Moving is, by the nature of uprooting, chaotic and stressful. It’s a whirlwind of deadlines, cardboard boxes, and a whole new life.
So there is little surprise that on your first night in your new home, you might feel a little unsettled — which begs the question, “what to unpack first?”
Here at Rizzo Mattson, REALTORS® we suggest you do the following things, to lessen your feelings of being overwhelmed and to get settled in quickly:
Pack an Overnight Bag
Or a long weekend bag, or however you choose to look at it. You will save yourself immense amounts of stress simply by having a few essentials like toiletries, clothes, electronics and chargers easily accessible.
Unpack the Bedrooms First
Think logically here. What’s the thing you will need most on your first night in a new house? Sleep!
As all of your belongings start to come off the moving truck, make sure bedroom furniture and boxes labeled “bedding” are the first to be put into place. With this in mind, it is very helpful to have these items loaded closer to the back of the truck.
Designate a family member or volunteer to focus on putting the beds together and making the bedrooms ready for use.
So, after a good night’s sleep — what’s next?
Next, Unpack the Kitchen
Next up should be any food (obviously non-perishable) that you brought with you in the move.
Then, things like cups, plates, pots, pans, and silverware are relatively easy to offload into cabinets and should have you feeling more settled in no time.
Finally, Unpack the Office
Even if you don’t work from home, the home office (sometimes called the computer room) should be next, if only for comfort. You’ve got eating and sleeping all sorted, so now it’s time for a little bit of productivity.
Take the time to untangle the wires and look through any owner's manuals to ensure that your desktop computers, printers, and the like are all set up and functioning properly.
What To Unpack Last after a Move
Here’s what to leave until the end of unpacking:
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Art and Decor
These are logically one of the last things to go looking for and unpack. If you don’t have the essentials unpacked yet, then you likely aren’t ready to customize your space. It is helpful to figure out how you will live in your new space before you begin decorating it.
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Photos
While amazing to look at and the perfect final touch to any room, the process of framing and hanging photos is often time consuming, so it should be left to the end of the unpacking process.
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Books
Books are one of the last things to remove from the moving boxes. It’s not likely you will have leisure time during the moving and settling process, and once bookshelves are filled they are much harder to relocate to that perfect spot.
Of course the exception to this would be the book(s) you are right in the middle of, set aside so you can give yourself a mental break from the unpacking, or to unwind before nodding off.
Moving soon? Our team of professional, helpful agents can help you buy or sell your home. Contact us today.
