If you’ve just purchased a new home in the Twin Cities area, both the fun of looking for a new place and the general stress that coincides with the home buying process is now finally behind you, meaning it’s officially time to start focusing your attention on your upcoming move. 

Simply put, packing isn’t fun, and in many ways, moving from one home to another is often just as stressful as trying to find that perfect new place to call home. But as long as you keep things simple and follow some pretty basic principles when it comes to packing up your belongings, you’ll be all settled into your new place in no time. So to help you get started on the right foot, here are a few tips and tricks we like to follow when facing the daunting task of moving from one place to another: 

• Don’t be afraid to throw items away

Over the years, we accumulate all sorts of household items in our Anoka homes—lots and lots of household items, in fact. It’s no coincidence that the longer you live somewhere, the more packed your closets become. So while you’re getting a fresh start, don’t be afraid to pitch things you don’t use. And the more you throw away, the less you’ll have to pack, so it’s a win-win! 

• Pack items up by category 

While packing everything up in categories won’t exactly save you time during the actual packing process, it should help keep you organized and likely save time during the unpacking process. So whether you pack up your things by room or by item, have a system in place and follow it as best you can. 

• Setup up a moving calendar and/or schedule 

Depending on how big your home or Minnesota condo is, packing everything up can be pretty time consuming, which is why it’s not a bad idea to setup a schedule. There’s no need to feel overwhelmed, and if you break up all the tasks associated with moving and have a day-by-day schedule, the process won’t be nearly as painful. 

• Get all your packing supplies in order BEFORE you start packing 

There’s nothing more frustrating than finally getting the motivation to start packing, only to realize you’re out of tape, packing peanuts, and other crucial moving supplies. So take inventory and make sure you’re all set to begin packing before you actually start packing.