How to Unpack Your Home After Your Move

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

We have all read about the most efficient approaches to pack up a home, but what about the opposite? As with many things in life, unpacking from a move to San Antonio does have some best practices. You can certainly simplify your unpacking piece of the moving process by thinking ahead.

Part of a flawless unpacking process involves preparing for it as you're packing. Some items to remember as you pack include the following:

• Label boxes. This is super simple advice, but you will never be happier about following this advice as when you are walking around your new residence looking for the carton with the forks in it. Is it labeled? Great!
• Pack a day bag. A small satchel or rucksack can carry your toothbrush, a clean outfit, and other things that you know you'll definitely need right away in the new place.
• Give away items you don't need. The fewer things you move, the easier it will be to unpack. There are a few things that you will not want to give away, but if there are possessions that you do not want, think about giving them to someone who can use them.

After the moving company has unloaded the boxes at your new abode, how you unpack can also lessen confusion. Here are some of our favorite tips:

• Assemble your bed first. There is nothing better after a exhausting day of moving and unpacking than to crawl into a cozy bed. If you assemble your bed and put on sheets first, you will be thankful later. This goes for every member of the household. If you hired professional movers, they should do this chore for you.
• Begin with the necessities. Items like coffee mugs, plates and drinkware and spoons and forks, and your computer equipment are some of the first items you will need as you begin life in your new home. Before getting into the nuts and bolts, contemplate what you want to have in place in the next couple days. Begin there.
• Box your boxes. Frequently, rooms become cluttered with empty boxes and bubble wrap in the middle of the unpacking process. You cannot keep under control what you have left if it's obstructed with discarded packing supplies. Keep one box complete and stuff it with other empty boxes that you've broken down. That way, you can view how much you still have to unpack. Your box of boxes can be disposed of or, preferably, recycled.
• Group your shopping trips. No matter how well you've planned, you will more often than not need to go to the store to purchase toilet paper, a shower curtain, light bulbs, or other new items. In lieu of making a trip every time you need an item, start a running list of necessary supplies so that you can buy everything in a single trip. You will save time and money, and also reduce your stress.
• Don't settle on furniture arrangement too quickly. Too many people find themselves stuck on room layouts the day they move into a new place. Grant yourself some elbow room—not everything must be unchangeable immediately. Old furniture that you liked at your old house may seem awkward in your new abode. That's okay. Grant yourself some time to settle in and you will get a better idea whether you can make it work. This point also involves waiting to hang any artwork on the walls. It's your home! There's no need to scramble.
• Decide Which Areas Are Most Important. The most common mistake that is made during the unpacking process is a refusal to handle the job piece by piece. Rather, we find ourselves trying to unpack the entire house at once. Once all of your belongings have arrived at the home, take a minute to determine which areas are most crucial. The rooms that you are going to be spending the most time in are the ones that should be receiving top priority.
• Set Feasible Goals. In most instances, you aren’t going to be able to handle all of the unpacking in one sitting. Do not push yourself too much on the first day or two. There will be lots to do and none of the chores are going anywhere. Set attainable goals and stick to them. Select the room that needs to be focused on first and finish it before moving onto the subsequent task.
• Establish a Reward for Meeting the Deadline. For those who are moving with the total family, it could be a challenge to get everyone working together. Each family member could have their own agendas and getting everyone to work toward a common goal can be quite arduous. Setting up a reward for reaching a target is a great way around this debacle. By creating an incentive, you are doing your part to keep all members of the family happy and motivated. No one will want to go astray. Creating a deadline will also keep you from the annoyances of having to deal with various things that haven’t been put away yet after you have already moved to San Antonio and gotten somewhat settled.

Since 1974, A-1 Freeman Moving Group assisted 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 San Antonio.