ones that should be unpacked first.
• Set Feasible Goals. In most cases, you are not going to be able to get to all of the unpacking in one sitting. Do not push yourself too hard in the first couple days. There will be lots to do and none of the jobs are going anywhere. Create realistic goals and stick with them. Choose the room that needs to be focused on first and finish it before moving onto the following task.
• Establish a Reward for Accomplishing the Deadline. For those who are moving with a whole family, it can be difficult to get everyone working together. Everyone is going to have their own agendas and getting everyone to work toward a common goal can be quite grueling. Establishing a reward for meeting a predetermined deadline is a wonderful way around this debacle. By selecting a prize, you are doing your part to keep all members of the family happy and motivated. No one will want to be lax. Setting a deadline will also keep you from the annoyances of stepping over lots of things that haven’t been put away yet after you have already moved to Denver and gotten somewhat settled.

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