Congratulations! You sold your home and can now start preparing for your move. From packing up each room, getting the kids signed up at their new school, and ensuring all your other ducks are in a row, a lot is going on. It’s easy to understand how overwhelming moving can be, but you don’t have to deal with it alone. When you hire an experienced, full-service moving company like us– Maffucci Moving & Storage– you’ll barely need to handle any details.

Maffucci is a proudly owned family business that has been operating in the Northeast for more than 100 years. Our mission is to provide customers with a streamlined moving service at a competitive price so that they can save money for the things that matter most. Specialized services we offer include decluttering, home staging, storage assistance, and packing and unpacking help. We’ll help you get organized before your move so you can stay that way long after.

What to do Before the Move

Before you’re ready to pack, go through your house, top to bottom. This way, you will eliminate the unnecessary packing of items you’ll just throw away later. The best tip we can give you about this step is not to put it off. The longer you procrastinate decluttering, the more likely you will get stressed.

To start your decluttering mission, take an inventory of the things coming with you, things that may come, and things that can be donated or trashed. Decluttering is an important pre-move step because it allows you to keep track of your items efficiently, use less space in the moving truck, and minimize unloading time. Review our list below for a better understanding of how to handle decluttering.

Step 1: Survey each room.

Start with the room and items you spend the least time in/using. Be sure to look in each room, moving systematically through the house to build a comprehensive inventory list.

Step 2: Decide what to keep.

Toss the obvious, and after that, streamline what you’ll be keeping by answering the following questions:

• Will it fit in the new home?
• Where in the house will it go?
• Have I used it in the past year?
• Do I have more than one?
• Is it difficult or expensive to move?
• Is it in good condition?
• Does it work?
• Does it need to be repaired?
• Does it fit properly (clothes, shoes, accessories)?
• Is it on-trend or making a comeback?

Step 3: Donate or ditch.

Start separating your items into two categories: donate or toss. To determine which is which, ask yourself, “Does it have any value left that another person can use?” “Can it be easily repaired, or is it falling apart?” “Is it damaged enough that it can’t fulfill its purpose?” “Are there any parts missing?”

How to Manage Stress and Stay Organized

After you’ve made a significant dent in the decluttering process, start thinking about ways to manage your stress and keep organized. We recommend creating a list of needed packing supplies and figuring out your moving budget. How much is too much to spend? What services are included in the total price of your mover? Valuable tools to help you determine this are budget templates. When planning your budget, take into account:

• Moving distance
• Home size and packing materials
• Moving insurance
• Storage costs

As moving day inches closer, confirm details with your mover, like the start time, addresses, and the date. Double-check that you’ve updated your information with the Post Office, DMV, the bank, subscriptions, and any other service you use. This way, you can avoid any confusion or missed notifications. Also, remember to schedule your utilities to be shut off at your old house and turned on at the new place.

Keeping Children and Pets Safe

Moving can be chaotic, especially when you have children and pets. So, how can you keep them relaxed and safe throughout the move? We’ve got a few tips that can help.

• Prep them in advance—Discuss the move early, explaining why it is happening and what they can expect. Make sure they have as much information as possible so they feel secure.
• Involve them in the process– This can help them feel in control and optimistic. Ask them to help pack their room and pick out decor for their new room.
• Visit the new neighborhood—If you can, take them to your new area before moving day so they can familiarize themselves with it.
• Keep your usual routine—It is essential to maintain as much normalcy as possible. For stability, stay consistent with bedtime, meal times, and other daily activities.
• Pack a special bag—On moving day, Pack a bag with all their favorites. This will keep them entertained and help them feel more at ease.
• Provide pets with a safe space– Keep them in a quiet space away from the commotion, whether in a separate room or with a sitter.
• Make transportation arrangements—Talk with your vet about travel plans for a long-distance move. They can obtain the necessary travel documents and provide medications to ensure your pet is comfortable and has a smooth journey.
• Keep comforts on hand—To help your furry friend calm down, provide them with familiar items like their bed or favorite toy.

Top Packing and Unpacking Strategies

Before packing, make a realistic timeline. For example, try to pack two boxes per day and figure out how long it’ll take you to pack the entire house at that rate. Be sure to also gather essential moving materials like:

• Multi-sized boxes
• Packing paper
• Colored tape
• Bubble wrap
• Pens/markers
• Labels and stickers
• Scissors
• Furniture pads
• Moving blankets
• Mattress bags
• Box cutter

When packing, you want to save as much space as possible. One of the best ways to do that is to use the nesting technique. Put smaller items inside larger objects in a box, and keep doing that until halfway full. Then, place lighter items on top to fill the remaining space. Place the most important items in one box and label them “urgent to unpack.”

Make sure you surround your breakables with plenty of cushions to protect them. We also recommend wrapping them in clothing; that way, you can pack your closet and keep fragile items safe. Always pack with sturdy boxes to keep them from collapsing mid-move. Use dividers and packing peanuts to ensure your items are secure and to reduce the chance of items shifting during transport.

Some items are more complicated to pack than others. These are called specialized items and include electronics, clothing, and kitchenware.

The methods for packing such items are as follows:

• Electronics—If you’ve kept an electronic, use its original packaging. Use plenty of bubble wrap, fill gaps where they are, label cords and accessories in a plastic bag, and securely tape the boxes shut.
• Clothing—Vacuum-sealed bags are a popular method that minimizes space and protects from dust. Sort your clothes into categories and pack them together to stay organized. Use hangers and wardrobe boxes to reduce wrinkles, and label each box clearly.
• Kitchenware– Line the bottom of the box with paper to cushion your items. Stack plates horizontally by fours, bowls by two, and cups individually. Again, scrunch the paper and place it between the items as a barrier. Lay cutlery across the top of everything in groups of 4–6.

Easy Unpacking

Color code moving boxes to make things easy when it’s time to unpack. Write down your system so you remember what color belongs to the room. Then, label them with numbers, the room name, and the contents. The ideal plan of attack for unpacking your new home should be as close to the following as possible:

1. Sort the boxes and place them in the correct room
2. Clean and make repairs before you unpack
3. Create a floor plan for each room
4. Unpack the essentials first
5. Anticipate needs and set up your furniture  (i.e., installing closet shelving)
6. Unpack on a deadline (i.e., ten boxes daily, two rooms daily, etc.)
7. Don’t open everything at once
8. Give yourself rewards in between tasks to motivate yourself
9. Throw out moving materials or pack them away
10. Decorate last to avoid distractions

What to Avoid

There are a lot of moving parts in the moving process. We get that. But when you start rushing, that’s when mistakes happen. Over the years, we’ve seen countless clients stress over small mistakes, making things more difficult for themselves than needed. Packing mistakes are common, but you won’t make them if you take note of what to avoid:

• Improper labeling. Wait to label boxes until after you’ve packed them so it’s correct.
• Procrastination. Packing takes a while. The sooner you start, the better you can avoid rushing.
• Packing heavy. Overfilled boxes become unstable, hard to stack, are prone to breakage, and can cause injuries.
• Improper wrapping. Wrap fragile items in bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or packing paper, and double-tape the bottom of the box.
• Unplanned packing. Stay organized by making a list of essentials to set aside and which rooms still need to be packed.
• Old boxes. New boxes will stay intact. We save money, but old boxes will crumble and may not be designed for moving.
• Not measuring. Always take measurements to ensure items fit through doorways, staircases, and entrances.
• Packing tools. Be sure to leave tools where you can easily access them to take apart and reassemble things.
• Not expecting the unexpected. Pack items with extra protection and secure them in containers as best you can—you can’t foresee every possible delay.

Choose Maffucci for All Your Relocation Needs

You don’t need to go through the chaos of moving alone. Maffucci Moving & Storage is standing by, ready to jump into action and help you through the process. Our full-service company will help you handle decluttering, home staging, packing and unpacking, and storage concerns. For over 100 years, we’ve provided the Northeast with a positive moving experience that can’t be matched

Contact Maffucci Moving & Storage for a complimentary moving quote. Whether you are in the early planning stages or prepared to move, our team offers personalized guidance and support to make your relocation as cost-effective as possible.