Phase 1: Getting ready for the big move

On average, it can take a minimum of four weeks to complete a seamless move – in that time, there is a lot of planning, research, shopping, packing, and organizing involved. Wherever a client is moving from or moving to, there are a lot of steps involved to make sure the process is successful and efficient.

Calm Order was recently contacted by a client in another city who is preparing to move to Calgary. When a client doesn’t live in Calgary, we need to get creative in order to understand the scope of the project because we can’t just go over to the property to look around. For this project, we connected with the client over FaceTime, and got them to show us around their home. We had the client show us every place in their home, from kitchen cupboards to closets and drawers, so we could get a complete picture of what their space was like, how they were using it, and what items and belongings we had to work with.

 During the “walk-through” over video call, we could see that there were a lot of items stored around the house, and not necessarily in an organized or practical way. For example, there were light bulbs stored in four different places around the home, piles of paperwork and mail left out on the kitchen counter, and miscellaneous items scattered throughout each room of the house. At this point, we were able to step forward to the planning process, so we could devise a way to create order for their upcoming move and new home.

 Moving is as much about the planning as it is about the actual move – at this point all we had done was seen their current home, but this was an important step so we could begin the process of getting their belongings sorted, organized, and ready to move to a new city and a new home. The process of going through your belongings and seeing how you use your space is important to understand before you move them into a new space.

How was your experience in preparing for a move? Share your stories and photos with us in the comments or on our Facebook page.

10 Ways to Get Unpacked to Organized

Moving into a new home? Get your new home unpacked to a completely organized state by following these tips:

1.     Plan It Out

Before you even pack, it’s important to think about how you’re going to unpack. All items should be sorted by room and packed into labelled boxes. When they’re packed into a vehicle or moving van, make sure each room’s boxes are packed together and stay together. This way, when you get to your new home, all boxes go to the proper room and don’t get mixed in with other items or end up in the wrong place.

2.     Room by Room

Unpacking each room at a time will help keep you focused and prevent you from getting overwhelmed and stressed about the process. This way, you can dedicate your attention to one space and make sure it is completely set-up before you move on to the next. No more half un-packed boxes scattered throughout the house – by unpacking one room at a time you can take the time to make sure your house is unpacked and in order.

3.     Prioritize What is Important

When you’re deciding on what rooms to begin with, start with the places that are more important like the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen. You’ll need a place to sleep, a place to get ready and place to make food and drinks. Other areas like the office and living room aren’t as urgent and can wait until later in the day or the next if you don’t have time.

4.     More Hands are Better Than Two

Always remember that you don’t have to do this alone and having more people to help will make the process go much faster. Have everyone take on a different room and explain the plan of what needs to be unpacked and where. This way, you can get your home unpacked to organized more efficiently!

5.      You’re Only as Good as Your Accessories

When you’re unpacking, it’s important to take advantage of organizing accessories to make sure your house is set up right. In the kitchen, use drawer inserts to keep utensils from getting cluttered. Shelving inserts can maximize space and keep your plates, bowls, and kitchen items in order. Shoe racks and closet organizers can make sure your shoes and clothes stay organized and are easy to find.

6.     A Place for Everything…

Make sure every item you move has a place in your new home. By establishing a place for everything right from the beginning, you can help keep your place maintained and organized for the long-term.

7.     …Everything in Its Place

Don’t leave any boxes unpacked! All of your boxes and items should be unpacked and put in their place.

8.     Sort Like by Like

When you’re putting items away in your cupboards and closets, make sure similar items are sorted with similar items. For example, keep all towels and hand towels together in your linen closet, and keep extra bedding together in another. This way you’ll always be able to find everything you need because they’ll be together in one place.

9.     Colour Coordinate

Using a visual tool like colour to organize clothes and other items can make it more efficient and easy to find the items you need. Having a colour coordinated closet can help you decide on your outfit for the day, and help you get to a productive start.

10.  Organize with Style

An organized home can also be a stylish one. Unpack your crystal, silverware and other valuables and use them to add decoration, creativity and style to your kitchen, china cabinets or living area. No need to keep them buried in a box! Keep them tidy and organized and remember that a little goes a long way. While these pieces can add a style, just be careful that don’t create clutter.

Why hire a Professional Organizer for your move?

Moving is more than just unpacking boxes in a new home, and a professional organizer can do more than just coordinate your move. Professional organizers are there for every step of the process – from when the first box gets packed to when the last one gets unpacked and all the other activities that take place in between.

When you work with a professional organizer, you can continue to live your life without the added stress of picking up boxes or packing up all your clothing. Instead, enjoy the summer, keep up with work, and spend time with your family. Moving doesn’t have to add any stress or time to your already busy life.

 Before the actual move even takes place, a professional organizer can work with you to start the packing process, and help you declutter your belongings so you’re only moving what you actually need and want. Packing isn’t just a variety of items being stashed in one container or another. Instead, items are strategically packed, organized and categorized based on your new home to make for an efficient unpacking experience.

Not sure what movers or house cleaners to hire? Or where you can rent a storage locker for temporary storage? Professional organizers work with a trusted network of vendors that can make sure your move is done right. From making sure your valuables are packed and moved safely, to making sure your entertainment systems are installed and working perfectly, professional organizers know who can get the job done right the first time.

Moving from one space to another doesn’t mean that your current belongings and furniture will seamlessly transition to your new space, especially if you’re downsizing. Professional organizers can help with this transition planning by using space and process mapping to move your belongings from your current storage system to a new and improved one. This includes identifying where furniture will be placed to best fit the new space. 

If you’re planning to renovate or moving into a newly built house, your professional organizer can work with your builder or designer to make sure that your new home has the proper storage and organization for your belongings and lifestyle. This way, you can make sure your new home is setup the right way from the start.

The most stressful day of all, move-in day, can be the most relaxing day of the whole process. Using a personalized plan based on your needs, a professional organizing team will have everything needed to ensure unpacking goes smoothly in your new home. At the end of the day, relax to a completely unpacked home with everything in its place and no box left unpacked. 

Moving is a complex process but a professional organizer has all the tools and resources you need to make the process as easy as possible. Moving into a new home should be an exciting day, not a stressful one. When you work with a professional organizer, you can be assured that you’ll come home at the end of the day to a brand-new home that is already fitted with all your belongings and furniture, ready for you to enjoy.