4 Labeling Tricks That Will Help Keep Everything In Order For Your Next Move
Relocating all of your possessions to a new home can be an extremely daunting task. Moving comes with lots of work, planning, and, yes, stress. However, one way to stay organized and (hopefully) keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed is by labeling the many boxes you'll be using to relocate your things.
According to Walsh Moving & Storage, labeling your boxes will come with three huge benefits: It will make it easier to find the items you need, help you know which items are fragile, and make unpacking faster and easier since you'll know exactly where each package needs to go.
To help you label your belongings like a pro, we've gathered four of the best tips out there. The first? According to Unpakt, you should write labels on all sides of your boxes instead of just on top. This will allow you to see where boxes need to go even when they're stacked on top of each other. Below, you'll find three other labeling tricks to make sure your next move is a breeze.
Number each moving box
The first thing you should do is number each box. According to Apple Moving, this will allow you to easily see if one is missing, which may be especially helpful if you choose to hire a moving company. Sometimes, homeowners don't discover they're missing valuables until they actually begin unpacking, which may be days or even weeks after they move. Thus, numbering your belongings is a powerful tool for staying organized.
Additionally, this tip will make knowing what's inside each package a whole lot easier, as you can write down a package's contents with its corresponding number in a notepad or spreadsheet. Having a numbered list of all your items will make unpacking faster, as you'll be able to find exactly what you need without digging through every box. And, per Unpakt, using a number system will save you from having to write a list of a container's contents on the actual container.
To further streamline your move, Rent suggests numbering your boxes in a logical order when packing room by room. For instance, you don't want boxes numbered "1" and "21" to both belong in the kitchen. Instead, create a system where boxes 1 through 9 are for kitchen goods, 10 through 20 belong in the bedroom, and so on.
Color coordinate moving boxes
If numbers aren't quite your thing, you can also color coordinate your packages according to the room. For instance, blue can be for the bathroom and red can be for your kitchen. This can be done either with colored tape or markers, according to Apple Moving. Per Rent, be sure to place the colored marking in the same spot on each box so that they're easy for you to locate. Also, you may want to stick a colored index card outside of each room to help you and others know which boxes go where.
Even if you'd rather write the name of a room on each container that's being moved, you can still use the color system to assign a priority to each one, per Walsh Moving & Storage. For instance, you can place green stickers on boxes that need to be opened right away, yellow stickers on packages that can wait until later in the week, and red stickers on things that you won't need for months.
Prioritize important boxes
Finally, it's always a good idea to include a priority on each box. As stated above, this can easily be done with a color-coded system. Or you can use another system, such as different letters like "H" for high, "M" for medium, and "L" for low. Things like work clothes, bathroom essentials, and cookware will be needed right away and should have a higher-priority, while your Christmas ornaments can be stored until December.
According to Easy Movers, prioritizing your boxes will also greatly help when unpacking, as you'll know exactly which boxes need to be opened first. This can really help you keep your home from falling into chaos, which will probably happen if you have to open every box in order to find a specific item. Additionally, your highest-priority items can be packed last in the moving truck. This is because, as A1 Freeman Moving Group points out, boxes that are packed last will be brought out first, and essential items like toiletries may be needed before the moving truck is even emptied.