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Hey, hey! We are back with step 2 of our 5 Step Guide to an Organized Relocation. If you read our first post on this topic, then you already know that preparation is key to creating ease during your relocation experience. Now, we can focus on actually planning out your new space.
When moving, size matters. Why?
It’s important to take into account whether you’ll be downsizing, gaining square footage or transitioning to relatively the same amount of space. Even if your new home is relatively the same size, it’s unlikely that the layout will remain the same. Space planning will help you to effectively declutter, make proper decisions on furniture you may need to sell, donate, or purchase, and make special preparations on move day to make the process easier.
So, let's jump into it!
Plan Your Furniture Design and Layout
When you label a room and give it a purpose, you start to define your home and how it will function. Consider the layout and the functions you need from each room. Also, decide on your visual design choices. For example, in my last home our bedroom TV was parallel to our bed so we would have to turn to the side to watch TV, when we moved into our current home, we made sure to have our bed directly in front of the TV so that we could watch it comfortably.
While you may receive a floorplan that already has designated rooms, not everyone uses these areas for the same purpose so prioritize your family's circumstances. For example, your floor plan may have an area named "Guest Room" but would your family benefit from this room being used as a hobby room and an office.
To truly love your space, you need to create a home that has the look and feel you enjoy, that is functional, and that comfortably fits all your belongings.
Create a 2D Model
A 2D, top-down representation of a space, created to scale, can give you an idea of how a room’s furniture can be laid out. What you need:
A FLOOR PLAN
Have an accurate floor plan. Floor plans are often available from the current homeowner, property manager, rental management office, and online.
FURNITURE INVENTORY
Have a list of all of your furniture, along with their accurate measurements. To make the process easier, you can categorize your furniture room by room.
PRINTABLE OR DIGITAL GRAPH PAPER
You can use a graph to help you represent the square footage of your home. Set how many blocks on the graph paper equal how much physical space in real life. Whatever scale you use, be consistent.
Pro Tip: We suggest starting with living spaces. These are areas where you, your family, and your guests will be spending a majority of the time. Consider everyday activities like cooking, eating, sleeping, and so on.
Measure...and Measure Again
This goes beyond just having the square footage and furniture measurements, we want all the details! That means including locations and sizes of closets, doorways, and windows. This helps you to visualize where you can place your furniture and how its placement can impact day to day functionality, comfortability during gatherings, and even the ease of walking through your home.
The 2D model mentioned earlier will also be helpful during this part of the process. Go beyond just making everything fit, you need to make sure that your space is functional for your family. That also means deciding what furniture you will keep in each room, and if you sell, donate, or even purchase furniture pieces.
What if you're relocating out of the state or out of the country?
Years ago, many of us had to blindly relocate. Thankfully, now we have the gift of the Internet. Most online listings and property management companies have a detailed floor plan and photos available online. Additionally, since the COVID-19 pandemic, many full service real-estate website such as https://www.redfin.com/ have the option for a virtual tour. That means that regardless of your physical location, you should still be able to plan properly.
Pro Tip: Regardless of the size of your space, you can have a refreshing and organized home. How? We were recently featured in a Redfin blog about how to organize and maximize every room in your apartment. Check it out!
Make the Tough Decisions
Okay, it is time to get real. Is your furniture worth moving? Let me explain. Almost every relocation company charges by weight. So, to keep your weight as low as possible, we recommend discarding or donating any items that you no longer want or need.
Additionally, think about the time and effort that you will save by only having to pack up and prepare the items and furniture that you actually want in your new home. These steps will ease your relocation process and make it more cost effective.
Pro Tip: Visualize what you want your new space to look like. Which of your pieces are there? Surely, it's not a cluttered home. If you have unwanted furniture, now is the time to get rid of them. However, if you need new furniture, decide on a theme and style before purchasing, that way all your décor will go together.
This is part two of a guide that I'm confident will ease the stress of your relocation experience. If you’re moving in the next 6 months and you have questions, feel free to contact me and stay tuned for the next part.
Kimberly
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