How to Unpack Your Home After Your Move

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

We have all heard about the best approaches to pack up a home, but what about after you get to your new place? As with most things in life, unpacking from a move to Little Rock does have some best practices. You can streamline your unpacking part of the moving process by thinking ahead.

Part of a smooth unpacking process involves organizing for it as you are packing. Some things to remember as you pack include the following:

• Label boxes. This is not rocket science, but you will never be happier about heeding this advice as when you're walking around your new house searching for the carton with the forks in it. Is it labeled? Excellent!
• Pack an overnight bag. A small suitcase or bag can accommodate your dental floss, a change of clothes, and other things that you know you will absolutely need right away in the new abode.
• Give away items you don't need. The fewer items you move, the faster it will be to unpack. There are a few items that you won't want to give away, but if there are things that you don't use, think about donating them to someone who can use them.

After the moving company has unloaded the boxes at your new digs, how you unpack can also lessen chaos. Here are a few of our favorite tips:

• Put together your bed first. There is nothing better after a tiring 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 every member of the household. If you hired professional movers, they should do this task for you.
• Start with the necessities. Items like coffee mugs, plates and cups and eating utensils, and your computer station are some of the important items you'll need as you start life in your new house. Before getting into the nitty gritty, plan for what you want to have in place in the next 48 hours. Begin there.
• Box your boxes. Often, rooms become messy with empty boxes and bubble wrap in the middle of the unpacking process. You cannot keep track of what you have left if it is impeded with discarded packing supplies. Keep one box all in one piece and pack it with other empty cartons that you've broken down. That way, you can observe how much you still have to unpack. Your box of boxes can be trashed or, preferably, recycled.
• Group your shopping trips. No matter how well you've planned, you will inevitably need to run to the store to get toilet paper, more bags, light bulbs, or other new things. In lieu of making a trip every time you need an item, create a running list of needed supplies so that you can group everything in a single trip. You'll save time and money, and also reduce your stress.
• Don't settle on furniture arrangement too hurriedly. Too many people get stuck on room layouts the day they move into a new place. Give yourself some space—not everything must be unchangeable right away. Old sofa that you adored at your old home may look unsuited in your new abode. That is alright. Give yourself some time to settle in and you will get a better idea whether you can make it work. This also goes for art on the walls. It is your home! There's no need to scramble.
• Establish Which Areas Are Most Critical. The most common error that is made during the unpacking process is a refusal to perform the task piece by piece. Rather, we try to unpack the complete house at once. After all of your belongings have arrived at the home, take the time to figure out which areas are most crucial. The rooms that you usually spend the most time in are the ones that should be receiving top priority.
• Set Feasible Goals. In most situations, you are not going to be able to tackle all of the unpacking in one sitting. Don't push yourself too much in the first couple days. There is going to be plenty to do and none of the jobs are going anywhere. Create realistic goals and stick with them. Select the area that needs to be addressed first and finish it before moving onto the following task.
• Select a Reward for Meeting the Deadline. For those who are moving with an entire family, it can be challenging to wrangle everyone working together. Everyone is going to have their own agendas and the process of making sure that everyone is pulling in the same direction can be quite grueling. Establishing a reward for achieving a target is a good way around this conundrum. By picking a prize, you are doing your part to keep all members of the family happy and motivated. No one will want to be lax. Creating a deadline will also keep you from the annoyances of tripping over lots of things that have not been put away yet after you have already moved to Little Rock and gotten somewhat settled.

Since 1974, A-1 Freeman Moving Group has worked with individuals and families to move their belongings safely and securely. Contact us now so that we can help you pack, move and unpack in Little Rock.