Moving is one of the top 3 most stressful things anyone can do in their life.  Thankfully when you move into your new Camden apartment home, our amazing teams try and help make the transition as easy as possible. We have our online portal for rent payments, checklists of items to take care of prior to move-in day, and thoughtful welcome gifts with move-in day essentials! In my recent move from Austin, Texas all the way to LA, I found the following tips to be essential to a stress-free packing experience:

1. Sell items you no longer want or needMoving is the perfect time to get rid of things you no longer use or want! When cleaning out your closet, a good rule of thumb is if you have not worn in within the past year, get rid of it! As for furniture or larger items you can evaluate if they still bring you joy and if they will fit in your new space! Also, check out re-sell apps such as OfferUp or Poshmark to sell your gently used items or you can always donate your items to a local Goodwill.

2. Buy 2 or 3 times more boxes than you think you needSave yourself the time from running back and forth between your home and Home Depot and buy more boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, etc. than you think you need. Trust me – you’ll use it! Most places will allow you to return items you did not end up using, so even if you buy too much you can always take back when you do not use it.

3. Pack in sectionsLiving in the space you are trying to pack can be tricky. Pack the items you do not use often or need first. This could be books, DVDs, or off-season clothing. Whatever you won’t need to access during your move. This will also help give you satisfaction to make progress along the way!

4. Label in detailIf you take anything from this blog – this is it! Label everything in detail! Try to be as specific as possible so that when you begin to unpack you know what goes where. An example would be:Bedroom: Sheets & linens & purple vaseThis way you know the easiest strategy to unpack once you are in your new place.

5. Pack a travel bagMost moves cannot be done the same day, and having a travel bag with shampoo, pajamas, etc. is very handy! Even if you are moving within the same city, this bag is smart that way you don’t have to go digging for the box where you packed your toothbrush!

Hopefully, with these five tips, your next move will be a breeze!  Wherever your move is taking you, Camden is there!  We are located all over the country, so check out your options, you can save money on application fees when transferring from one Camden to the next!