How to Move Into Your Home --
For the 1st time or the 10th time
Moving into a new home is exciting!
It’s a wonderful to have a fresh start, and the chance to change your habits to match your new space. (“I am DEFINITELY going to cook healthier in this new kitchen!”) And who doesn’t love going shopping for decor after spending hours on Pinterest?
However, for most people, it can be a stressful time between packing and planning the move.
Moving in takes a little work, but it doesn’t have to be stressful.
So, today, I have for you 5 Steps on How to Move into Your Home.
But, before we jump into it, how about those of us that aren’t moving?
Maybe you haven’t moved in a few years, or a few decades. Either way, this list is for YOU too!
After a few months of moving in, the honeymoon-phase fades away and you start to itch for a new home and a change of scenery.
But, before you go buy a new house, it might be a good time to think about moving into your home— again!
This will refresh, reorganize, and redesign your space in a way that will have you loving it like it was brand new.
“How do I do that? Where do I start?”
I’m glad you asked.
Here are 5 Steps to Move into Your Home,
for the 1st time or the 10th time!
1. Deep Clean
It’s always a good idea to do an intense deep-clean of the new home before moving all of your stuff in. Hire a professional to give your home a good once-over!
Same with moving into a house for a second time! Keep it inexpensive by doing the easiest, but most valuable, tasks: Clean the ovening, wash the sofa, do a simple white-out pen over the shower grout lines, deep clean the carpet, take a magic eraser to the baseboards, etc.
When your home is deep-cleaned, it will be MUCH easier to take on the rest of the house without stress.
2. Sort Everything
Moving is much more stressful when you have to unpack who-knows-what into who-knows-what-room.
To easily pack, start by putting a different color Post-It note on each item in the house, one room at a time. Have each Post-It color represent:
Throw Away
This is for anything that’s not worth it to you, or to anyone else in the world. Yes, you might wear those run-down sneakers again someday. But it might be best to let them go with a “thank you for supporting me for so long” and throw them away. Open up that space in your closet for newer, brighter, and better.
Give Away
Things that might be of use to someone, so you don’t want to throw it away, but you never use or that you don’t like owning. Anything that doesn’t give you joy, let it be a joy to someone else. Now, if it’s expensive…
Sell
It’s not a bad thing to want to sell your more expensive items. But only do so if it’s worth it to you, in the long run, to find a buyer, negotiate, and finish the transaction. I would generally not bother with anything worth less than $50. Note that some things you’ve owned for a long time might be worth something to you emotionally, but might not be worth as much to a stranger.
Keep Anything memorable, a must-have, or a need. You want to want this item. Don't keep it because it’s always been there.
Start with the easiest step and do a Trash run/Goodwill run. This clears out a lot of space for you to start renovating your home.
Now that everything is sorted, it’s time to
3. Organize and Put Away
This involves creating unique storage space. Give priority to the things you access every day over things you only need occasionally.
Make sure everything has a purposeful place, so that certain areas of the house don’t turn into a clutter-zone.
4. Re-design
This doesn’t necessarily mean buying a bunch of new furniture. It can be done by repurposing things you already own. Whether that’s changing the room each piece belongs in, or how a shelf is used, or using it in a way that you are not used to.
Here are a few more things to try: Hang new art in the room. Paint a single wall with an accent color. Add some comfy or colorful pillows to the couch. Or simply switch out those old light bulbs for some new brighter lights.
Do the little things to maximize your daily comfort and style!
And my last tip for Moving into Your Home:
5. Ask for Help
When you move houses, you need the help of a realtor, a photographer, an interior-decorating stager, a moving crew, and more. Gather a support crew of people who want to see you win!
And yes, never feel bad for asking for help when you’re redesigning your home! Offer pizza those who help clean, move furniture, or haul trash to the curb.
Pro-tip: Get your friends together for a house-renovating day, and then suggest doing it for their homes as well! Share the joy of a clean home!
Moving in takes a little work, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Even if it’s a new house, or a house you’ve lived in for 10 years.
Do you have any tips and tricks for moving? Comment down below!