Tips on how to organize a family move from one home to another. How to stay organized and keep the move as low-stress as possible.
Our family is super excited to move from the condo we’ve lived in for the past four years into a single family home this month! It’s a move that has been pushed from one month to the next all year. Now it’s finally happening!
Some of our stuff has been packed up for months since we showed and sold our home way back in August. Now it’s time to pack the rest.
Growing up as the child of a Foreign Service officer, I know a little bit about moving. I started helping my mom pack and organize moves when I was 11 years old. I’ve also moved my own family several times.
How to Stay Organized During a Family Move
What You'll Find on This Page
Get rid of as much as possible before you move.
Donate, sell, and give away absolutely everything that you won’t need in your new home. You’ll thank yourself when you are unpacking way too many boxes on the other end of the move.
Start packing early.
You’ll do a better job of packing if you start early. Rushed packing tends to be disorganized packing.
Label boxes clearly.
This move was easier than the others I’ve done, because I already have the floor plan of our new home going in. I assigned a letter of the alphabet to each room, and we are labeling boxes with the letter of the room they belong in in the new house as we go. This is helpful even if all the boxes start off sitting in our garage.
Inventory as you pack for your move.
If you have the time to do so, create a simple inventory as you pack. I do this in a Google spreadsheet, but if you’re a paper and pencil person you can use this simple moving inventory printable.
Make it easy to find the boxes with the things you will need right away.
Use a different color of marker to label these boxes, or add stickers or stars to make them easier to find. Moving is exhausting, and simple things like marking the boxes that have basic kitchen supplies, sheets, and towels makes a huge difference.
November Goals – Moving, Mainly!
I kept October goals simple because I knew we had this move coming up. They girls got more physical activity, although I would still like to up that. I also got quite a bit of packing and organizing done, although – again – I would have loved to do more. I have three very basic goals for November:
- Pack.
- Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner, which we will probably keep very simple since we most likely move the day before. Gratitude
- Unpack.
I don’t really know that my mindful living or education themes apply to the packing and unpacking, but getting those two goals achieved will create space for more mindful living and more effective education!
What moving advice would you add to my list? What are you goals for November? If you’re looking for more inspiration, my friend Cassie has a great November goals post here. You can comment below, or on my Facebook page. You can also tag me on Instagram.
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
How exciting to be moving! Our advice is to purge, purge and purge yet more than you think possible!
Totally agree on labeling boxes for the appropriate move, that makes it so much easier. The last time we moved I was pregnant with the twins which meant I couldn’t really help with the move AND I was super emotional and exhausted all at the same time.
That sounds really hard!
Great tips. Exciting times at your home but also a ton of work, I’m sure. Good luck with the move.
Amalia
xo
Thanks! Moving is so much work, but we are very excited for our new home.
How exciting! I hope you will enjoy your new home and more space! Best of luck to you in this hectic month!
Thanks, Natalie! We are all looking forward to more space, a bit of a yard, and no shared walls!
I loved our inventory until one of my girls unpacked boxes. I’m’ sure you move will go great!
Kids opening and unpacking random boxes is a big problem!