Moving to a new home is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. There are many tasks to juggle and important things to attend to prior to moving day as well as the day of the big move. The key to a successful move is organization.

But how can you keep you and your family organized throughout the moving process? It doesn’t take a professional organizer to pull off a well-coordinated move, but it will take a bit of planning on your part. By creating a moving plan and sticking to it, you can help keep sanity during the moving-related chaos. Read on for organizational tips for before, during and after your move:

Create a floor plan.
Once your offer has been accepted on your new home, it’s time to start planning your move. Start by drawing up a floor plan or obtaining the blueprint from the seller if possible. With the drawing as your guide, you’ll be able to envision your life and your furniture in your new home. Since you’ll have the measurements of the rooms and your belongings, you can easily determine what items will make the move and which ones will be donated. A detailed floor plan will also be helpful on moving day as you’ll be able to direct the movers where to place your belongings.

Write an inventory list.
If you create only one list during your moving adventure, make sure it’s a moving inventory sheet. This sheet will be indispensable in sorting out your possessions and will help you track them throughout your move. (Bonus: your inventory also serves as a packing list.) If you choose to hire professional movers, your list will help you estimate moving costs as their prices are based on total items and total weight.

Sort your stuff.
Moving to a new home is a great time to go through your belongings and get rid of items you no longer need. To make the sorting process easier, designate an area of your home for each purpose. This will reduce the chances of putting an item in the wrong area and make the whole process a bit less chaotic. For example, have an area for each of the following: items to sell, items to donate, fragile or non-allowable items to be moved by you (and not by moving truck), pre-packed boxes, and day-of moving essentials

Devise a packing schedule.
Now that you know what to pack (thanks to the inventory list), prioritize your packing so any essential or often-used items are packed last. To make this arduous chore less overwhelming, break up the major packing tasks to easier track your progress and help maintain your sanity. Additionally, logically group your items in a way that makes sense to you (i.e. by destination room). It’s also helpful to have a completion date for each task to keep you on schedule.

Label or code your boxes.
The more detailed your labeling or coding process is, the easier it will be to keep your belongings organized during and after the move. Assign one color or letter for each room, marking all boxes for each room accordingly. Be to make the markings distinct enough so they can be quickly and easily seen.  When it comes time to unpack, all your items will be in their proper location.

Pack a day-of essentials box.
Moving is stressful enough, you don’t want to be with those day-to-day essentials. Your box should include items to prepare a quick and easy meal, toiletries, change of clothes, and anything else to help you survive for a few days as you start to unpack.

Organize your personal documents.
Collecting all necessary paperwork and keeping in one place (such as your day-of essentials box) will help with the transition during and after your move. Important paperwork and documents include but are not limited to medical records, school records (if applicable), financial records, moving-related paperwork, and utility records. It’s also a good idea to have a list, both saved in your phone and handwritten, of any phone numbers and addresses you’ll need to access while moving including your moving company, emergency contacts, and auto services.

Stay focused.
If you stick to your well-coordinated plan, your move should go smoothly and be without any issues. Avoid distractions and procrastination and keep your concentration and motivation high to complete the process on-time. Then give yourself a pat on the back – moving is not an easy feat or for the faint of heart – and get ready to enjoy your new home.

Serving Shorewood, Illinois, and the surrounding area, Sandy Majetich-Toth is a professional real estate agent with more than 28 years of hands-on experience. She takes the time to understand your wants and needs, helping you through the entire real estate process to make your move as easy as possible! Contact Sandy Toth for all your real estate needs by calling 815-791-2215 or visiting her website.