How to Unpack Your Home After Your Move

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

We've all heard about the most productive ways to pack up a house, but what about after you get to your new place? As with most things in life, unpacking from a move to Dallas does have some best practices. You can streamline your unpacking piece of the moving process by planning ahead.

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

• Label boxes. This is super simple advice, but you will never be more pleased about heeding this advice as when you are wandering around your new residence looking for the carton with the coffee mugs in it. Is it labeled? Excellent!
• Pack a day bag. A small satchel or duffel bag can hold your dental floss, a clean outfit, and anything else you know you will definitely need fairly soon in the new place.
• Give away items you do not use. The fewer items you move, the easier 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 need, consider giving them to someone who can use them.

Once the moving company has unloaded the cartons at your new abode, the way you unpack can also diminish confusion. Here are several of our preferred tips:

• Put together your bed first. There are few things better after a demanding day of moving and unpacking than to fall into a comfortable bed. If you set up your bed and put on sheets first, you'll be thankful later. This goes for each member of the house. If you hired professional movers, they should do this task for you.
• Begin with the necessities. Things like coffee mugs, plates and cups 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. Ahead of diving into the nuts and bolts, contemplate what you want to have in place in the next 48 hours. Begin there.
• Box your boxes. Many times, rooms become piled with empty boxes and packing paper in the middle of the unpacking process. You cannot keep track of what you have left if it's hindered with discarded packing supplies. Keep one box complete and pack 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 trashed or, preferably, recycled.
• Group your shopping trips. Even if you have planned, you will most likely need to run to the store to buy toilet paper, a shower curtain, light bulbs, or other new things. Rather than making a trip every time you need something, create a running list of necessary supplies so that you can buy everything in a single trip. You will save time and money, not to mention lessen your hassle.
• Don't settle on furniture arrangement too quickly. Too many people get locked into room layouts the day they move into a new place. Grant yourself some leeway—not everything has to be unchangeable right away. The couch that you adored at your old home may seem awkward in your new home. That's okay. Allow yourself some time to get settled and you will figure out whether you can make it work. This also goes for artwork on the walls. It's your home! There is no need to hurry.
• Decide Which Areas Are Most Vital. The most common error that is made during the unpacking process is a refusal to perform the chore piece by piece. Instead, we try to unpack the whole house at once. Once everything has arrived at the residence, take the time to figure out which areas are most critical. The rooms that you usually spend the most time in are the ones that should be given priority.
• Set Feasible Goals. In most cases, you are not going to be able to handle all of the unpacking in one attempt. Don't push yourself too hard in the first couple days. There is going to be plenty to accomplish and none of the jobs are going anywhere. Set attainable goals and stick with them. Choose the area that needs to be focused on first and finish it prior to moving onto the next job.
• Pick a Reward for Accomplishing the Deadline. For those who are moving with the total family, it might be a challenge to wrangle everyone working together. Everyone is going to have their own agendas and getting everyone on the same page can be quite exhausting. Setting up a reward for achieving a predetermined deadline is a wonderful way around this debacle. By creating a reward, you are doing your part to keep every single member of the family happy and motivated. No one will want to slack off. Setting a deadline will also keep you from the annoyances of having to deal with various belongings that haven’t been put away yet after you have already moved to Dallas and gotten somewhat settled.

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