1) Plan a proper goodbye to your friends and neighbors. Chances are you've spent a few years in this place and you have emotional ties you don't even realize; a proper goodbye will give you the closure you need to make a clean break. This can be as simple as an informal open house where you can exchange email addresses with close friends in your community. Make sure you visit some of your old haunts one last time, just for the memories.
2) Every family member should pack a box of essential items that can be easily accessed to help them settle in. For the kids, maybe it's that comfy pair of pajamas and their favorite teddy bear; or the coffee pot for mom. It's those types of articles that create a sense of familiarity in an unfamiliar place.
3) Unpack gradually, but prioritize according to bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, and other well used areas. The kid's room(s) should be a main concern, it's important to get them set up and comfortable as soon as possible.
4) Give the children a sense of ownership in this new home by allowing them to help plan their new rooms. Have fun shopping (budget allowing), for new furnishings or decorations.
5) Check out the new neighborhood by taking lots of walks and drives. Make it an adventure to discover new parks, restaurants and fun places to go.
6) Pets need to settle in too! It's not always the best idea to give Fido immediate free rein of the house. Especially cats do better when confined to one room, with frequent visits from family members. When we first moved in to our new home, one of our cats discovered an open door into the depths of the house - she disappeared for 3 days. Don't let this happen to you.
7) Especially right after a move, it's important to feel some sense of familiarity; so it helps to stay in touch with your old friends. You may want to purchase a long distance rate plan for those lengthy late night calls. At the same time, start meeting people in your new community; you may have to take the initiative by introducing yourself and the children to the neighbors.
8) Try joining a club, a church, an organization, a newcomers group, or participate in volunteer work. Your local web site, paper or phone directory is usually a great place to start for ideas. Check out your local schools for any courses that may be of interest. You're starting a whole new life, now is the time to try something totally different.
9) Learn about your new community and become part of it. Make certain you subscribe to the local paper and support the different sponsored events in your town as well as neighboring communities.
10) If you have any old friends or relatives in the area, now is the time to contact them and say "remember me?" You'll be surprised at the new friends you'll make just from catching up with old contacts. They have friends, and their friends have friends, etc.
It can be difficult to feel part of something after a big move, especially if you've relocated to a new city, or state, but how well you adapt, depends on your state of mind. If you consider this change an adventure, a chance to meet new people, try new activities, then you will thrive in your new environment. At the same time, it's important to give yourself time to adjust to your surroundings, be patient and move ahead at your own speed, and you will find your niche and maybe discover a whole new lifestyle.
Here are some of our packing tips when it comes to packing for a move effectively and efficiently.
Packing Tip 1 - Start early
It is important not to leave packing until the last minute. Facing a lot of items that all need to be cleaned, organized and packed in a short amount of time makes moving more stressful and overwhelming than it has to be.
Packing Tip 2 - Stay Organized
Keep a marker out to label boxes with the items they contain, the rooms they need to be moved to and whether or not they are fragile. This makes unpacking once the move is finished much easier. Don't tape the boxes closed until the last possible moment. Leaving them open allows you to add to the boxes if you've forgotten something, as well as take items out that you didn't realize you would need to use again before the move.
Packing Tip 3 - Get the right materials
Before you start packing for a big move, choosing the right materials is important. Make sure you have cardboard packing boxes that vary in size. Use smaller boxes to pack heavier objects, like books, and large boxes to pack lighter items, like pillows and clothing. For heavier boxes, it is a good idea to double up on packing tape to support the bottom of the box.
Keep markers to label your boxes, bubble wrap and newspaper for packing fragile items and packing tape to close the boxes before the move.
Packing Tip 4 - Follow a Timeline
Budget your time thoughtfully and start packing the things you don't use often first, that way you aren't faced with packing away items you might end up needing before you move.
Start with things like pictures, knick knacks and collectibles that you don't use on a regular basis. Follow that with out-of-season items like clothing, holiday decorations, camping equipment and serving dishes and utensils.
Packing tip 5 - Electronics
If it is possible, pack electronics in their original boxes before putting them all into one larger box. If you don't have the original boxes, use packing wrap or newspaper to pad the item before placing it in the box. When packing electronics into boxes, place heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on top. Make sure each box weighs no more than 50 lbs.
Before you pack away DVD and CD players, remember to take out any discs that may be inside to avoid them being scratched during the move. For electronics such as computers, label each wire and plug in with a piece of tape to make it easier for setting everything up again when you are ready to unpack.
Packing tip 6 - China, silverware and stemware
The most important packing rule for fragile items is to use as much protective wrapping as you see fit. Layer the bottom of each moving box with newspaper or bubble wrap, wrap each item separately and finish by filling the top of the box with newspaper for a tight fit. Just like with electronics, when packing dishes and serving items, put heavy items on the bottom and lighter ones on top.
Packing for a big move can be stressful and overwhelming, but if you follow our tips, your next move can be completed efficiently with less stress. You can also have you items professionally packed by using a storage and moving company. That will give you peace of mind that your most important possessions will be handled with care and brought to your new place safely.
Both Keith Lutz & Larry Reaves are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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