Moving in Bergen County? 5 Tips to Stay Organized

Moving into a new home can be exciting, but the packing, decision-making and logistics that come with it can quickly become overwhelming.

As a professional organizer in Bergen County, I’ve helped many clients prepare for a move, pack their homes, and then unpack and organize everything once they arrive. One thing I see again and again is that getting organized before a move can make the entire process easier.

Moving is also the perfect opportunity to decide what you really want and need in your new home. Instead of packing everything you own and figuring it out later, take some time to edit your belongings before the first box is packed.

If you’re moving soon, here are five professional organizing tips to help make packing, moving and unpacking easier.

1. Edit Before You Pack

This is one of the most important pieces of advice I give clients who are preparing for a move: don’t pack what you don’t need. Depending on how long you’ve lived in your home, you may have years' worth of belongings to go through. Give yourself enough time before moving day to decide what you want to keep, donate, sell or let go of.

Editing your belongings before you move takes some extra time upfront, but it means fewer boxes to pack, fewer things for your movers to move and less to unpack in your new home. There’s no reason to pay to move things you already know you don’t want.

If you're not sure where to take items you no longer need, our Bergen County donation and removal resources can help you find local options for furniture, clothing, household goods, electronics and more.

2. Use Good-Quality Packing Materials

After packing more boxes than I could ever count, I can tell you that having the right packing supplies makes a difference. You don't necessarily need the most expensive supplies, but you do want sturdy moving boxes, good-quality packing tape and the right materials to protect fragile items. Moving is stressful enough.

The last thing you need is tape that won’t stick or the bottom of a box giving out while someone is carrying it. Having the right packing materials from the beginning can save you time and frustration—and help protect your belongings throughout the move.

3. Label Your Moving Boxes Clearly

Of course, as a professional organizer, I love a good label. But when you’re packing for a move, labels aren't just about being organized. They can make the unpacking process much easier. Instead of simply labeling a box “Kitchen,” add a little more detail. “Kitchen – Baking” or “Kitchen – Everyday Dishes” tells you much more about what’s inside without having to open the box.

At a minimum, clearly label every moving box with the room where it belongs. Make sure anything fragile or especially heavy is clearly marked as well.

It's really simple: when the movers bring a box into your new home, everyone should know exactly where it goes.

4. Take Pictures and Keep Track of What You Pack

There are a lot of moving pieces during a move, and it’s nearly impossible to remember every detail. Consider numbering your boxes and keeping an inventory, particularly for items you may need to find quickly after moving.

Your phone can actually be one of your best organizing tools during the moving process. Before disconnecting electronics, take pictures of how everything is connected. When you’re trying to reconnect your TV, computer or sound system in your new home, you’ll be glad you did.

5. Think About Unpacking Before Moving Day

Most people spend so much time thinking about packing and moving day that they don’t think about what happens afterward. Then the movers leave and you’re standing in your new home surrounded by boxes.

This is where professional unpacking and organizing services can make an enormous difference. A professional organizer can help you unpack, determine where things should live and create functional, practical organizing systems that are easy to maintain. Instead of spending weeks or even months living out of boxes, your kitchen, closets, bedrooms and other spaces can be thoughtfully set up from the beginning.

Moving Doesn't Have to Feel So Overwhelming

Even the most organized move probably won't go exactly according to plan. Something may take longer than expected, or you may change your mind about where things should go once you're in the new space. That's okay.

Planning ahead, editing before you pack and having a system for packing and labeling can make moving much more manageable. And remember; you don't have to do everything yourself.

Organize With Lisa provides professional moving organization, packing, unpacking and move management services throughout Bergen and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey, as well as Rockland County, New York. 

We can help with the process before, during and after your move; from deciding what's coming with you to packing your belongings to unpacking and setting up your new home.

Our goal is to take as much as possible off your plate so you can spend less time worrying about boxes and more time getting settled into your new space.

Organize With Lisa provides hands-on move management services in Bergen County, NJ (as well as Passaic County, Westchester, and Rockland!) from decluttering and packing to coordinating with trusted movers, unpacking, and setting up your new home.

Planning a move? Schedule a 30-minute consultation and let's talk about how we can help.