How to Move into a Temporary Home

It’s not uncommon for an individual or family to move into temporary housing before settling into their permanent residence. There are a number of reasons for this – they sold their current home before finding or closing on another, are moving to a new city and don’t know where they ultimately want to live, or they are renovating their existing home and need to temporarily vacate.

If you’re moving into a temporary home, for whatever reason, it poses some unique considerations apart from a traditional move – particularly finding a place for all your belongings.

Embrace a minimalistic mindset with your belongings

Packing and unpacking for a move just once is a significant undertaking for virtually anyone. There’s no need to do it twice. Just because you’re moving to a temporary home doesn’t mean you need to pack and unpack now and again in another few months. You may need to get all the belongings out of your existing home, but that doesn’t mean everything needs to come and be unpacked at your new home – especially if your temporary housing comes furnished. Start by going through all your rooms to see what needs to come with you, what can be packed and crated for storage, and what can be donated or discarded all together!

Choosing the right storage solution

As you begin to designate items for storage, you’ll want to identify the right storage solutions for everything. In many cities, there is an abundance of storage options – but that doesn’t mean they are all the same. Some have varying security measures, sizes and climate-controlled options. Each of these are important factors to account for, but arguably of the three, climate-controlled storage can make the biggest difference for your belongings. Here are several considerations for determining if you need climate-controlled storage.

• Where you live: Different regions of the country face more extreme weather than others. Intense humidity and/or temperatures, as well as large fluctuations in temperature, can adversely impact delicate items.
• Highly sensitive items: Most household items like kitchenware and furniture can withstand major changes in climate. However, other items like leather, musical instruments, oil paintings, and other belongings that qualify as “museum quality,” may need to be stored in a climate-controlled setting.
• Length of storage: Time is another factor that can dictate whether you should pursue climate-controlled storage solutions. Many items will be fine in a regular storage unit for one or two months; but for longer periods, climate control, proper containers and packaging are critical to preserving your belongings.

Tips for decluttering your home

As you’re going through your home to identify things to bring or put into storage, you’ll likely also find items you simply no longer need. Getting rid of old belongings can save you time, money and effort at all stages of your move. It also can help your eventual home feel less cluttered from day one. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy to know what can be donated or discarded. Here is a simple checklist for each room of your house and items that  are commonly trashed, donated or sold to simplify your move. If you want the detailed version, see our full article on how to declutter your home before a move.

• Kitchen: Toss out all expired, old and unused items. Should you come across non-perishable food that you don’t need, but also don’t want to bring along, consider donating it through Move for Hunger!
• Bathrooms: Similarly, it’s easy to let expired toiletries collect under the bathroom sink. Toss those out and be sure to dispose of expired medications properly by checking the FDA’s guidelines on how to dispose of unused medicines beforehand.
• Bedrooms: Anything that is either damaged, no longer fit or have been sitting in the back of your closet for years.
• Family/living room and playrooms: Broken trinquets,frames and unused decor along with any old tech materials – like your collection of VHS tapes, 
• Linen closet: Towels, dishrags and bedding thinning from years of use, crafts and sewing supplies.
• Home office: Shred old documents and toss or recycle any unused electronics.
• Garage/sheds: Seasonal items like floats, sleds, yard decor, tools, hardware and any other miscellaneous items that live in your garage year-round.

Whatever the reason may be for moving into a temporary home, finding a place for all your belongings is one of the most important steps in the process. Those items you need on a routine basis should come with you, but everything else should either be put into storage or discarded. Make sure you find the right storage options for those you’re keeping and prudently address the unwanted items you’re not. .

If you need help packing, moving or storing your belongings, we’re here to help! Hilldrup offers a variety of moving and storage solutions to meet any individual or family’s needs!

George Roth Author