Four Things To Do With Your Possessions When You Are Between Homes

Selling one home while buying another is tricky. Do you put your old home on the market and sell it before you buy a new home, leaving yourself "homeless" for awhile? Or do you shop and buy a new home, then hope your old home will sell quickly? The timing doesn't always work out the way you want it to, so you might find yourself between homes for awhile. Here are some tips for packing and storing extra items while you are in the waiting zone. 

1. Make a detailed list. Before you pack a box, make a very detailed list of all of the things you own. After you have listed everything, go through and mark which items you will need in your rental and which things can go into storage. 

2. Look into storage options. Your first thought might be to rent a storage unit. These are great because they are inexpensive and easy to access. However, this is not your only option. Did you know that you can also rent storage trailers? A truck will bring a storage trailer to your home, leave it so you can fill it, then will drive it away and store it at a facility. When you are ready to move in, they will drive it to your new home. You won't have to rent a truck, drive everything to a storage unit, unload and organize it, then load it back into a truck when you are ready to move in. It saves you a lot of work.

3. Pack carefully. Pack like items together and label your boxes. You should also number them and have a master list that itemizes which items are in which box. This will help you find anything you need later. You can also color code your boxes using duct tape. Use blue duct tape for the kitchen boxes, red for the master bedroom, yellow for the bathrooms, etc. The colors will help you keep like boxes together and will help you know what is in them from a distance. 

4. Don't forget to keep out a few personal items. Even if you won't be in a rental for long, you will feel more at home if you keep out some personal items. Keep your favorite lamp, some family photos, a beautiful pillow, and a few decorations. They may not be "needful" but they will make this transitory time easier. 

If you take the time to plan carefully, you will be able to navigate through all the changes and settle in your new home easily and efficiently. Good luck!