My tip for house-building (if your experience is going to be anything like mine) is to be prepared for lots of delays! It's okay! You WILL get into your beautiful home eventually!! <3 Trust in God's timing!

Make sure to have easy pull together meals or already prepared meals for the first few days in the house when things are in disarray – it will make your life a lot easier and less stressful when dealing with everything else going on in the house with the move. During the chaos it so nice just to sit down enjoy a nice meal with the family!

Sadly, I have no advice! I don't even know where to begin! I enjoy reading everyone else's tips, though! 🙂

Shay – love your blogs! We have built 4 homes and now we just moved into our 1st ready built home (won't do it again). My advice is this. Even though we have wireless phones, printers, and etc please continue to put telephone jacks in rooms. I work from home and my basement office doesn't have one and it makes it difficult at times to get good reception on your cell phones. I had to put in an outlet phone transmitter just to have a land line but I wish I had a direct wired line. Also, for each bed and the bathrooms I had a box that I put in the clean sheets, mattress pads, towels, toilet paper, soap and etc in so when we got the beds setup I had everything I needed to get our rooms ready for our 1st night's sleep without rummaging through boxes. It was a life saver. Best of luck on the move(s) and build. I'm secretly jealous. I think we are going to put the house the market in the spring and look at building again.

Doreen

Don't forget to label fragile or this side up!

Ireland somewhere that if you have extra room your property always build an extra space in your garage.
It is typically the cheapest space to build and provides an extra space for a car or storing work supplies.

If I were building (or renovating my kitchen), I would definately include a double oven. I am lusting over one of those babies now and have been for over a year. Oh, and by the way—my family LOVES the lasagna rollups with spinach and cream cheese; they are DELICIOUS!

Order extra! For things like paint and tiles (even door knobs) order 10-15% extra of what you need. When a mark gets on the wall or tiles crack down the road, you'll be grateful that you have the exact same item to repair it with, and you don't have to worry about it being discontinued. Also, put dimmers on all your light switches! Nothing can kill a mood more than a room being too bright or too dark!

Storage! I don't think you can ever have enough storage room… closets, drawers. One tip for the bathroom, don't put pull-out drawers right next to the bathroom door. As a dear friend just discovered as her one year old pulled the drawers open, making it impossible to open the bathroom door more than a half an inch, she was locked in their for quite awhile as they figured out how to get the drawers shut! Good luck with your house building… too fun!

Storage -you can never have enough. Make sure EACH room has areas designated specifically for storage (closets, built-in cabinets, shelves, pantries).

Trish
jflynn006@twcny.rr.com

Closets! Put them every where you can. Even if you think you have enough, add one more.

Lots of light switches and plugs, dimmers too.
Plan ahead, so make spaces that will accommodate many older kids for when the little ones grow up. More closets never hurt anyone!

I hope to build a home in the future and a storm shelter is definitely on my list of musts! It may sound silly to some, but all of the storms lately make me wish we had one.

assemble an "emergency bag." Include a first aid kit, toilet paper, paper towels, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer and snacks. You do not want to be tearing through boxes looking for these items. 🙂 Good luck!
-Carrie F

Kitchen advice:put the outlets under the counters, not on the wall in the backsplash. That way your backsplash is solid and beautiful with no outlets breaking it up!

Kitchen pantry:if space allows build a small desk in back of pantry. This is a perfect place to store bills, manuals, recipes, etc and it is out of the way and hidden!

Happy Building!!

Katy Brunker

one thing that i saw on pinterest about a building new house is to write something on the frame of the house! like your names, a quote, or a bible verse! it seemed like a really cute idea 🙂

Hi Shay!!
We literally JUST moved into our newly built home that we custom designed and built. 🙂 LOVING it!

#1 – My kitchen is the favorite room in the house, so I spent some extra time planning and designing it 🙂 Something we did that EVERYONE has commented on, we have an EXTRA large walk-in pantry WITH our upright freezer inside of it 🙂 Extra freezer space for all the freezer meals that we do and no need to have to go downstairs every time.

#2 – Also in the kitchen, we have 9 ft ceilings and decided to go with extra tall cabinets throughout the entire kitchen. Not only does it give extra cabinet space, but it also gives it a really modern look and makes the kitchen look HUGE!

#3 – We have USB outlets multiple place throughout the house! Some people don't even know they exist. They are so handy now that so many electronics can be plugged in by USB. We have one right in our kitchen so that phones and iPods, etc can be plugged into charge while sitting on the kitchen counter-top. 🙂

#4 – We have a mudroom/laundry room right off of the hallway coming from the garage! I love having the extra sink right there so that if we come in from outside all muddy or dirty, hands can be washed right away without going through the house, ALSO dirty clothes can come off right away and go into the washer. It's also nice to have the laundry away from all the bedrooms so that if needed, a load can be going while sleeping with disturbing anyone.

Hope these are helpful! ENJOY every minute of the building process. It goes by quickly! Ours was 90 days from start to finish 🙂

Check references and the better business bureau when selecting a contractor!

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

Hi Shay, I have been following both your blogs for 9 months now. I love both your blogs & cute family! We are in the process of building a house as well! One of the first changes we made to our plan was to close off our second story great room, as it would share a common wall with our master upstairs, and my husband had a concern about noise. Having the 9 ft ceilings, and adding a lot of windows helps the great room not feel closed in. Since we closed off the great room, we decided to install a dual zone thermostat (one for upstairs, and one for downstairs). This way we can turn off the heat/cold downstairs at night….save $!!

Our house was custom built, but not by us. The one thing the previous homeowners included that I LOVED was built in hampers in the bathrooms. It’s right underneath the towel closest with a small door to lift up and drop clothes in. No more messing with the store bought hampers with liners.
I do not have this, but, I like the idea of having “hideaways” on the kitchen counter to hide appliances. It’s almost like a little door that slides along the kitchen counter. It gives the kitchen a clean, clutter-less look.
Something I saw on Pinterest that I will definitely be including in my house (one day) is little nooks in the shower to put shampoo, soap, razor, etc. I do not like the look of the shelves that hang over the showerhead, or having everything placed along the edge of the tub.
Can’t wait to see pictures of the new home! Good Luck!

I think a towel warming drawer in your bathroom is a great idea, so you have toasty, warm towels whenever you get out of the shower!!

Have fun with it. Plus have plenty of storage spaces and outlet plugs.

Kitchen I would have pull out dishwashers. Large pantry and a butlers pantry. Lots of storage in the house. In the laundry room, a small closet with an outlet for mop and broom sorage.

If I were building…I would want a heated flooring in my kitchen 🙂

Please make your bathroom windows with frosted-glass. Not sure why some people do it any other way…but it sure helps keep things modest and the neighbors appreciate it! haha

Shay, I would DEFINITELY go all Scrooge McDuck and build a pool full of gold coins to swim in!! 🙂

-Rachel Tapscott

I love the idea of writing something meaningful to your family on the framing or even putting you last name and date in some wet concrete. We did our handprints in the concrete when we were little kids and I still love going to my parents house to see them!

we are looking forward to building a home one day but being military we've lived in alot of different homes and my advice? think through electrical outlet placement!! i can't tell you how much time i've spent trying to figure out why in the world outlets are placed where they are because it makes no sense!! such a small detail but can be such a headache!! so excited for you!! =)
~Aubs

Three words: white. crown. molding. It makes your earthy paint colors pop and really brightens up a room. Best of luck with the move!

Look at magazines for inspiration and communicate with your builder. Good luck! 🙂

The best thing I ever done adding on to my house was making my closet the size of a bedroom and put my washer and dryer in there. Wash, fold and put up all in the same room!!! I LOVE my closet!!!

Tabitha B

Make sure when you build your pantry the space between your shelves is enough to fit large items. Cereal boxes are really tall so make sure you have enough room to store them! Good luck!

Hey Shay!
Love both of your blogs. We just finished our Kitchen Renovation. Took 6 weeks and totally gutted the entire kitchen down to the studs. We created extra 12 inch cabinets on the back side of the island for kid storage (school papers, art supplies etc). So, we have doors on both sides of the island. 4 Total cabinets for the island. Two are for pots/pans etc and the other are the Kids STuff. LOVE it and best thing I did. Here is the link so you can see the entire project. I would LOVE to get some more new accessories for the kitchen with the gift cards. Thank you so much!
Link – http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4784473416670.2192867.1440803419&type=1&l=6c2af944c3

Thanks again!
Mindy Tierney

Be sure to save extra paints/finishes… because you will need them and nothing is worse than not being able to match up paint colors when your toddler has decided to run his/her toy into your newly painted walls! Also, storage, you can never have enough! Last but not least, for your children, design their rooms for them to grow into… you dont want to be re-doing a room in a few years, so keep the colors/designs simple and then you can change out items in the coming years as needed. 🙂 Love your blog!

My best advice for buliding is to go ahead and add in all of those structual changes you want. We held off on some when we were building to save money, and now I regret it!
Kristen
Kristen_bartek@yahoo.com

Neutral on the backsplash, countertops should be the "fashion statement". Choose what you love, not necessarily what's popular now. Make sure you can get the dishwasher out if necessary – its the one appliance that does seem to require replacing.

The best tip I can give you is to order things you want for your house EARLY! Give yourself double the time you think you will need for something. Delays happen all the time and this is the best way to ensure the building of the house will go smoothly.

-Kimberly

Pull out shelves in all kitchen cabinets! I never thought about it until my parents moved into a house that came with them. It's the most convenient thing in the world!
-Becky W.

Check out cstyle blog's awesome closet with tons of drawers! Love! We love having built ins in bedrooms. As for the packing, I buy a pack of multi colored paper and dedicate one color for each room printing the room name, a table to list out contents and whether it is short or long term storage (we've moved in stages). I print out the 8-1/2 x 11 sheets and tape them to the outside of the moving box (check Craigslist for gently used professional moving boxes). Then fill out contents as I go with the sharpie. Love the quick visual cue when moving in and others are distributing boxes. Oh, have family take the kids so you can get the majority of it set up without them! Have so much fun! Barbra S.

PURGE! My best tip is get rid of the stuff you no longer use NOW. Don't pack and move that stuff.

I'm excited about seeing the new house. How fun!!
Thanks for offering such a fun give away
Renn McMurray

I wish I could move our kitchen outlets to underneath the cabinet, that way our back splash on the wall would not be interrupted by an electrical outlet plate!

Amanda

We remodeled our kitchen last year and I have 2 favorite features that I'm not sure how I ever lived without.

The first is a extra deep single basin sink. It was actually my hubby's idea to get a single sink instead of the double and I love it! You don't have to worry about cookie sheets and large pots & pans fitting awkwardly in the sink. The sink is so deep that my large stock pot can sit in it & you can't see it.

The second feature that I love is roll-out shelves. All of our cabinets have shelves that pull out so that you can easily reach that pot or pan that got pushed to the back. So convienent!

We just recently bought our first, already built, custom home and we are so thankful for the amount of light switches and outlets they first owners thought of. There are plugs that you wouldn't even think to have them. Love reading your blog, too!

Dimmer switches for the kitchen and bathroom – for when you need a drink or need to potty in the middle of the night. Plugs & switches everywhere. And having one of these in the kitchen and master bedroom is a good idea – http://www.geekalerts.com/u-socket-usb-wall-plug/

My best advice on building a house is expect setbacks. Don't be disappointed at the process or how long it takes. Think of it like a marriage. Your focus should not be on the actual house (the ceremony) but on making the house a home (the marriage) once you are in it.

Also make sure the painters leave the leftover paint they use indoors. Trust me you will need it for touchup through the years. And don't store it in the garage. The heat can destroy. Best place is in the pantry or linen closet.

Build the cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. If there is a gap between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling it will just be a dust collector and a headache to clean!

My number one suggestion for building a house has to do with windows… Do NOT get the "crank out" windows. They are a pain in the you no what to clean and our handles are constantly getting tight and hard to use… they are beautiful but you will have to have a lifetime supply of WD-40!

I think the tile or mosaic backsplashes are so cute! One of my favorite bloggers, Edie, has a beautiful kitchen that I would recommend checking out! http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/

I'd recommend checking out these two blogs for great kitchen inspiration: http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/

http://www.younghouselove.com/

-rachel 🙂

If I were to build a house I would want a mud room when you walk in from the garage with built in cubbies for coats, purses, etc. A tub with jets is a must and my husband would say a 3 car garage is a necessity! Oh and don't forget a huge walk-in closet! 🙂

Build a playroom under your stairs (with windows cut out of the walls and if its tall enough you can do 2 stories with a ladder connecting them! Your kids will love it!

Ashley

I would def want a TV in my bathroom for nice relaxing bath and good TV watching.

Kitchen…hideaway garbage can.

Kristin Meeks

If I ever have the opportunity to build a new home, I want to write scripture on the walls, studs, etc. before the carpet goes down and the paint goes on.
Cristal Goings

I have never built a brand new house, but I have friends that have designed and built. One idea I love is the open concept. My friend has her eat in kitchen with a living room/tv area on each side of the kitchen. While I am sure it can get noisy, the kids can be on one side with their toys and tv shows and adults can be on the other side while still keeping an eye on the kiddos! Can't wait to see y'all's home once finished! -Sarah (sarahrchandler@gmail.com)

I love the idea of built ins in each room for extra storage, including recessed bookshelves.

I haven't built a house myself but we recently moved into a new house and here are a couple of things I desparately wish I had:

-The Christmas Electrical Package: this is where there is an outlet under each window in the house so at Christmas when we put candles in the windows, you just keep them plugged in and flip a light switch everyday when you want them to come on

-Outlets in bathroom drawers. This way, you can keep your hair dryer and other hair products plugged up and hidden instead of on the counter. I don't know that I would keep a hair straightener or curling iron plugged in but I love the concept of not junking up the bathroom counter.

Congrats on your new home!

If I were building a house, my main focus would definitely be the kitchen! Since I can't stand clutter and having much on my counters, I would have a pantry big enough for items like microwave, mixer, and anything else that you use regularly but don't necessary want it on the counter!- Claire Hood

Storage! Use every inch of space for storage! And get those special drawers in the kitchen that don't slam! And if you can swing it, a warming drawer! I could go on and on… 🙂 Good luck!

My tip for house building… Make sure that you put your laundry room in a convenient place. There's nothing more aggravating than having all your closets upstairs and having to carry baskets of laundry up and down stairs every day. If you have a 2 story house put your washer and dryer on the floor with your rooms.
Hope it works out great!

My name is Lauren Ball.
I would say to make sure you have a lot of plug-ins and light switches!
And expect delays 🙂 because most likely, they will happen.
Good luck! Thanks for all of your AMAZING recipes you give us!

I grew up with 3 brothers and 2 sister. We only had 1 (yes 1!) bathroom upstairs. We had 2 1/2 total bathrooms but only 1 for all of us girls to get ready/ shower. I would suggest having a bathroom for girls and a separate bathroom for boys. That way everyone has there own space and it's way more manageable to clean.

Best building tip…washer and dryer IN the masterbedroom closet. How amazing is that? I saw it on pinterest and instantly knew that when I build a house this has to happen! Callie

Don't take any shortcuts, do everything the right way from the beginning so you won't have to go and fix mistakes later down the road.

Oh and make it super gorgeous for us all to see!

Melissa Lewis at MLewis2185@hotmail.com

My tip for packing to move would be: Place screws, bolts and other loose items into a labeled ziploc bag. Example: Queen bed. Tape the bag to the furniture. This will ensure easy assembly. Good luck with your move! Love your blog!

Make sure you have enough electrical plugs put in in places you will need them! Our house has them few and far between so it is a pain to get lamps in rooms, etc. And in our kitchen there is a whole counter space that has no plugs – for a chef/baker it is tough!!!

Molly Spivey

I am no designer but I love your blog! You are sweet and classy!

April W.

My best advice, coming from nannying for a family who is remodeling, heated floors are awesome. They are putting them in the bathrooms and the entryway from the garage. It's awesome. Granted we are in frigid Minnesota and you are in Texas, but they are great.

Abbie

Go for the three car garage option. You can always fill the extra space with random stuff that needs to be stored in the garage (i.e. Christmas decor, gym equipment, dog food, emergency stockpile) and will love being able to completely open your doors to get the kids out of their carseats.

A desk in the kitchen or just off the kitchen! Our builder called it the 'planning area' I didn't think it would be very useful, but now I can't live without it. I pay bills there, write birthday cards, keep our family calendar, etc.

I've never built a house, but I hope to someday!

Two suggestions:

1. Pray over each room as you are building. You can also write scripture or quotes on the frames. My mission team did this while building a home in Mexico. It was pretty neat and pretty powerful! 🙂

2. Saw this on pinterest – use recessed outlets so that the plugs don't stick out from the wall. It allows for the furniture to be flat agains the wall!

Best of luck!

When I moved I went to grocery stores and others to see if they had any extra boxes they were going to through away…Petsmart had the best ones! They fold out where you don't have to use any tape on them (but of course you can to help secure them more) and the best part of them was they had inserts for handles, which made it a lot easier to carry. I would definitely recommend writing on the outside of each box what is inside or which room it goes in. It makes the moving process go much smoother! Best of luck to you guys with the move coming up!! I know you guys will have plenty of help from all your family & friends! 🙂 – Kara

If your house is already being built, it might be too late for this now, but install electrical outlets INSIDE some of the closets. Here you can plug in all kinds of things, a night light, your electric vacuum or dustbuster, your iron. They surprisingly come in VERY handy.

Have your pantry door open to reveal sliding drawers. I LOVE this. Easy to see your spices and canned foods all laid out before you.

Michelle Smid

My advice is to start early and use this as an opportunity to get rid of everything that you no longer love or use. You don't want to move that stuff…especially twice. And a brand new home should be filled with things you love! Good luck!

My best advise is to go to a lot of real estate open houses and take pictures of rooms, paint colors, etc that you like. Also make a list of "must haves" for the new house!!! Good luck!

My advice…you can never have enough closets and cupboards. Also, have a shoe rack built in you closet. That is one thing I wish I would have thought to do.

Mindie

mindiepack@gmail.com

Lots of Plugs….as we use so many for all our 'powered' gadgets!

NO to dark colored bathroom sinks….toothpaste is white my friend and it's always showing on my dark sink….Big mistake…never again!

Watch what the builders are doing. We knocked out our bathroom wall 3x times cause it was framed crooked.

Pre-wire sound system, etc.

We bribed our builders (Pulte) to leave the attic open (ie. no tresses (I think that was the name)…so we could floor it later.

Also verify the brick before they put it on the house…(Yes, they bricked ours with the wrong brick even though we told them it was the wrong one) the day before our wedding.
SO verify EVERYTHING!

Be Patient!! Stressful but fun!

Though it is absolutely unnecessary I really love the look and convenience of a pot filler over the stove! Comes in handy when you need to boil a large pot of water or add a little water to something already on the stove.

Very exciting! Two little things…
-Make sure that you have everything in writing for you plans. Sometimes builders are busy and may not remember all of your conversations.
-Also, sounds little, but try to think ahead of about possible furniture placement and make sure that you have outlets for lamps based on where furniture may be. You have even have them on the floor by where you think you may have a coffee table.

Good Luck! -Sarah SMith

My favorite thing for a kitchen is organization! Including sliding wire drawers for your pots and pans, tupperware, etc. I have a 2 & 4 yr old little girls (and a boy on the way!) and they are all about helping with the dishes. Having pull our drawers makes it much easier! Good luck!
A giftcard would be a blessing, thanks for having a drawing!

Jessica L. Diaz

One thing my sister and my aunt both have that I covet is built in trash can cabinet in the kitchen near your work space. It slides out and conceals not one but TWO trash cans! The front just looks like the regular cabinets. Keeps the smell out and allows for a lot of trash before it needs dumped 🙂

Kitchen advice (and sadly I speak from experience):
Be VERY careful when designing what goes in the corners of the design. In one corner, our dishwasher was put in at the end and then the counter turns left and has a bank of drawers. After the knobs were put on the drawers, we could not open the dishwasher because it hit the knobs on the drawers. Let me tell you how fun that wasn't to deal with, But clearly corners weren't our builder's specialty, because on the other corner, we have a drawer that you can't open even halfway because it hits the knob from the pull-out trash can that's up against the corner. We since learned that anything being put in a corner should have at least 8 inches between it and the true corner, to allow plenty of room so the crazy things that happened to us don't happen!!! 🙂

I haven't built a house, but my husband I have completely update our existing house. I would say scourer the web for inspiration before hand and write down things you love in your house now. I think sometimes we forget what is important during the process. If I get the opportunity to build, I want it to be functional and warm with lots of room for entertaining like our current house! Good luck!

One thing I would want to incorporate into a house I was building is a laundry shoot! I also think it would be so cool to put in a slide next to the stairs going to the basement…if you have a basement. I've seen it on pinterest..of course!
– Ashley in Colorado

Hi Shay,
I just finished building my dream home last year. My first tip for building is to have a wonderful contractor. Ours did EVERYTHING & followed my directions wonderfully! Second, pick out the things that you will need in advance. If you know you will have a hard time picking things like cabinets, spend time in advance so you will not have to make quick decisions that you may regret.
Good luck!
Andrea Boggs

I would install a central vacuuming unit! I know it's not really a necessity , but it sure makes life easier.

Build in LOTS of storage, especially in the kitchen!

Make sure you plan ahead for your electrical needs in the kitchen! I have plenty of outlets in mine…but none where I actually need them! Also, squeeze in extra storage wherever you can, don't waste space! You will eventually be really glad its there!

I haven't built a house but we have remodeled 85 % of ours in the last 2 years. I biggest piece of advice is that things will go wrong. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and you can get ulcers from mistakes that contractors make, the paint color isn't what you thought, it costs more than you had budgeted, etc. So my piece of advice is to choose the things that are most important to you and make sure those things happen just as want but you will have to let some things go or you will make yourself crazy trying to make it "perfect" because not everything will be perfect.

I would put a ice maker that makes shaved ice in your pantry. I have a friend who had one put into their walk in pantry and it's awesome. She also has a little bin next to it with shaved ice flavors for snow cones. It's perfect for kids, a fun summer treat, and just normal drinks too! 🙂

Outlets!!! Picture your house decorated and where you would want lamps, etc….I have several places in our home that I really wish we had an outlet put in.

And I am sure you are already doing this, but take pictures throughout all of the building phases! Good luck! How fun!!

We've been in our the house we built for just over a year now.

Some regrets we have: light switch and eletrical outlet placing. Really think that over. Also, if you're doing tile flooring, our grout colors turned out several shades lighter. Not sure if it was our installer or the brand, but get a good idea on what it will look like so you're happy with it in the end!

Some things we are glad we did: Pocket door on the mud room. We're in an out so much that having a regular open door would be in the way. Instead we leave our pocket door tucked away most of the time and out of sight. I also love my tub sink in the laundry room!

Good luck! It's an exciting time to build a house and then make it your home!

Take your time and make sure everything is exactly how you want it to be.

I've never built a house but my siblings and parents have and so I've lived through their dos and donts.

Make sure you have plenty of storage and closet space!

Don't do dark granite – my mom says it shows dust like crazy!!

GOod luck!!!

extra outlets in every room, ceiling fan wiring in every room and don't settle! Get what you want and stand your ground! Congrats!!!! Tricia C

I saw this thing on Pinterest where you have circular holders in deep drawers so you can organize all your large utensils. I love this because mine are in a messy drawer and can never find what I need.

I also love another thing I found on Pinterest was to have a small veggie/fruit fridge at the end of an island. A dream come true!!!!

Julie Ann

If your master and laundry are adjacent…have a door that connects them. Makes doing laundry fun…haha…just easier. -Cindy

A mud room is a must. Ours is located between our garage and our kitchen and is the perfect spot for those small, dirty shoes to come off before entering the house. Ours is large enough to serve as a laundry room and also houses some of our pantry cupboards as well.

How exciting to build your own home – we loved building ours, but at times, it was definitely a stressful experience! However, my husband and I are so glad that this house is ours, designed from the ground up.

Amy Beward

We renovated our kitchen and put in tile flooring. While pretty, I would NEVER do it again. It is cold under your feet (I am in Boston, much colder than Dallas) even in the summer. Grout is very hard to keep clean/look clean-if I could do over I would do hardwoods throughout. We also did a dark granite counter-which shows all the crumbs…go with a light color!Also- a mudroom would be AMAZING!! Good luck and please keep us posted on the process!!

someone beat me to it lol but my suggestion is phone jacks in every bedroom. It annoyed me to no end that growing up I didn't have a phone jack in my room. I was the only person in the house without a phone in their bedroom…very inconvenient for a teenager. These days it might not be as important but I think it is still a good thing to have. Also, make sure you have plenty of outlets in each room and that they are located in places that would be convenient for you.

A mud room / drop zone to organize everyone's day to day things–backpacks, jackets, etc. So wish I had one!!

Get the extra tall windows! They are a little more expensive but let in more light and look so good when it's all finished!

My tip would be, to make sure everything is painted the way you want it before everything gets put up/put in!

Fingers crossed that I win! I would echo what others have already said – plenty of outlets! I live in a house that was built in the early 1900s and it has so much beautiful character but only TWO outlets in my HUGE bedroom. It's a pain!

Thanks!

sarahbrookekane@gmail.com

I don't have an idea for the kitchen, but for your home as a whole, I highly suggest the bullnosed corners throughout!

We are in the process too. Advice from our architect was outlets, outlets, outlets. Think of things like Christmas decorations (inside and out) and kitchen appliances. I'm sure you are on it but check out houzz.com for a very detailed list of things to think about before you build. Love that website. It has helped up tremendiously since custom designing our future home. Good Luck, Hilary

Kevinhilaryzacharywill.blogspot.com

Make sure you have plenty of outlets, in the kitchen and all over the house. Much easier to plug something into the outlet than to run a long cord through everything!

Some things off our own house plans for my upcoming dream kitchen… double ovens, warming drawer, Viking range, huge walk in pantry, space for hiding appliances, small desk built into the kitchen, Sub Zero fridge and freezer, lost of counter space. Other ideas include, mudroom with lockers, a sink in either mudroom or laundry, butlers pantry with lots of storage for china and Christmas dishes, my own "craft" space in the basement, and of course lots of storage/closets! Have fun!! I love this post, I'm getting lots of ideas from people too!

I've never been involved in building a new home (yet!) but I think a good tip would be to retain extra paint, tiles, etc. in case replacements or fixes are necessary in the future.

This is super simple, but we just moved into our new house and I love that my kitchen has a garbage drawer to pull out instead of having to have an ugly garbage can out in the open. 🙂

My parents built their dream house with beautiful 12 foot ceilings…the only problem is now they can't use "over the door" anything….it's too tall!

Emily T.

Definitely make sure you've planned out lots of storage space….linen closets & closets by your front door & garage area to hold jackets/shoes/etc. Look at lots of ideas online and ask other new home owners if there is anything they regret…. Good Luck!
Carissa

The best building tip I rececived was if possible have your laundry on the first floor even if it's shared with your mud room. It makes for one sane mama.. 🙂
Blessings!
Mimi
http://www.mimielmer.blogspot.com

outlets in kitchen and hallway closets!!! Helps charge hand held vacuums. Also lots and lots of storage. Can't have enough!!!!!

I haven't built, but one thing I will make sure of is that there are plenty of outlets throughout each room. Gives you more freedom when it comes to rearranging 🙂 I would also recommend getting a central vac.. The ones that also have the little spots along the baseboards that will suck dirt up, too, so that you don have to drag the big hose out every time!

Lots of counter space in the kitchen! Good luck with the new house!

If I ever get to build my own home, I want my entrance to look just like this: http://media.mvgazette.com/images/photocache/img/5012.jpg

Dont put the toilet facing the shower!!! 🙂
~Sarah from McKinney

We are still about two years away from building our forever home, but weirdly we like to drive through our future neighborhood just to dream!! Ha!! One thing I think you should think about with the layout of your family or great room is where your Christmas tree will go!! My mom always says that when they built she wishes they would have thought about that. And I know you love Christmas, so I'd make sure you have the perfect house layout for the summer months or during Christmas!

I think this is common sense but from the stories I hear from friends and family that have built…. apparently it isn't. 🙂 As you build, and options come along, ALWAYS ask how much it will add to the cost of the house. Options are almost never free. And if they are… ask why! I know people who never asked and at the end of the building process, realized they were paying a lot more then they initially budgeted for. Hope this doesn't happen to you! Happy building!!! – Shonda

Don't pay attention to trends/fads, etc. Make sure the house is "you" (and the husband of course). Pick what colors, textures, fabrics, etc. you love and it will feel like home when you walk in the door.

put an overhead fan in the bedrooms, white kitchen cabinets, big laundry room, and walk in pantry…..post pictures of the house progress. it is so fun.
deborah p.

Grab a binder and a glue stick and start looking thorough your magazine subscriptions ( we know you have a ton) and cut out everything you see you might like in your house! The kids could get into it to. Let them do a not pad for things thy might like in their
Areas! Also, take. Lot of pictures of the progress. It's fun to look back at the building of your dream house! Make a bound book on mixbooks.com! Thanks! Summer McKee

Be sure to get electrical outlet plugs in the floor of the living areas so you won't have to run cords across the floor!!

Have fun!!
Kathy Eddy

Put drawers under each stair tread (assuming a multi-level home) to increase storage and organization!

I would definitely suggest a few things…first an electric fireplace ..its so easy to just turn it right on and off with a remote..one of the best things I did!…Also an island in the kitchen is definitely a must! I installed an extra sink and oven within my island as well. The extra appliances definitely help when you have company over! Best of luck with your new home!

Make it unique! When my parents built our house, instead of wasting the space underneath the stairs, they made that space into a little room with carpet and an outlet for a lamp. The room was only about 4 feet tall, so adults couldn't really fit into it, but it was perfect for us when we were kids. We were short enough to be able to stand the little room. We put a small kid's table and chairs into the room and made it a play area. It was one of my favorite places in the house!

my tip is print your pinterest ideas and make them happen!!!! 🙂

-Kathleen Alfano
kealfano@gmail.com

Include tall skinny pullout cabinets for lots of spices in your kitchen. I have also seen a dry drawer that has built in containers for flour, sugar, etc. So you don't have the containers on the counter. Also for the laundry room include a pullout rack for drying clothes flat and not messing up the rest of your house!

Shay,

My best suggestion? I saw this on pinterest (of course)! You trash & recycling chutes to the garage (you basically install them in your backsplash, and have 2 chutes (on pinterest they are stainless steel chutes), but it could be any color or type of surface. This way- all your trash & recycling go straight out to your garage & then you can just roll it out to the street. It eliminates having to keep trash in your kitchen & having to haul it out to the garage. Seems easy enough if it works with the layout of your house 🙂 Good luck building!!!

-Naomi Carpenter, naomicarpenter3@gmail.com

We have never built a house but when we do I plan to use every square inch. We have so much wasted space in our house now. I would love to have a BIG kitchen. Good luck with your new home!

I would say the kitchen is one of the most important rooms, if not THE most important. So it has to be perfect! I think double ovens are a must, especially for someone like you who bakes a lot. You can have a bundt cake in one, and dinner in the other. And they're really great for holidays and other big meals.
I also love the cabinets that have drawers that slide out. It makes it so much easier to put stuff away and get things from the back of the cabinet. Have fun picking out everything for the new house!

While I've never built a house, my dream house would have to include a library. Not sure if that's a tip or not, but definitely something I think is necessary. ha!

We are moving to a new house we are building in April, SO FUN!!!

I would say take as many pictures as possible throughout the building process. They are not only fun to have to see the progress, but if you need to do any work later on you know where studs, electrical, and plumbing is. It could help in the future!

Also, get as many outlets as you can! Think about where you will set things up: Christmas lights outside, Christmas tree, outlets in the pantry, in the drawers in your bathroom to disguise straighter and blowdryer. There is NO end!

-Ashlan

Make sure that put space for all the cables.

A pop up thing for your kitchen aid mixer! I've seen them, they open out of a bottom cabinet and it's on a platform (doesn't take up counter space) Voila, your mixer ready to use, out of site and super handy!

Jane Sandefur

Storage space is key! You will ALWAYS need more! Also, pray and hope for the best! =)

~Michelle (@mhughessc)

Hi Shay – ahhhhhh we remodeled our kitchen and dining room when our daughter was 3 – fun memories of her hiding in the plastic! Biggest tip would be to close every single door in your house CONSTANTLY!! You will get dust in every nook and cranny of every room otherwise! Also, suggest installing a lazy susan in your pantry and another one for your spices in handy location. Lastly, a double oven is essential – then you can bake multiple bundt cakes at one time! 🙂 Please post pics of the project in action. Love your blog!!!

– janene

A great screen in porch can be the best place to hang out, so plan out your outdoor areas with as much thought as you put into the rest of the house.

Shay- what am exciting time for you and your family! So many great thoughts from everyone and it is clear that you are well loved by many. I believe that all of this positivity will ensure a happy and successful endeavor for you. My mom has always shown me that no matter how fabulous a master bedroom or mancave or even an outdoor entertaining area, the heart of the home is always the kitchen. If you have to cut back anywhere, sink every last penny into a kitchen you are going to love! Personally, I think the best thing is to have a kitchen that opens up to a great room. Why should the boys miss out on the gossip just because a great football game is on and why should the ladies have to choose between having a glass of wine over something savory boiling on the stove and watching a great football game? Point? In a foodie/ football family you will not regret a Great Room! Throw a flat screen over the fireplace and you also have the perfect place for the tree at Christmas! I could talk about this stuff for days! Best of luck! Kristi K
PS- Being from Boston I must share the fun thing some of our friends have done with their finished basements/ playrooms/ mancaves. There is a paint by Benjamin Moore (I believe) called "Green Monster" and they paint at least one wall in said room this color. Some even go so far as to have custom decals and paint done to replicate some Fenway lettering. 🙂 only for the diehard fans, and it goes great with Sandcastle or Cape Hatteras Sand.

My dream house would most definitely have an in cabinet ice maker. They are perfect for parties, coolers or people like me who love ice! Another biggie would be lots of outlets, in the walls & in the floor for lamps, etc!

I would suggest having your trash can in a cabinet/drawer that is waist high. It looks like the other cabinets but oh so convenient when scrapping plates clean!
Love reading your blog!
Lori

A couple of suggestions regarding electrical outlets. One in the kitchen recess your outlet boxes into the wall, that way when you plug something in you don;t have to worry about it protruding on to the counter. Add extra outlets outside to plug your Christmas lights into, makes decorating a whole lot easier! Add a central vac system, if you can and even if you can't still put the coundit in for the runs and you can always add it later. Think about your furniture and make sure your walls are big enough in certain rooms, for example the dining room. I am sure I have more but this will get you started! Have fun building!

LOTS of outlets in the kitchen…on the island, in appropriate places where you plan to plug in mixers, food processors, coffee makers, etc. Same for the bathroom.
I have always said that I would get a built-in fan in the walls next to the sinks in the bathrooms because I hate to get hot when I blow dry my hair. You wouldn't have to worry about that so much since you are a natural hair gal, but it's a great added perk for sure.
Also, if building a guest room, make sure it's downstairs with a bathroom because older guests don't like going upstairs. (Grandma made sure to tell me that one. LOL.)
I am also a fan of the garage, or space where you plan to park your cars, being the closest thing to the kitchen. A) Nothing is worse than walking through an entire house 13 times bringing groceries in, and B) If something ever spills, it's easy clean-up.
Last thing (promise!) – if you have a half bath downstairs, keep it away from the kitchen because ummm…ya. Need I explain? 😉
Hope the house is everything you want plus some!
Thanks for the opportunity to win!

If you know the layout of where your furniture is going to be…be sure to put electrical outlets in the floors for lamps and portable electronics to be plugged in. Also, most of my closets and pantry have lights that come on when you open the door. Love those! Good luck!
Kori

I would make sure that I had plenty of storage! I would also make sure that I put the washer and dryer in the actual house, due to the fact that basements scare belief!

Put an outlet inside your medicine cabinet so your bathroom counter doesn't look like mine with the husband's electric toothbrush and razor always plugged in with a tangle of cords! My parent's put a 4 socket outlet in their bathroom cabinet and I have coveted it ever since!

Lots of comments. You can seriously never have too many closets!! -Katy Link

Build the children's bathroom with a bigger tub or shower, similar to the master bath. I have two girls, that aren't even teenagers yet, and I already regret using the standard size tube/shower combo in their bathroom. If/when I build again, they will have a larger shower and/or tub in their bathroom. When they grow up and move off, no guest will complain about their shower being too big!

Lots of storage, linen closets, etc when we built we didn't allow for that and now we wish we had more!! Best of luck building your new home!

My best tip is to make sure your kitchen cabinets roll out and get all the hardwood you can while building. Also, make sure that you customize your closets while you are building. It makes moving in so much easier. Picking out every doorknob, light switch cover,and cabinet handle is a real drag. But it is all worth it in the end. 🙂

Hi! I'm LaRae Davenport and one of the best ideas I've experienced is a pray and paint party! Right as the construction has ended invite family and friends to write on the bare prayers of blessing and scripture throughout the house! Then, after you've taken all the pictures you'd want to remember it, have everyone grab a paint roller and paint primer over them! Win, win!

heather says: be specific with your plans and ideas show pictures or drawings
hg temp addy at hot mail dot com

I walked through a house where the owners had gone through with sharpie and written verses and prayers on the wood frame for each of the rooms when it was dried in but not dry walled. Also love oversized garages, kitchen island plug ins, separate ice machine, exposed beams in common areas, big crown molding, and benchs in the showers… Not old person but for popping your leg up to shave 🙂 – Lacey Salmon (salmonlk@gmail.com)

If you guys do Christmas lights I would suggest having outlets installed on various parts of your roof so you don't have to bother using extension cords. ~Edith

First let me say, Kuddos to you and all the irons you have in the fire! I have always been a planner so prior to building, I tried to do my "homework." Here's what I came up with.
1.If possible, face the home away from the West/Southwest most bad weather comes from that direction.
2.If it's 2-story, keep in mind that if you line up room such as Kitchens, baths,laundry rooms, over each other, it will cost you less in plumbing cost because it will be faster(less man hours) and fewer materials when they aren't chasing hook-ups.
3.Roof-lines that are significantly complex will add THOUSANDS of dollars with limited return (except for looks), maybe there's a roof line that will fit your requirements for appearance and may be considerably cheaper than a simliar roof-line
4.Never too many outlets, use dimmer switches (they're not costly and they give many options to your lighting needs and mood)
5.If your contractor will allow it, buy your own materials (If he'll provide you a list and if you can communicate ahead of time and know what's coming up you can SAVE significantly-why give money away? You won't be paying him to run around and you can purchase on eBay Lowes or Home Depot 10% off coupons and use those each time, it saves thousands!
I'm full of ideas, but the space is limited. Lastly, STICK TO THE PLANS, once you decide on House plans, agree to NO changes, they will cost you dearly unnecessarily!
Best Wishes & God Bless- Michelle P

I am so jealous! One day I am going to build/renovate my dream home. Ok so I didn't read the previous posts but here goes…

Trash and recycling chutes built into kitchen wall lead to garage.

Microwave does not have to be up high. My just redid her kitchen and the microwave is built into her counter at waist level.

Dishwasher built in so you don't have to bend over to unload/reload

Shelving and hanging racks on the wall in the laundry. Also put a countertop over the washer and dryer. more space for folding/sorting/ironing

Drawers on the bottom of cabinets in the kitchen for added storage of tableclothes/napkins, etc. My friend with the kitchen has them and they are genius.

Iniray
inirayluperATgmailDOTcom

Laundry room upstairs, inside/attached to a master bedroom closet. Out of the way. Easy accessibility.
acp389atgmail

Even though I missed the contest here is my advice:
Put your laundry room or a second washer/dryer on the same level as the bedrooms.
Add an extra shower head (for front and back) in the kids shower. When our kids were little, we had them shower together and then both had water hitting them!
If you are having hard wood floors and plan on putting down a rug, consider doing an inlay of carpet. It won't curl up on the edges and looks nicely finished.
REgarding moving: We rented a semi trailer for our stuff instead of a storage unit. It was way cheaper and we only had to pack/unload one time. We stored the semi trailer on a relatives farm and kept out the essentials and when we were ready to move, we had it backed up to the new garage.

My best suggestion for moving is that you designate each room in your new house to be a COLOR – and then label each box with a COLOR of the room it is going to. Then when you get to the house – put up a big paper in each room of whatever color it is. Movers don't know which is "Smith's Room" or in big houses what is dining room vs. living room, etc…..and you don't want to have to constantly be guiding every box and where it should go. Even if you do label the boxes with a description "dining room" that is fine… as long you put a sign in each room so they know what you are calling each room! Doing that is better than nothing – but the color system is great for those with terrible handwriting like me! 🙂

Also, designate a spot in each room you want the boxes so they aren't all put in the middle of the room. Designate a corner of each room with a sign where specifically you want the boxes to go.

The less you make the movers think, the quicker it will be! 🙂

I assume you are getting movers.

Hope you are doing great and enjoy 2013 so far!

First try to do a little bit everyday and do not put it all off until the very end. Organization is key so make sure to label, label, and label some more! I try to write on the outside of the box everything that is in there – which helps out tremendously when your looking for things!!! Good Luck!!!

Pack up the small things first like pictures, vases, etc and pack up the rooms you use the least first. And get your big baby brother to help!!

My best advice is to hire a mover. You will never regret it, it is money well spent. As far as packing, pack by room instead of by items. Much easier that way!

My name is Jodi.

My family and I move into our new house tomorrow, and i, like you, have 2 small kids, so trying to pack and organize and take care of them all at the same time was challenging. My suggestion to you, if you are moving yourselves w/o movers, is to plan a couple of days in advance to have your kids watched by someone else so that you can concentrate on packing. I would also suggest asking a very organized person to help you. For me, that as my sister-in-law. and really, thank God for her and her giving heart because she has helped me out so much and helped minimize my stress! She is also a very practical and objective person, so with her help i was able to get rid of ALOT of things that i realistically did not need or have not used in years. She is also so good at making things "fit" in boxes or the moving truck, so when we needed to get more things to fit, she was the one to call. And don't say no to help. If anyone offers their time, take them up on it! You will be glad that you did! Good luck!

My best tip would be to just start now. Gather boxes everytime you go to the grocery store and start putting things away a little at a time. label every box so you know what it is. I bougth red tubs for my christmas stuff orange tubs for fall decorations etc. Hope this helps.
Kristin Stout

plan ahead for free boxes! Shoe stores have the best ones. They are all about the same size, a good packing size and generally in much better shape than other stores.

Shay – my advice is to downsize your belongings as much as you can prior to the move. You may have things you don't use anymore or you don't want in the new house, donate it now before you move and then you don't have to pack and move it. We did that to a certain degree on our move this last year but not as much as we should have. good luck!

Doreen

Create “Open Me First” boxes- Pick one or two boxes per room as "Open Me First" boxes. Put in them the things you'll need first at your new location. Then mark the sides of the boxes so you'll know which ones are which.

Go to your grocery store and ask them for boxes. Egg boxes are the best. Perfect size, and have handles. I use those for the things I want to move myself. Like my collectibles!

We're an AF family and have had our share of moving. All of our moves have been international or coast-coast moves, so we've had experience with lengthy transition times, too. Some time ago, I had this same conversation with another blogger and she asked to post the tips on her blog; it was written specifically with having movers come do it all, but there are many things I would still do or adapt somewhat if I were to ever move myself: http://phillipsphamilyphive.blogspot.com/2009/09/moving-tips-101.html

A couple of things I would add- I am very particular about menus for a few weeks prior to the move- mainly because I can't move the food, but if you can pare down your pantry, it's certainly a lot less to pack and carry. Plastic tubs/baskets are helpful for organizing stuff in your transition home. Don't forget to keep out your trash cans, too.

My best tip is to be very organized!! Make sure you label each and every box. Also, keep all the boxes for each room together when you move, then you don't have to look around for them when you get there!

Save every day items such as newspapers and grocery bags in advance. They are both great for wrapping breakables. And don't forget to label the boxes with the items so you don't have to go searching through them when you move in.
Kelly D
kellywcuATyahooDOTcom

I haven't done this yet, but it's a great idea: Stack your plates with styrofoam plates in between them…easier than wrapping each plate, but keeps them separated and cushioned. Genius!

We moved this summer and took on six weeks of a full house renovation and let's just say with little ones (mine were 3 and 1 at the time) it is NOT easy. It was probably hardest for my oldest. Change is just hard on them! So my tip is pack the kids stuff very last and once you move make sure it is the first thing you unpack. It wil help provide a sense of security for them and maybe a little bit of a sanity saver for you 😉 Best of luck!

We moved this summer and took on six weeks of a full house renovation and let's just say with little ones (mine were 3 and 1 at the time) it is NOT easy. It was probably hardest for my oldest. Change is just hard on them! So my tip is pack the kids stuff very last and once you move make sure it is the first thing you unpack. It wil help provide a sense of security for them and maybe a little bit of a sanity saver for you 😉 Best of luck!

My tip would be make sure they are all labeled and as they are moving them put them in the room they should go in so when u go to unpack it will make it easy for you

Rebecca

While you're packing, also clean out your stuff and de-clutter! Don't pack something that has been in the back of the drawer for years. Label boxes and keep boxes organized and not too heavy! Good luck and enjoy it! Go in knowing the process will be somewhat stressful and don't let small mishaps frustrate you!!

From a momma who just moved overseas…
*Purge then Pack
*Pack by room – label every box w/detail
*Separate anything you can live w/out while in your rental and just keep it packed
*Move all bedding, linens very first so your first night can be comfortable
*Involve the kids and give yourself plenty of time
*Hire movers for the big pieces/furniture etc.

Happy Move!
Morgan 🙂

The first night in our new house we hardly had any of our furniture. So my mom, my two brothers, and i had dinner on the kitchen floor. We were all just so excited for our new adventure together! We lived there for 12 years and the last night we were there we ate on the kitchen floor 🙂 as the end gets closer, don't forget to enjoy the house and all the wonderful memories that were had inside!

My advice would be to start early! Even if it means living out of boxes for a while it makes the actual day/days you move a lot easier. I also think it's important to stay organized and label, label, label :). What has also always made moving easier for me is having lots of help whether it be from friends, family, or movers! They can help take care of kids and dogs (well, family & friends not the movers), and having them around can help you stay sane and makes everything go by a lot quicker (and often times more fun)! Good luck!!

I like to take pictures of the items I put in each box when packing and tape the picture on the outside of each box so I know what is inside without having to open every box looking for one item.

I started early collecting boxes from store recycling dumpsters. Most stores have 2, one for trash and one for boxes. Saved us a TON of money.

My best tip is to make sure to organize & clean out prior to packing! It will save you a ton of time & no sense in packing up something & taking it to your new house if you don't need it! Good luck 🙂

Pack a box of things you will need the day of – toilet paper, paper towels, stuff you will need but don't necessarily think about!

Oh my, we just did this 2 years ago and I'll be honest- I was a little rough. We put alot (most) of our stuff into storage and lived off the basics when we moved from Tyler to Houston to our permanent home. It made it alot easier to unpack & then repack our rental when the time came. It's a crazy time, but how exciting to be building! You can do it!!!

Use space bags for folded clothes! 🙂

Oh my, we did this when we made the move from Tyler to Houston and I'll be honest- it was rough (but you can do it!). We pretty much put everything except the essentials into storage. This made unpacking and repacking our rental much easier. Then it feels like Christmas when you find all your stuff in your new house! 🙂

My tip is to pack your plates with styrofoam disposable plates between them. So much easier than wrapping them!

I always clean and organize before I start to pack! Also, try to give anything away that you don't want/need so you're not bringing extra stuff with you! I also survived moving by making lists!! Make a list of things you will need at your rental house and things that can wait until your house. I would also only move a few decorations to your rental since you wont be there too long and you wont have to pack/move them twice! Last things, make detailed lists on each box so you know what is inside!! Hope some of this helps! Happy moving! 🙂

Make sure all your boxes are labeled!! It will make unpacking a lot easier.

If you have the time sort and go through everything before you pack it up. It's a great time to clean out and get rid of things you probably won't use. This is much easier than throwing it all in boxes and saying you'll sort it when you get to the new house.

does this mean the house sold?!!

as a military family we've moved alot!! my first tip is to relax!! do your best to not stress because one way or another its going to get done and stressing makes it sooo much harder.

label, label, label! be especially sure to label things like sheets, pillows…anything you will need the first night in the new house! it is NOT fun to be searching thru boxes for those things!

don't turn away help! i have a hard time accepting help sometimes but seriously? if friends & family offer to come help pack, let them!!!

i like to have my washer & dryer be the last thing on the truck so that they are the first thing off the truck at the new house! that way i can be washing the sheets, blankets, etc while everything else is being unloaded! (if you're anything like me, there is no way you're sleeping on those sheets after being in a box w/o washing them!)

and then just do atleast a few boxes each day so that it isn't as overwhelming!

and finally, have a bottle of your favorite wine ready for the first night in the new house! there is nothing like finally sitting down after the crazy that will be moving day and enjoying a glass of wine!! (or two!) =)

Hi! I'm Megan Walter! First off, I love your blog! You have the cutest little family!

I have a couple moving tips!

1. Break down or disassemble furniture, as many pieces as you can. It will give you way more room in your moving truck!

2. Start packing WAY in advance, a box at a time, and label what’s in it and what room it goes in!

Hope your moves are quick and painless! 🙂

We had to move into a rental too before our house was finished. Our rental was furnished so it made it a lot easier. Try not to unpack a ton at your rental, only the necessities so you are not packing a bunch of stuff again. I think starting early is the best advice so you don't get stressed closer to the move. I would go through each room and pack up as much stuff as you can now and don't need in the next couple of weeks. Good luck! I always hated packing and unpacking. I wish I would have hired someone! 🙂

Annie Cox

My advice is to move as MANY things at once as you possibly can! The fewer the trips, the happier (and less exhausted) you'll be. 🙂

Label all of your boxes with the room that they belong in. It will save you a lot of time when unpacking!

Purge as you go – less to pack and less to unpack.

Label as much as you can on all sides.

Be in a position inside new house(s) to direct those carrying in items so they go to correct room upon entering the house and don't need to be moved twice.

Assemble beds in rooms first. Then add large furniture before boxes.

We are in the exact situation as you. We moved into a condo while our house is now being built. I also have 2 small children. My advice is not going to be on packing….its going to be on Packing for temp housing!!! Let the kids pick favorite toys..get them involved (you cant bring them all). Also pack only the necessities… like 8 plates/ glasses instead of all of them. Only pack the kitchen items you will need, (we all have kitchen gadgets serving trays we dont use). Pack 2 towels per person, instead of taking them all to the temp house etc. You get the picture…itll be that much easier moving out of your temp house if you dont have your whole house in it!! Good luck building make sure to post pics : )

Spend the extra money and hire movers… makes things so much easier! OR… ask Sean to help you and I can guarantee you'll get at least 100 female volunteers!! 🙂

-Rachel Tapscott

My advice would definitely be to hire movers! And have the move organized as much as possible so that moving is as stress-free as possible!

Hi Shay!
Love both of your blogs! We moved when my daughter was 18 months and then just did a kitchen renovation in October 2012, so had to pack the entire kitchen over again. Best suggestion is to pack things a like and label EVERYTHING!! I am huge with Excel Spreadsheets. Use that to keep track of what is in each box and how many you have. Hope that helps!
Would LOVE to use the Target Gift Cards for new accessories for my new kitchen! Thank you! 🙂
Mindy Tierney

My advice would be to use more of the small/medium sized boxes. Those large moving boxes get way too heavy otherwise. All I ever put in those are pillows!

Label boxes! I prefer room by room so once you get to the house the moving guys can take the boxes to each room. Sell/donate anything you haven't used in 6 months. And most importantly pack a few boxes with the necessities that you can access easily, nothing worse than getting to your new home to need something all the way in the back of the moving truck— so put bathroom stuff, blankets, clothes for a a few days, games/snacks for the kids in a few boxes to last you for the first few days.

My advice would be to have a donate box next to the box you're packing at all times. If you haven't used the item in a year, donate it. I also make a list of what is in each box and tape it to the outside. Best of luck with the moves!

Pack by each room. Have specific tubs/boxes for "living room," "kitchen," etc and have them each labeled. Makes it so much easier to put boxes in the new room!

My best advice is to get free boxes from work, and start saving newspaper. You will need alot of both. 🙂
Kristen
Kristen_bartek@yahoo.com

When packing, clean as you go! I know you'll have to clean your old joint once all the big stuff is out, but it makes it a lot easier if you clean out whatever you pack up. I know you'll think "whoa! we are filthy people (you're totally not)" but it helps make it less overwhelming in the end. Happy packing!

My advice would be to only focus on one room at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself with the whole house. One room is a lot more manageable and makes the organization for unpacking a lot easier. Also, use BOXES! People that pack in bags almost always regret it. And same size boxes make for packing a moving truck almost fun.

We moved into a rental property this year while building a house as well. Best tips include:
1. Have an OPEN FIRST box with each move, this includes the essentials such as toliet paper, papertowels, trash bags, toothbrush, etc. that you don't want to go digging for when you need!
2. If you are putting things in a storage unit, be sure that anything you put in is items that will not retain odor. we had a climate controlled storage unit with many of our things in it for 6 months and all blankets, clothing, etc had to be washed twice.
3. Declutter and organize BEORE you pack. Donate or get rid of old toys, clothes, etc that you know will not be used again- this way you don't move things you will end up getting rid of in a few months anyway!

Sarah Henke
sarahjhenke@gmail.com

As I packed I tried to not only color code the boxes according to room but I kept a notebook where I numbered each box and wrote a brief description of what was inside. My two kids are 15 months apart and it took awhile to unpack. This helped a ton when I really needed to find something that I hadn't unpacked yet. Good luck with the move!

My best advice is to use as many plastic storage containers as possible instead of cardboard or other types. You can always reuse the plastic boxes for storage later on but using them while moving helps reduce the chances of something happening to your things and its just easier in my opinion.

Taylor M.

Roll clothes! It keeps your clothes from getting wrinkled and makes each item of clothing easier to see since they're lined up. Also, keep your clothes that are on hangers on the hangers and move them that way! It saves so much time!

Use whatcha got! Use towels to pack breakables – keep the silverware in the tray, etc. And ask all your friends/neighbors with infants for their diaper boxes!

I wish I could move our kitchen outlets to underneath the cabinet, that way our back splash on the wall would not be interrupted by an electrical outlet plate!

Amanda

Roll your clothes instead of laying them flat! It keeps the wrinkles out and also helps you see what's there since it's lined up. Also, keep all of your clothes that are already on hangers on their hangers – it saves so much time when unpacking!

Hi Shay!

My best tip would be to fill your kitchen/rooms with COLOR on the walls! Bright, colorful colors can really make a difference. Also, getting colorful decorations&appliances to match the walls looks very sophisticated and cute. Happy Designing!

xx
Emma LeMay

Lisa O'Brien

Have a packing party! Invite some girlfriends over for some food, wine, and packing. go room by room together and time will fly! Of course, there will be rooms that you want to do on your own, but toys, kids' rooms, etc. can be packed by anyone!!!

Enjoy building your dream home. We just built this fall and it was the best experience ever!

By best advice I can give just recently going through it. PACK everything. We had movers, but if everything had been in a box it would have gone much faster. ie: pictures, mirrors, pillows, lamps. Also, when labeling boxes make sure to label ALL sides. (Top and all sides) And designate which room. I was pregnant in my last move so I stood at the front door as the movers came in and if a box didn't have a label on it or room, I opened it right there and was able to tell the movers which room it needed to go to. Trust me, I was in no shape to move boxes!

Get boxes from grocery stores instead of buying them! Good luck 🙂

Get boxes from grocery stores instead of buying them! Good luck!

Ashley

My packing tip would be to get rid of old stuff you dont use before packing it all up.

Pack up the small things first and also the things that don't get used often. Also, DON"T be afraid to ask for help and NEVER turn down help.

Transport your closet yourself… leave all the clothes on the hanger and hang them straight up when you get to your new house… Helps cut down on useless folding and extra boxes! Good Luck… moving is NEVER fun!

I would def want a TV in my bathroom for nice relaxing bath and good TV watching.

Kitchen…hideaway garbage can.

Kristin Meeks

After moving back and forth from home to college MANY times in the past 4 years, my best packing tip is to use the space in your boxes and containers as wisely as possible!! Treat it like a puzzle and see how much you can fit in one box!
-Karen P.

I have only moved twice in 35 years of marriage-the last almost 20 years ago. So I have no good hints, but I do love Target!!

Label EVERY box with every detail of its components! It may seem obvious, but when moving gets hectic it is easy to just throw things wherever; when you are in dire need of that one thing that could be in 1 of 100 boxes you will be so glad you did!

Pack stuff that you wont need for a while in seperate boxes and dont unload those until you are in your new house. That way you don't have to move everything twice!

Jessica
jcamichelle@hotmail.com

Get your kitchen setup first so you can still cook. Or even better have people bring you meals!

Karen
spilk10 at yahoo cot com

Since you will be moving more than once, I would suggest packing all the 'out of season' clothes separate and putting them in storage. Less to keep in the rental!-Claire Hood

We moved a lot when my kids were little and to make them feel comfortable and excited about the move I let them put stickers on the moving boxes from their room. They loved it

The U-HAUL store is your friend! U-HAUL makes the BEST boxes for moving! Yes, they do charge you for them, but they aren't THAT expensive and it's so worth it because the boxes are sturdy and come in a variety of sizes. Since you are moving twice, the boxes will hold up well and you'll be able to use them for both moves. U-HAUL also sells fantastic moving supplies like bubble wrap, plain newspaper, packing tape, "dish packing" foam, etc.

My tip for you would be to call local grocery stores to find out what day their trucks come. Those days, they usually have alot of boxes and most of them have no problem saving them for you! If you are packing everything yourself, that is! 😉 Good luck! by they way…LOVE both of your blogs! I'm a new reader. –Abby McAlpine

Pack your sheets at the top of a box labeled "linens" so you can make your beds for your first night, and not searching endlessly through boxes at 1:30am. 🙂

We just recently moved and I didn't label enough! I was constantly looking for stuff! So my advice would to obviously over label everything! 🙂

My suggestion would be to purge all that you can beforehand. We didn't have time to do that before our last move so everything came with us.

I would suggest purging all that you can before you move. We didn't have time to do that the last time we moved so it all came with us.

My suggestion for packing is to wrap your plates in your towels. And wrap your glasses in handtowels – so on and so on. That way you pack 2 rooms at once!
Paula F. – North Carolina

2 tips:
1. for hanging clothes, I lay out a big sheet, lay the hanging clothes on it, and wrap the sheet up…easier to carry out.

2. put a styrofoam plate inbetween each plate instead of wrapping them individually

Carrie Darney

Don't let your husband carry the box with the wine glasses in them…they will end up broke!! Just speaking from experience!!

I was going to say pack by room and label, label, label, but obviously many have beaten me to those tips. So instead, I will just add this link to pinterest which has a ton of awesome ideas!
http://pinterest.com/chicoulino/moving-tips/

I am not the best with planning ahead or being the most organized, so I suggest:

1. stock up now on free boxes (every time you go to the grocery store or liqeur store, ask for a few boxes)

2. assign yourself a room a day to pack. i suggest color coding the boxes – you can have your adorable kiddos help out with the color coding!

3. AS you pack, keep a box for GoodWill and a trash bag handy… perfect time to purge and pitch while packing!

4. pray for peace of mind and patience… this is usually my #1 🙂

Best of luck!
Bekah

I am not the best with planning ahead or being the most organized, so I suggest:

1. stock up now on free boxes (every time you go to the grocery store or liqeur store, ask for a few boxes)

2. assign yourself a room a day to pack. i suggest color coding the boxes – you can have your adorable kiddos do this!

3. AS you pack, keep a box for GoodWill and a trash bag handy… perfect time to purge and pitch while packing!

4. pray for peace of mind and patience… this is usually my #1

Best of luck!
Bekah

My best tip is wardrobe boxes. That way it's easy to move and you don't have to worry about all your hanging clothes getting wrinkled.

Abbie

I numbered all of my boxes (as well as labeled them) and then I made an excel spreadsheet with the numbers and what was in the box. That way when I was looking for something specific I was able to find it. We did a temporary move too and it was a lifesaver to be able to find a specfic movie, vase, etc.

I numbered all of my boxes (as well as labeled them) and then I made an excel spreadsheet with the numbers and what was in the box. That way when I was looking for something specific I was able to find it. We did a temporary move too and it was a lifesaver to be able to find a specfic movie, vase, etc.

I definitely think labeling is key. I would try to put away stuff that you don't use as frequently in boxes that won't even have to be opened at the rental house so you can keep it less cluttered.

Also, I recommend putting your very delicate necklaces that tangle easily inside of a straw and then clasp the necklace with the straw on it. It seriously saves on the nightmare of trying to untangle those if your jewelry box gets dumped upside down while moving 🙂

My tip is if you, your husband, or kids haven't wore, used or seen something in over 6 months then donate it. Not only are you helping your move to be easier but knowing that you are giving it to someone who might not have been able to afford that before. Have fun packing/moving!

I numbered all of my boxes (as well as labeled them). Then I had an excel spreadsheet that coordinated with that box that told me exactly what was in it. That way if I was looking for something specific I was able to find it. We too did a temporary move and this was a lifesaver.

When I moved I went to grocery stores and others to see if they had any extra boxes they were going to through away…Petsmart had the best ones! They fold out where you don't have to use any tape on them (but of course you can to help secure them more) and the best part of them was they had inserts for handles, which made it a lot easier to carry. I would definitely recommend writing on the outside of each box what is inside or which room it goes in. It makes the moving process go much smoother! Best of luck to you guys with the move coming up!! I know you guys will have plenty of help from all your family & friends! 🙂

Whatever you don't get done before you move in will never get done! 😉 At least that is what I have found. Your house will be beautiful!!

April W.

My advise would be to pack the kitchen stuff last in the moving truck so you would be able to get it out first at the new home.

Get your kids to help you pack up the boxes. Give them little 'prizes' or priviledges for fastest packed box, or best packed. Or most stuff in it. Obviously give them things to pack that you're not concerned about being packed well, or breakable.

Michelle Smid

Label everything really well and pack all the like stuff together. We moved about 10 miles a few years ago and were able to settle everything in quickly because we had all of one room's items in these boxes, etc. Use laundry baskets and everything! 🙂

Put a st of sheets and towels for each bed and family member in your washer and dryer…that way you know where they are and aren't trying to open boxes when you want to go to bed! Plus a spare change of clothes!

You can go to a local supermarket and ask them to keep free boxes they won't use. Then a few days later they'll have them ready for you. Hope that helps! 🙂
– Katie Drake

It's kinda a duh but take anything of value with you…ie don't allow them to pack it for you. Let them know you are watching them. When we moved out of state, they asked to pack a camera…and then the camera didn't make it to the new location… The next time, I vocally let the packers know I was watching them.
Never leave your house unattended while they are packing.
I also second the COLOR tags! Makes it easy for everyone.
A moving binder is a great idea too http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2012/06/how-to-organize-your-move-2.html

Good luck!

Don't wait until the last minute…as you pack take the time to clean out what you no longer use or want. Why move junk?!?! Label every box with what room it goes to…movers can put it in the room and makes unpacking easier!

My best advice to help your kiddos adjust is to go the day before you move in and put one or two of their favorite items in their new room with a welcome sign on their door as a surprise to them. making it a new adventure is always fun. As for packing, wardrobe boxes are straight from the Lord above! They're worth the cost and they make life so much easier when you can just move everything on it's hanger and already organized for your new closet. Lowe's and Hoe Depot have better prices on them than buying them from Uhaul, etc… Best of luck!

How exciting for your family!! We just moved in May while I was 9 months pregnant with my second- yikes!! I'm not good at asking for help, but if anyone offers, take it!
We labeled each box with a number for the room, and put a map out on the day with the numbers for anyone helping unpack. Also, we unpacked the kids rooms and playroom first so our son felt at home quickly! Good Luck!
Can't wait to see pics of your new houses 😉

The best advice I was given was to use the move as a great opportunity to truly clean house! If you end up with even a little less to pack and move, consider it a success! Go through everything and be honest with yourself, if you havent't used it in your current house (aka the weird cutting board with a cheese slicer attached you received as a wedding 15 years ago…), then you certainly won't use it in your new house!

We live in Alabama. In 2011 my husband was forced out of his home for a brief period of time due to tornado damage. One of the smartest things we did was pack in rubbermaid tubs that were clear on the bottom. We labeled the boxes with what room they came from but having the clear bottom made it MUCH easier when we were unloading. We could see the items in each box and helped us prioritize our unpacking. It also helped us know which boxes needed to go with us for the temporary time and which ones could go in permanent storage! We actually left some things packed in the basement even after we moved back in because they were"protected" in the tubs. After we unpacked, we kept a few of the tubs for storage and donated a few to a local shelter. Best of luck with the moves!!

I always pack up each room and label each box with a colored label specific to that room. I also list what is in the box. It makes it helpful to those who are helping you to know where to put the boxes and they don't have to bother you each time. I also like using paper boxes because they are sturdy and small enough to carry. Although big boxes hold more they tend to be more of a chore to carry.

Lots of cleaning out!!! Have some keep the kids. Keep their most important things out and lots of reassuring them!

Katie here, when you start packing up your kitchen, bubble wrap is not necessary. If you are like me you have accumulated your fair share of walmart and kroger plastic bags, these will do fine to cushion some of your glassware. Happy packing!

My best moving tip? Get lots of yummy snacks all around you…pizza…yummo drinks…to keep the energy and body happy! 🙂

– Ashley in Colorado

When packing items that are fragile I recommend using the containers you use at Christmas time to pack up ornaments. Hopefully they are still available through organization stores such as the Container store. This will save a lot of time you would normally spend wrapping each individual item. Hope this helps!

I start packing way in advance so that if I do a box or two a day, there isn't so much the week of the move. Also, I stick to paper plates and bowls for all meals so there is one less thing to do!

Catherine
Csm824(at)gmail.com

I would agree with the comments that mention gathering/donating the things you no longer use. I've done this in my last two moves and have found that I'm much more aware of what I buy because of it. I donated tons of clothes and other household things I never used, but bought because they were a great deal, and now only buy things I love and will wear often.

Organization is also key – label, label, label!

I hope to move goes well and the weather participates! (I've moved in the rain twice, so pethaps I should also mention checking the forecast?)

Thank you for the awesome giveaway! Fingers crossed 🙂

My advice would be to give yourself enough time so that as you pack, you can really decide what you use and what you don't. You can donate what you don't use/need anymore. That way you don't waste your time packing, moving and then unpacking stuff that you don't use or need.

Collect boxes like yesterday. Color code your boxes… Easier for moving in. and finsih packing one room before you move to the next! Dont stress yourself out, have help! And pray for sanity!

My advice would be to check the forecast! Whether moving yourself or with movers, you don't want to move in the rain, trust me! 🙂

I would also agree with the people that mention gathering/donating things as you pack. I did this in my last two moves and can honestly say it felt good to de-clutter and I felt more more organized in my new homes.

The last thing would be your labeling. I like the color code mentioned earlier, or really specific labeling worls well too (I.e. – linen closet, kitchen – pans, bakeware, etc.)

Early planning is the first step, so you're already ahead of the game! 🙂

Thanks for the awesome giveaway, my fingers are crossed!

We moved almost two years ago. Clean out as you pack!! Take one room at a time and have a "donate" box for things that you no longer need. Good labeling is another thing! Know what is in those boxes. Since you are moving into a rental home for the time being, take as little as possible and get a storage unit to hold the rest. Good luck!

We found those boxes that come with a metal hanging bar to hang clothes were extremely helpful. You don't have to take the time to take clothes off the hangers, fold and pack, just to do the reverse when you unpack. Worth the money!

Good luck with the multiple moves!

My advice would be to keep a separate bag or suitcase of just bed linens & kid pajamas (and some for you too!) and anything else you may want that first night/morning (toothbrushes, towels, etc). Keep it with you…not the moving van. That way, you can make beds and kids can feel comfortable that first night with out you being overwhelmed with finding the right box.

Good luck!!

My best advice is to have LOTS of (reliable) HELP!!!! 🙂

And, to organize/pack boxes according to specific rooms/areas. Obviously, you'll have all that you'll NEED for the rental labeled and the stuff that can "wait" until the new house is ready – can just be packed separately!!

Oh, and coffee will be your FRIEND!!! 😉

I didn't read through all the comments but I'm sure someone already mentioned it – I think the best thing to do is get rid of all the clutter you haven't used or don't plan on using. Moving is no fun!

I feel like I've moved 200+ times, but each time I always pack stuff i'm planning to get rid of. SO what I've learned is throw stuff away/donate to goodwill or charity FIRST, and then pack/move the rest.

GOOD LUCK! 🙂

We just moved last year! Go through your house first and throw away/donate things that aren't used regularly. No sense packing and moving things unnecessarily! Also I am a huge fan of list making and labeling! Best of luck for a smooth move!

Use a moving company for the big stuff! I always say it saved my marriage!

Color coordinate!!!
Designate a color for each room in the new home, such as yellow for kitchen, orange for dining room, etc. Apply colored stickers on the box near the box number. In your new home. Put a matching sticker on the door to each room. The movers will know where to put everything when they arrive at the destination. It's also helpful to post a big sign on the wall in the room where you want boxes stacked, ("Boxes here please") to keep them out of furniture and traffic areas!!

Also have the Kids helps as much as they can! Having them pack up their rooms, and play areas (simple things) will save you lots of time!

GOOD LUCK!!!:)

XO,
Amelia Vignali

Color coordinate!!!!
Designate a color for each room in the new home, such as yellow for kitchen, orange for dining room, etc. Apply colored stickers on the box near the box number. In your new home. Put a matching sticker on the door to each room. The movers will know where to put everything when they arrive at the destination. It's also helpful to post a big sign on the wall in the room where you want boxes stacked, ("Boxes here please") to keep them out of furniture and traffic areas!

Also have the kiddos help as much as possible! Make it a game for them to pack up and get rid of toys that they don't play with and have them organize their stuff! It will make everything A LOT easier for you:)

GOOD LUCK!

xo,
Amelia

Label and more label!!! Get a mover – youll be glad you did! And since you are moving into a rental first – put what you don't need in the rental in storage for when you move to your new house. It will save time packing and unpacking and packing it again.

Shay, Thank you for sharing your life with us. What a fun ride.

My advice for packing, isn't necessarily how to pack but what to pack. As you're going through items in your house ask yourself this:

-Do I love you?
-Do I need you?
-Do I use you?

If you can't answer "yes" to any of these questions, it's not worth packing and unpacking!

(I can't take credit for this advice, it came from Kelly over at flylady.com)

We are a former military family and have moved a good bit… this advice really helps with decluttering… even when you're not moving!

Enjoy the journey!

Jamie in St. Louis

I find packing well is the most important thing in order to make it easier with the unpacking. That being said, when moving to the new place, settle the boxes according to the room they belong to instead of just setting them down anywhere and then getting to it. I also like to unpack one room at a time and organize as I go. 🙂
Debora S.

Let the professionals do it!! : ) my husband's company moved us from MI to southern ohio and ill never move another way again!!! But if that's not an option, pack up all the wall stuff first as you need that stuff the least! And days/weeks before live off paper products so you can pack up your kitchen before the day of!!! Good luck, sounds exciting!!!
Jessica winne

Liquor store or copier paper boxes are great. They are generally heavier boxes with handles on the sides for easier carrying.

I never knew about the boxes you can get that have a rod in it so that you hang your clothes instead of folding everything. My friend gave us some with our last move and I was amazed at how much fit into them! They were amazing!:)

1. Label your boxes. (Obviously)

2. Use your time packing to do some major spring cleaning. The easiest way to pack is to reduce what you are packing. Sometimes you don't realize how much you have until you are looking at each and every item you own one-by-one. Donate all you can.

Starbucks Coffee boxes are great and easy to carry. Just ask the store when their delivery day is and have them save the boxes for you.

Start throwing things out/donating what you don't "need" . Seriously, it is AMAZING how much stuff you accumulate, especially with kiddos! You can pack things now that you don't need to 'use' for the next few weeks: decor,extra kitchen appliances (like my juicer that never gets used :)) etc…And make sure to label EVERYTHING! GL!

I'm the best packer in the family. The best tip I have is to pack one room at a time, label each box with the designated room and the basics of what is in the box (ex: Kitchen: Dishes, Kitchen: Dry Goods, etc). I suggest leaving the Kitchen for last since that is probably the stuff you use most. Also, as you are packing it will be a good opportunity to donate or throw out items you don't want or need anymore, therefore you won't be taking that stuff into your new space…kind of like a fresh start.

something that has always helped me was getting rid of as much stuff as possible before the move! if I hadn't used something in 6 months, it got donated. It helps to have less things to move and also less to unpack!

My tip is to label every single box and write down everything in the box on the outside of the box so you will not have to look through every single box to find that one item you need.

Use colored shipping tape to seal boxes to designate rooms and also upstairs vs downstairs if you are moving into a two story house. This same tape can also be placed on pieces of furniture to easily designate what furniture goes in each room. They also sell cute patterns to make the move a little more fun! Rebecca C.

Hmmm, there are few things in life I hate more than moving, but I do love starting a new chapter! Label your boxes and keep in mind that small things can be heavy, so just because it all fits doesn't mean it will be easy to move 🙂

We packed everything in plastic totes! Easy for moving and reusing:)

Stack your plates with paper plates between them instead of wrapping them.

Don't be afraid to ask for help when moving, but make sure you are ready to go when people arrive! Have stuff boxed up and labeled so they can be efficient and things go quickly. Then when you move again into your new house, they won't mind helping again.

My recommendation is only take the necessity's to the rental. Put everything else into storage. Label, label, label, and take a ton of pictures. Good luck! Hilary
kevinhilaryzacharywill.blogspot.com

We have been in the same boat and are currently in a tiny rental while we wait on the right house to buy. My advice…
– Purge/Giveaway/Clean/Organize first!
– Print out the awesome spreadsheet from this girl and pack accordingly, being super detailed as you label the contents of each box on the spreadsheet (http://shannonbrown.typepad.com/life_in_general/2012/05/how-to-move-1000-miles.html)
– If you're putting things in storage while in your rental, go ahead and make those storage boxes their own separate pages on that spreadsheet. If I didn't think I'd really need it in the next year, I put it in storage. It has been refreshing to live simply this year, and if I really need/miss/want something I just have to look up the box number on my spreadsheet and hubs can go get it from storage!

Best packing tip….get rid of anything that you haven't used within the year!! Clothing, sheets, pots, pans, jewelry…anything!!!! Good luck!

My name is Lauren Ball. (I left a comment earlier, but don't see it and don't know if it went through.)
My advice would be to get free boxes from lowes, home depot, etc. They usually give away their refrigerator, washer/dryer, etc. boxes to people who ask! They are so nice to pack in because they are nice and big!

Cook some of your fabulous food and invite your friends over for a "party" and then SURPRISE!! It's actually a packing and moving party and they all get to help!!! But really, you could still feed them the food! 🙂

Label, label, label! Don't just put living room on a box — write as much detail as you can. Last time we moved, I made sure that my son's room was set-up first. The rest of the house was a mess, but at least he was "home" in his room. I love organizing and cleaning … I always look forward to helping my friends move!

We did the same thing! My tip is to get a Get a SAM (or a pod). Put all non-essential items in there. They pick it up at your current house and then deliver it to the new house when you are ready. That way you don't have a ton to unpack and repack at the rental.

Get the moving-seran-wrap stuff! Wrap it around EVERYTHING (pictures, furniture, odd and ends). Keeps everything protected, clean, and together.

Label, label, label!!! Make sure each box has what room/what's in it written somewhere on it. Just in case you need something that's not unpacked yet! 🙂
Krystal Dubas

I hate packing too, but one of my fav packing tips is to use all my towels to wrap anything breakable. Beats washing black newsprint off dishes and you get 2 things packed at once!!!!

Have a packing party! Provide food and wine and have friends over to help you pack. Best thing I ever did!! We got our entire kitchen packed up in one night.

Consolidate. Get rid of things you don't need before packing them. Instead of packing them and then getting rid of them after you unpack because you realize you don't truly need it.

Avoid mixing items from different rooms in the same box. It will make your packing quicker and your unpacking a lot easier, too. And don't forget to label each box with the room it's destined for along with a description with its contents. Being organized makes moving a little less chaotic!

Good luck – love your blog!

Good luck with your move! I recently moved into my fiance's house and until we could find a place that was ours I put alot of stuff in storage.

Here is some advice:

1. Label boxes for which room they go in. Makes it easy for those moving you into your new home.

2. Label which boxes are fragile and need extra special care. Also keep those seperate from all the other boxes.

3. If you are packing away sheets, blankets, towels, clothes and leaving them packed until you move into your new home, add a dryer sheet or two to the box. Helps keep them smelling fresh.

Good luck and best wishes!

Julie Koch

We hoarded as many paper boxes as we could, and they are such sturdy lifesavers!

Wrap your breakable stuff in your towels, washcloths, etc. Then you don't have to waste money on bubble wrap or newspaper, and you don't have to use extra boxes for your linens.

I would label all of your boxes, ( Let the kids help!) Make it fun for them! And also hire movers! It is worth it! 🙂

Hello! My best tip is to use index cards. As you pack a box, list the contents of the box on the index card and tape it to the side of the box. I say the side b/c as the boxes are stacked up inside the moving truck or in a storage facility, you will want to be able to see the index card. I am a bit type A so I created two cards and placed them on each side. This works a lot better then just writing "Kitchen" or "Bathroom" because now you know exactly what is in the box! Hope you have a stress-less move!

The more bubble wrap the better!!!!! We bubbled wrapped everything when we moved and nothing was broken in the process. Good luck!
Abby Lea

Enough Plugs in the kitchen and be sure to tell the builder exactly what you want so you wont regret anything! Enjoy!

Best advice….anything is easier to move, load, carry if it is in a box. also, pack a little every day (i am sure you are already doing that because you are super organized). have fun building…it is a lot of fun.
deborah p.

Best advice I can give is to invest in some colored duct tape. Once you fill the boxes from each separate room in your home, color coordinate them to that room and use a different color duct tape to secure each box. That way your movers already know pink taped boxes go to the pink (kensington) room.

Also, no need to invest in wardrobe boxes when moving clothes, just keep them on their hangers, cover in trash bags and secure them with rubber bands and they should move quite easily!

Moving is never fun, so good luck!

Hey I know I am one of tons, and never win anything, but I have moved 16 times in the last 7 years and would definitely recommend just focus on 1-2 boxes per day. I am a stay at home mom of 3 ages 3 and under and I know how life is just insane, especially when you are so amazing at keeping up with your blogs and such. So might not be the most amazing advice to get, but its just reality:-)

My best tip would be to go through all of your belongings as you pack and get rid of it them/donate them. I've made the mistake so many times of packing unwanted things/clothes and it was so much more unnecessary work!

Laura C.

Stay calm and remember it's a season.
Daysha Behymer

Pack paper plates I'm between your "real" plates! It helps protect them!

Purge!!!

-Amie

I have moved around a lot and one of the best tips i have is to pack all of your clothes on hangers inside suitcases so once you get to your new house all you have to do is hang them right up..it saves a lot of time!

Use different colored duck or masking tape when packing up boxes for each room of your house. At your new house, make a sheet of paper with a piece of the tape used for the room you want those boxes moved to. This is super easy on the front end and makes unpacking less of a headache since everything should be in the room you want it to be in. Good luck!!
tdenney

As a recent college grad, I've moved lots in the last couple of years. A few of my favorite tips are.. 1. Throw out/give away everything you haven't used (clothes, junk, etc…). 2. Organize everything ahead of time so it's not mass chaos (your tooth brush shouldn't be with your socks haha!) – color code/label/whatever you have to do to make it easy once you get to your new home. 3. Wrap things in towels and old grocery bags. No need to waste money on bubble wrap or packaging supplies.
4. This goes without saying, but help is the best… we found our movers on Craigslist. They were INCREDIBLE!

Love your blog! Best of luck with the moving transition!
~Madison

My advice is use tubs instead of boxes! I've moved a lot in the past few years and had a situation like yours where I moved into a rental waiting on the move to a new house. Tubs help so much! You won't unpack all your things in the rental house, so it'll sit in storage somewhere. Boxes get wet and ruin what's inside. Tubs keep things fresh and safe! Color code tubs for different rooms. It does add a bigger cost into the picture, but you will always use tubs. Organizing the new garage, storing kids clothes, toys, or moving another friend/family member. Who knows, you could even save them and use them for when your own children have to go to college. 🙂

Label the outside of your boxes with the room it goes in…..makes unpacking so much easier

Hire movers to pack and move your things. We are moving in two weeks to a rental house while we are building a house so we are in the same boat. Good luck!

Leave folded clothing in the drawers. Remove the drawers and move to the new house. Then you just have the frame of the dresser to move and slide those clothes in drawers right back in there! Cover with a garbage bag if you're worried about them getting icky on the way.