Whether you are buying or selling, there is a move in your future and things are going to get hectic. I’ve found that a lot of the folks we buy houses from haven’t moved in a long time, so I thought I’d write this post to help the ones we’ll help in the future! I’ve moved a lot during my time in the Marine Corps, so in addition to a few common-sense tips for making your move a little easier, such as using sturdy, clean moving boxes and packing lighter objects in larger boxes and heavier items in small boxes, I’ve always found that organization is the key to success. One of the best ways to lessen moving day chaos is knowing how to label and organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in Indianapolis.
Moving Binder
The last thing you need on moving day is to be searching for a list or anything else you need to help get through the process of packing the moving truck. Using a binder to control the stress level is a great way to organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in Indianapolis. I recommend keeping your important papers, lists, and labels here until it is time to start packing. You may want to grab a clear pencil pouch for the binder to keep any small items of importance during the move together as well. I recommend putting this on the driver’s seat of the truck to keep it out of harm’s way and so nobody unwittingly puts into a box!
Labels
Knowing how to use the power of labels when buying or selling in Indianapolis will be of enormous help when it is time to organize your moving boxes. Moving companies almost always use serialized labels on every box or large item that’s packed separately from a box. This helps them to keep track of exactly what they’re moving and if something is damaged it helps them to keep track of the insurance claim process. You probably don’t need to stick labels on every single item you’re moving, yet you DO need to label your boxes appropriately. Get yourself a permanent marker of some sort, and write either what’s in the box or where it came from in the house. If you’re familiar with where you’re moving and you know where you’ll want your belongings to go, you could even label the boxes with the new destination. Sometimes people use color coded stickers (like the ones you might use for price tags at a yard sale) to designate boxes that go in a particular room. Regardless, you need to label the boxes on at least two sides and the top with a system that makes sense to YOU. Also don’t forget to mark things that are fragile, heavy, or contain liquids so they can be treated appropriately!
Box Index
Creating a box index that coordinates with the labels is another helpful way to organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in Indianapolis. While it may sound like an overwhelming task to write down the contents of each box, you will thank yourself for the effort later if you’re looking for the can-opener that you stuck in the hall closet box because you ran out of room in the last kitchen box . Trying to remember what box you have already packed something away in can be nearly impossible sometimes, trust me. Once you get started with the index, you’ll see that the job of jotting everything down actually goes quite quickly.
Open Me First
Keep in mind that the order of loading the boxes is an important step of organization when buying or selling in Indianapolis. You will want to have special labels to denote the boxes which are of “open me first” or “necessities for first night” status. Put things in these boxes that you will need of on your first night in your new home, in addition to the clothing and personal toiletries you’ll want to have on hand – so things like your bedding, towels, and bathing supplies. Don’t forget some food for staving off hunger and your coffee and coffee pot for the first morning too!
Don’t Delay
While it is advisable to begin packing as early as possible, you should definitely allow yourself 2 – 3 weeks, if possible to label and organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in Indianapolis. Most moving truck rental companies have online tools which you can use to estimate the size and number of boxes that you will likely need to successfully pack your home. This will also help in making proper arrangements for the size of the moving truck that you rent. Whatever your plan of attack, you will want to set a goal of completing the night before the move with your “open me first” boxes. You could decide to finish room by room, with a certain date in mind for each room. Otherwise, you could have a goal of a certain number of boxes per day, until you have completed your task.
317 Home Buyers can provide you with even more hints and tips on how to label and organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in Indianapolis. To learn more about how we can help you, send us a message or give 317 Home Buyers a call today at 317-623-4734 and we will answer all of your questions!