13 Tips For Moving Out While Selling Your House
Discover the art of juggling a move-out and house sale seamlessly with expert-backed strategies. This article unveils a curated list of practical tips to stay organized and stress-free during the transition. Gain insights from professionals who navigate these challenges daily and learn how to balance being show-ready with move-ready.
- Balance Show-Ready and Move-Ready
- Create a Three-Phase Packing System
- Pack Room by Room
- Use a Show-Ready Box System
- Use Clear Plastic Bins
- Clear Labeling Saves Sanity
- Keep Things Manageable
- Maintain a Mobile Lifestyle
- Rent a Storage Unit Early
- Pack One Room at a Time
- Turn Garage into Packing Station
- Focus on Decluttering
- Pack One Room at a Time
Balance Show-Ready and Move-Ready
Packing and moving while my home was still on the market felt like juggling a dozen balls while walking a tightrope. I quickly learned the key was balancing “show-ready” with “move-ready.”
I started by decluttering-packing up anything non-essential. One weekend, I tackled the attic and boxed up holiday decorations, out-of-season clothes, and anything I hadn’t used in a year. Not only did it make packing easier, but it also made the house look more spacious for potential buyers.
Next, I created a “staging zone” in the garage where packed boxes could live out of sight. It kept the home looking polished but ensured I wasn’t scrambling at the last minute.
One strategy that worked wonders was color-coding boxes with duct tape. Each room got its own color, so unpacking at the new place was a breeze.
I also kept an “essentials” box handy-important documents, toiletries, and a few favorite toys for my child-so we weren’t digging through boxes every day.
The biggest tip? Take it one room at a time and give yourself grace. Moving is chaotic, but with a bit of planning, it’s totally doable-even with house showings in the mix!
Takarudana Mapendembe
Founder, Best Calculators
Create a Three-Phase Packing System
During a recent home sale, I discovered that strategic pre-packing while maintaining perfect showing conditions required careful balance. By creating a three-phase packing system, I managed to keep my home show-ready while steadily preparing for the move. The garage became my staging area, with clearly labeled zones for different moving phases.
Phase one involved packing seasonal items and rarely used belongings first. I stored holiday decorations, extra linens, and out-of-season clothing in clear bins with detailed labels. This decluttering immediately made the home appear more spacious during showings while getting essential packing done. These boxes were neatly stacked in the garage’s “long-term storage” zone.
For phase two, I tackled closets and cabinets, keeping only essential items accessible. Each closet maintained a minimal, organized appearance with color-coordinated hangers and boxes. This created an impression of abundant storage space – a key selling point. I used vacuum-sealed bags for extra clothing and linens, maximizing storage efficiency.
The final phase focused on daily-use items, organized in easily movable containers. Each room had a designated “showing box” where everyday items could be quickly stored before viewings. This system allowed me to maintain a lived-in yet pristine appearance while being ready to move at a moment’s notice. This organized approach not only facilitated smooth showings but also made the eventual move significantly easier. The key was maintaining strict organization while prioritizing the home’s marketability throughout the selling process.
Cesar Villaseñor
Real Estate Investor, Click Cash Home Buyers
Pack Room by Room
Being both a real estate investor and Airbnb host taught me to pack room by room, taking photos of each space before packing so I could stage it identically for showings. I kept a ‘showing kit’ with fresh towels, neutral decor, and cleaning supplies in my car, which allowed me to quickly refresh the house between viewings while living there. My best tip is creating a ‘daily essentials’ box for each family member with a week’s worth of clothes and necessities, so you can maintain a show-ready home without sacrificing daily comfort.
Jessica Wright
Owner, Cash For Houses Tennessee
Use a Show-Ready Box System
One thing that helped to dramatically improve our home staging and moving process was the creation of the “show-ready box” system. I identified certain boxes in each room with the essentials for styling and packed everything else away. When a showing came up, we would pull out the pre-placed items-things like preselected throw pillows, fresh towels, and decor pieces-to keep the perfectly staged look.
It brought our prep time down to just 10 minutes from the previous 45 minutes yet still delivered the professionally staged home. This system will also enable one to pack up to 80% of their belongings ahead of time without sacrificing the appeal of the home. The trick is in picking just a few high-impact pieces per room that will instantly say “lived-in but pristine” to buyers.
Best part? When we got our offer, we had most of our packing done, so the actual move was way less stressful.
Alexander Weber
Founder, Dein Schriftgenerator
Use Clear Plastic Bins
Having helped countless Columbus homeowners through this exact situation, I’ve learned that using clear plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes is worth the extra cost – they stack better and protect against basement moisture while your home is listed. When I moved while selling my own home last year, I created a ‘showing day’ checklist and packed a few ‘Open House Go Boxes’ with sheets, towels, and decor that could quickly transform the space. I tell my clients to tackle one category at a time (like books or seasonal items) rather than one room, which helps prevent that overwhelming feeling of living in a half-packed house.
Sean Grabow
Owner, Central City Solutions
Clear Labeling Saves Sanity
Clear labeling saved my sanity when I recently helped a client stage their home while packing – we used green stickers for ‘showing essentials’ and red for ‘pack now.’ I packed room by room, keeping daily necessities in labeled plastic bins that could be quickly stashed in the car during showings. From my experience flipping over 200 homes, I’ve found it’s super helpful to take photos of each room when it’s staged perfectly, so you can quickly restore it to that state after living in it between showings.
Darcy Turner
Founder, Investor Home Buyers
Keep Things Manageable
When I was packing and moving while my home was on the market, I made a plan to keep things manageable. I started by packing items I didn’t use every day, like seasonal decorations and extra kitchen supplies. Each box was labeled and stored in a rented unit to keep the house clutter-free. Keeping things organized helped the house look open and welcoming during showings.
I packed one room at a time and kept packing supplies in one spot to avoid making the house feel chaotic. Before every showing, I had a quick routine to clean up, like clearing countertops, tucking away personal items, and making the beds. It kept the space looking inviting while allowing me to stay on track with the move. My advice is to break it down into small tasks, start early, and keep the house as tidy as possible to make the process easier.
Shaun Bettman
Chief Executive Officer, Eden Emerald Mortgages
Maintain a Mobile Lifestyle
I’ve learned from staging over 200 properties that maintaining a ‘mobile lifestyle’ while selling is crucial – I keep 70% of items packed and stored, leaving just enough to make the home feel lived-in. When managing my own move last year, I rented a small storage unit nearby and rotated seasonal items, which made showing the house much easier while still having access to everything I needed. After helping many clients through this process, I suggest using vacuum storage bags for bulky items like bedding and clothes – they’re easy to stack in closets and keep everything looking organized during showings.
Vladimir Plotnikov
Founder, Plot Property Group
Rent a Storage Unit Early
During my years helping clients sell homes, I’ve found that renting a storage unit early on is a game-changer – it lets me gradually pack non-essential items while keeping the house show-ready. I created a detailed spreadsheet tracking what’s in each box and which items we needed daily, marking boxes with both contents and priority levels (immediate need vs storage). Looking back, my best move was setting up a dedicated staging area in the garage where we could quickly stash daily items before showings, making it much less stressful to maintain that model-home look.
Samuel Colon
Founder, WE BUY NJ REAL ESTATE
Pack One Room at a Time
Working with hundreds of Texas homeowners, I’ve learned that packing one room at a time while keeping staging essentials out is crucial for balancing moves with showings. My secret weapon is using vacuum storage bags for bulky items like bedding and towels – they compress everything down and slide right under beds or into closets when buyers come through. I always suggest clients pack a ‘first week’ box with essentials they’ll need right away, which saves so much stress during the actual move.
Shannon Beatty
Founder, House Buying Girls
Turn Garage into Packing Station
With my experience renovating dozens of homes, I’ve learned to turn my garage into a dedicated packing station with clear bins and labeled boxes, which keeps the main living spaces show-ready. I use color-coded labels (blue for kitchen, red for bedroom, etc.) and keep a running inventory in a simple notes app on my phone, which has saved me countless headaches trying to find specific items during the move.
Bryan Melchert
Owner, Mitten Home Buyer
Focus on Decluttering
It can be tough to manage the packing and organizing when your house is for sale, but these are some tricks that helped me. First, I focused on decluttering. This means packing the things I won’t use, such as out-of-season clothing and unused kitchen gadgets. Each item was labeled. Not only did this make it easier to move, but the boxes also helped clear the spaces when we were doing showings, which allowed for a cleaner, more spacious feel.
To make the packing more organized, I drew up a checklist of to-do items and moving timelines. It was quite helpful, and I recommend this. Tasks such as hiring movers and getting packing supplies should be prioritized and held up during the moving period. Instead of hiding boxes in the living spaces, I hid them in the garage or a storage unit so my house maintained its form.
Another great tip I recommend is having a kit that has all the essentials for decorating the house, such as cleaning materials and other items. These will come in quite handy before a showing. Staying ahead while keeping everything in order can most definitely minimize stress when one is trying to sell their house.
Marvin Zhou
Senior Marketing Manager, House Bell
Pack One Room at a Time
During my years helping Bay Area clients move, I’ve found that packing one room at a time while using vacuum storage bags for bulky items like bedding and seasonal clothes helps maintain a clean, staged look for showings. I recommend keeping frequently-used items in clear bins that can quickly slide under beds or into closets when buyers come to view the home, which has worked wonders for my clients who need to balance daily life with home showings.
Justin Azarias
Owner, Property Home Buyers CA