Published: December 15, 2023

When to Start Packing for a Move: A Practical Timeline

Moving to a new home is an exciting but also daunting endeavor. With so many tasks to tackle, one of the key elements is packing up your belongings. The question that often arises is, “When should I start packing for a move?” Finding the right timing can help alleviate stress and ensure a smooth transition. In this blog post, we’ll explore a practical timeline to help you determine when to start packing for your move.

4-6 Weeks Before Moving Day

Starting the packing process about a month to a month and a half before your moving day provides you with ample time to sort, declutter, and pack up your belongings thoughtfully. Here’s what you can do during this phase:

Declutter: Begin by going through each room and deciding what items to keep, donate, sell, or discard. This step not only reduces the number of things you need to pack but also simplifies your new living space. Consider the functionality and necessity items before making decisions.

Create a Packing Plan: Develop a strategy for how you’ll approach packing each room. It’s a good idea to pack items you use less frequently first, such as seasonal clothing, decor, and kitchen appliances that aren’t used daily. This approach ensures a more organized packing process.

3 Weeks Before Moving Day

As the moving day approaches, it’s time to step up the packing process:

Start Packing Non-Essentials: Begin packing items you don’t use on a daily basis, such as books, extra linens, and decorative items. Be sure to label each box with its contents and the room. This makes unpacking easier and helps you prioritize which items need to be unpacked first.

2 Weeks Before Moving Day

With two weeks left, you can intensify your packing efforts:

Pack Seasonal Items: If you’re moving during a different season, start packing items like clothes that won’t be needed in your current climate. Vacuum-sealed bags can be useful for compressing bulky clothing items, saving space in your boxes.

Essential Items Box: Create a box of essential items you’ll need during the first few days in your new home. This includes toiletries, a change of clothes, basic kitchen utensils, and important documents. Keep this box easily accessible and separate from the rest of your packed items.

1 Week Before Moving Day

The final week is all about finalizing your preparations:

Finish Packing: By this point, most of your belongings should be packed. Leave only the essentials you’ll need for the last few days. Consider having a designated “unpack first” box for immediate essentials in your new home.

Label and Organize: Double-check that all boxes are properly labeled and organized by room. This will make it easier for you to place boxes in the correct areas of your new home. Consider creating an inventory list detailing the contents of each box, for quicker access to specific items.

Moving Day

On moving day itself, the goal is to ensure a seamless transition:

Supervise the Process: Be present to oversee the moving process and have a clear plan about moving your fragile or valuable items.

Final Check: Before leaving your old home, do a final sweep to make sure nothing has been left behind.

Starting the packing process well in advance of your moving day allows you to approach the task in an organized and stress-free manner. Remember that everyone’s moving situation is different, so adjust the timeline to fit your specific moving needs. The key is to plan ahead and give yourself enough time to pack carefully, declutter, and manage the various tasks associated with moving. By doing so, you’ll set yourself up for a successful and smoother transition to your new home.

For more information, please visit UNITS Moving and Portable Storage of Northeast OH, Cleveland & Akron, or call (440) 613-7743.