Moving back into your home after it has undergone substantial remodeling can be as physically and mentally demanding as relocating to a new one.

The entire process can be highly stressful because several things are happening at once and in different stages (packing things, cleaning the house, moving to a temporary home, adjusting to a different routine, moving back in, getting settled).

What’s more, people find themselves under significant pressure to restore order to their lives and get back to their regular routines as quickly as possible.

If you are now in the stage of moving back into your newly remodeled house, having a meticulous and strategic plan is crucial.

According to AFRA (Australian Furniture Removers Association) and accredited removalists on the Gold Coast, you need to take special care during the unpacking process because this can help set the right tone for your family’s new beginning in a freshly remodeled or repaired house.

To make unpacking an efficient and organized process, here are seven smart tips for you to follow.

1.     Prepare a checklist of everything you need to do, in order

Preparing a checklist is key to an organized process. This will ensure that you are not missing anything and you have covered everything that you set out to do.

2.     Pack things and label their boxes by room.

When you pack, it’s crucial to use the right packing materials; Gold Coast removalists stand by this time-tested tip. The appropriate materials ensure that all the items to be moved are properly protected. Also, if you buy good quality packing materials, you’ll find that they are easier to put away once you start unpacking, and can even be reused for other purposes.

Unpacking will automatically become easier if everything is clearly labeled because you will unpack the items only in the places where they will be stored. You won’t become frustrated from unpacking all the contents of a box in one room and realizing that it should have been brought into another room.

3.     Prepare labels for the rooms.

Aside from labeling the boxes, labeling the rooms can also make the unpacking and moving-in process smoother for all parties involved.

Match the labels for the rooms to the labels you’ve placed on the boxes so the removal team won’t have a hard time finding the correct “drop off” points in the house for certain boxes. This can help them become more efficient at their job as well.

4.     Make cleaning the first thing you do when you arrive.

Tidying up first will streamline the unpacking task. Once the house is clean, there’s nothing to distract you from immediately and continuously unpacking and moving belongings to where they need to go.

5.     Set up all the big items first.

This pertains to the beds, the living room couch, chests of drawers, cubby house, a piano (if you have one), the washing machine and dryer, the refrigerator, and other bulky possessions.

It’s best to set these down right where they need to be while the house is still somewhat free of clutter and you still have the removalists with you. You want clear walkways and rooms as you move these large items around.

Once you have all of the bulky furniture and equipment where they need to be, the smaller belongings inside cartons, like clothes, lamps and books, can easily be moved directly from the boxes and into their rightful storage space.

6.     Get all the essentials out.

These are the things that you and your family will need to use right away such as bed linen, blankets, pillows, bath products and towels (for the bedrooms), plus plates, glasses, utensils and the like (for the kitchen).

Take all these items out, put them in order, and you’ll instantly feel a sense of being settled into your new home.

7.     Unpack by room.

Follow this order:

• Kitchen – Once the kitchen is organized and you can go about preparing food, you’ll feel less inclined to dine out or have food delivered for the day.
• Bedrooms – You’ll gain peace of mind when you know that you have a comfortable place to sleep at the end of the moving day.
• Bathrooms – Unpacking for these rooms doesn’t take long, and it’s nice to know that all the personal hygiene products are there so you can use them throughout the day.
• Living room – You may not be entertaining visitors anytime soon after moving back in, so this can be attended to last, along with the other smaller rooms in your house.

Unpacking and settling back into your newly remodeled home is a huge task, but when you take the time to plan the process carefully, you can tackle it more effectively. In no time, you’ll slip into a comfortable routine (especially with the great improvements made to your home), and you’ll have more free time to just sit back and truly enjoy your beautiful new space.

AUTHOR BIO

John Pfeiffer has been the proud owner of Ashtons Removals for over 40 years. His attention to detail, a product of his accountancy background, and his emphasis on training and empowering his team members, has ensured the vast number of Gold Coast families who have been moved by Ashtons Removals, have had their furniture and effects moved undamaged and with minimum fuss.