Packing up an entire home and moving somewhere new can present plenty of organizational challenges. There are so many moving parts involved in a move and it can be difficult to juggle all of these different tasks. Although moving can be a daunting task, getting organized can really help eliminate stress so the process isn’t so dreadful. Check out these tips and tricks for putting together an organized and well-coordinated move.

Create a Customized Moving Checklist

Moving to a new home is a lot of work and it can be tough to organize the logistics of your move. From dealing with a moving company to handling the financial responsibilities of a move, you have loads of details to keep track of during this very busy time. A customized list can help you manage all of these moving parts. Before you ever pack a single box, take the time to create a comprehensive moving checklist so you will have a clear idea of exactly what needs to be done and when. This will help you to remember all of those important details and will also ensure you complete each task in a timely manner.

Gather Plenty of Supplies

When it comes to boxes, you are going to need LOTS of them! It’s better to overestimate and have more than you need than to be scrambling around buying more at the last minute. If you purchase boxes from a moving supply store, you can always return the unused boxes and if you are gathering them for free from local grocery stores, simply toss out the extras. You also want to stock up on packing paper, tape, packing peanuts, and bubble wrap. Having all of these items on hand and ready to go will make the packing process so much faster and easier.

Keep Inventory as You Pack

Packing is the most tedious part of any move but you can stay organized in the process if you keep an inventory of items as you pack.  For starters, always pack like items together. For example, dishware  with dishware, bedding with bedding on so on and so forth. As you pack, it is helpful to have a master inventory list on hand where you can assign each item to a box number and mark that number onto the box. Simply create a spreadsheet on your computer and assign a number to each box. As you pack items into the box, type them into the spreadsheet along with their corresponding box number. This way you can easily find items when you are unpacking.

Color Coordinate

Designate a color for each room in your house such as red for the kitchen, yellow for the dining room, blue for the master bedroom etc. Apply colored stickers to each box next to the box number. At your new home, apply a colored sticker to the door of each room so the movers know exactly where to put each box.

Pack Ahead and Have a Strategy

The golden rule of moving is “Never wait until the last minute to begin packing.” In addition, don’t just throw items into a box with no rhyme or reason. Instead, come up with a packing strategy to help break down the job. Decide which room to tackle first and start with the rooms containing non-essentials. This could be something like the guest room, playroom, or attic. Once you have a packing plan in place, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get it done. Packing in advance will alleviate much of the stress that arises closer to moving day.

Keep Important Papers with You

There is bound to be tons of paperwork to keep up with during a move including moving contracts, bills, utility information, receipts, closing papers, medical records, birth certificates, school records, etc. It is helpful to keep all of this paperwork neatly organized in a moving binder. This moving binder should remain in your possession at all times so it doesn’t get lost in the midst of boxes. It also makes it easier for you to locate these important documents when you have them in an organized binder.