How to Unpack Your Basement After Moving

unpack your basement after moving using these simple tips
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It seems that packing and unpacking may be the most tedious job in the entire relocation process. And not only that, unpacking can actually take much more time than packing. Just imagine standing in your home, thinking where to put this and that, then changing your mind and doing it all over again. After all, everything’s different. But, there are particular issues that arise when you’re trying to unpack your basement. Here’s how to do it with ease!

Make a plan for unpacking

The main thing you should do even before packing is to make a plan for unpacking. Making a plan is one of the most important ways of reducing stress during a move. Naturally, you will have already seen your new home. Now try to envision where everything should go. Then, put your plan to paper. Before you unpack your basement, you should at least decide what you will put there.

When you make that decision, measure the items that you want to put in your basement. This goes especially for any furniture that you want to put in there. Label each box as specifically as possible. That way, it will be much easier to later unpack your basement. You or whoever is helping you move will be able to put the boxes in their appropriate areas. Make sure not to simply stack things without any order. This leads to clutter, and that is not something you want, not even in your basement.

Man writing something in a notebook
Making a plan is vital when unpacking your basement.

Before you unpack your basement, inspect it

Many people forget that the basement is actually quite prone to all sorts of damage. That is why it is important to do a thorough inspection before moving in. Check to see whether there are any cracks in the walls and whether there is any water damage. The biggest sign of water damage is mold. However, it can also present itself as slight moisture on some parts of the wall. You want to fix any possible damage before you unpack your basement. Otherwise, you may later find your things damaged, as well. 

That is why home inspections are vital before you buy a house. A good home inspector can tell you whether your basement needs work and what type of work is needed. If you can, invest in a good home inspection, because it will pay off later. In any case, whenever you move, you should always do extensive research to prevent possible problems later. For instance, you’ve decided to move to Las Vegas. And that is all fine and dandy, but always make sure to get well informed before relocating to LV, in any way possible. Do research on available homes, on the market, as well as on the best moving companies and home inspectors. That is the only way to be sure that you’ve found the best home for you and that the move will be smooth and easy.

What to store in the basement?

Before you unpack your basement, it’s essential to know what you can and can’t put in there. In general, the basement is a great place to store, for instance, kitchen supplies that you don’t use often. Let’s face it, there are many pots and pans that you use once a year or maybe even twice. There’s no point in such things taking up space in the house, then. This also goes for holiday decorations (since you only use them once a year). You can also put suitcases and duffel bags there. Gardening tools, as well as sports equipment should also be safe there. 

Three suitcases stacked
Suitcases and duffel bags can go in the basement.

What not to store in your basement?

There are a few things you should really never put in your basement. This includes any delicate fabrics, since they can be damaged by moths, various insects or even mice. Wood and upholstered furniture should also be kept in a climate-controlled area. Wood can get warped faced with moisture present in the basement unless it has a proper finish. And even then, you will need to check on it and recoat it from time to time. 

Also, never put important documents in the basement. This includes medical records, birth certificates, passports, etc. If you don’t have anywhere else to put them, put them in a plastic bin and on the top shelf. Do not put it on the ground. The same applies for any valuable items/artwork that you own. Look at it this way – if your fragile possessions are important enough to pack them in a special way, you probably shouldn’t store them in the basement. Some of the other things that you should not put in your basement include food, flammable items and electronics. 

Buy uniform-sized plastic bins

As we all know, basements are the ultimate storage rooms. However, there are many problems that can arise. For instance, basements flood more often than not. And that is why it is not the best idea to keep things in cardboard boxes there. Cardboard boxes are highly susceptible to water, which can ruin whatever it is that you’re storing. It is best to buy plenty of plastic bins for storage. But, don’t buy different sizes. Decide on the size that will be most useful to you and buy the amount that you need. When you buy boxes of the same size, you can stack them nicely on shelves, or even on top of each other. 

A black plastic bin
Buy plastic bins of the same size.

Buy/make shelves

First, measure the basement so you’ll know whether you can put them there. Then, after you’ve measured, you can either build shelves on your own or buy them. The size of your shelves should also correlate to the size of the plastic bins you’ve bought/intend to buy. There’s no point in making/buying too small shelves only to realize you can’t put your bins on it when you unpack your basement. 

Also, if you’re buying or making wooden shelves, make sure they have protective coating. As it was mentioned, basements can easily flood. And, as you know, wood can rot, crack or become warped in prolonged contact with water or moisture. It is precisely because of that that you should invest into some protective coating for your wooden shelves. There are various sealers for wood and even water-resistant finishes that you can use. Otherwise, your shelves might get damaged and all your work will be for naught. 

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