Moving can be a rather overwhelming experience in your life: 

• finding a new home
• signing the lease
• closing the sale
• to packing up your entire life
• and more

It can feel like an endless list of to-dos. One factor that can make quite a difference regarding your stress levels when moving is when to start packing. 

• Is it too early to start packing up your belongings?
• Is it better to wait until the last minute? 

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.

Factors to Consider Before Deciding When to Start Packing

Before you start packing, there are several factors you should consider. These factors will help you determine the best time to start packing and ensure that the process is as smooth as possible.

Firstly, consider the amount of your belongings. After all, the more possessions you have, the longer it will take to pack. If you have a large home, it may take several weeks or even months to pack everything up. On the other hand, if you have a small apartment, you may be able to pack everything up in just a few days.

Secondly, think about how far you’re moving. If you’re moving across the country, you’ll need to start packing earlier than if you’re just moving across town. A long-distance move requires more planning and preparation, and you’ll need to make sure that everything is packed securely to prevent damage during transit.

Lastly, consider your schedule. If you have a busy schedule, you may need to start packing earlier than if you have a more flexible schedule. Starting early will give you more time to pack at your own pace without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

How Soon Should You Start Packing for a Move?

In general, it’s a good idea to start packing as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the less stressed you’ll be as your move date approaches. Ideally, you should start packing at least six weeks before your move date, or even earlier if you have a large home or are moving long-distance.

Starting early will also give you time to sort through your belongings and decide what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of. This is an important step in the packing process, as it can help you reduce the amount of stuff you need to pack and ultimately save you time and money.

Benefits of Starting Early

There are several benefits to starting your packing early. First and foremost, starting early will give you more time to pack everything up, which will help you avoid feeling rushed or overwhelmed as your move date approaches.

Starting early will also give you time to sort through your belongings and decide what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of. This can be a time-consuming process, but it’s an important step in the packing process. By getting rid of items you no longer need or want, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of stuff you need to pack and ultimately save time and money.

The task of sorting out the things you do not longer need is, by definition, something you can start at any time. 

Another benefit of starting early is that it will give you time to gather packing supplies. You’ll need boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and other materials to pack up your belongings, and starting early will give you time to gather everything you need.

What and when to start packing in advance

Whether you’re starting early or late, packing efficiently and staying organized is key to a successful move. Here are some tips to help you pack in an efficient chronology and stay organized:

1. Decluttering

Sort out the things you don’t want/need anymore and get them out of the way by selling/donating them or safely disposing of them. That decreases the amount of clutter and gives you a better overview of the amount of stuff that eventually needs packing.

2. Off-season clothing and holiday decorations

If you are moving during the hot session, it’s rather unlikely you’ll be needing those warm winter clothes and shoes. Therefore, they can be safely packed away.

The same goes for decorations relating to holidays that lie after your moving date.

3. Knick-knacks and decorative items

Framed pictures, throw pillows, vases, etc., might all be items that give your home its special and unique look. However, it’s likely that you can do without them for a while, especially if that eases your moving stress, right?

4. Books, CDs, DVDs

You can start packing your collection of books, CDs, and DVDs as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. If you want, keep out a few favorites. Otherwise, try to make do with digital versions (ebooks, mp3s, streamed movies, etc.)

5. Kitchen utensils, gadgets, and cookware

Imagine your moving day is four weeks away: Are you really going to use your fondue set or the deep fryer until then? If not, why not pack them? And do you really need all your pots and pans before your move? What about the “good” china and crystal wine glasses? You guessed it: If the answer is “No,” they can be packed away.

The items under 1. and 2. can theoretically be taken care of at almost any time you know the approximate time of your move. The next ones, 3.-5., depend on your own assessment: Once you know the moving date, are you really going to need them until then? You might enjoy having them around and handy for as long as possible, but if you want to make things easier for you, why not pack them in advance?

3-4 weeks before moving

When your move is less than a month away, why not imagine you are going on a long-ish vacation (or rather, staycation)? Which of your belongings would you need during that amount of time? The rest you can pack!

You probably won’t need:

• your whole wardrobe and shoe collection
• the pictures on the walls
• the items in the guest room
• some of the toys in the children’s rooms (though that might take some convincing and negotiating)

Packing and Moving in and around Brevard County

As you can see: Even before the actual move takes place, you can save a lot of time by packing a lot of your belongings in advance. You can start even weeks before your movers arrive. The items you need on a regular basis will be packed away last.

Whether you’re starting early or late, packing efficiently and staying organized is key to a successful move. Remember to

• pack essential items first
• pack non-essential items last
• and label and organize your packed boxes

to make the unpacking process as easy as possible. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to a stress-free and seamless move.

One more thing to take a lot of stress out of the moving process: Hire the right moving company to take care of your possessions. In other words: Contact the Tropic Moving team for a FREE quote!