info@storyhousere.com   |   (434) 260-1435
2110 Ivy Road   |   Charlottesville, VA 22903
facebook instagram
Story House Real Estate Story House Real Estate
Navigation
  • ABOUT US
    • Who We Are
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Philanthropy
    • Our Success Stories
      • Client Profiles
      • Client Testimonials
      • Press & Recognition
      • Our Sold Homes
    • Join Our Team
  • SELL A HOME
    • Find Your Home Worth
    • How We Sell
    • Seller Profile
    • Home Sale Calculator
  • BUY A HOME
    • Our 10 Step Process
      • Consult Your REALTOR®
      • Arrange Your Financing
      • Find Your Home
      • Prepare a Purchase Offer
      • Contract for Your Home
      • Conduct Inspections
      • Finalize Your Financing
      • Prepare for Settlement
    • Buyer Profile
    • Our Listings
    • Search All Active Listings
      • Search by County
      • Charlottesville Area Neighborhoods
    • Affordability Calculator
  • LET’S CONNECT

How Long Does it Really Take to Unpack that Last Box?

You’ve moved! You did it, you got everything packed up and it’s now in your new home. Now what?

You might heave a sigh of relief once the moving truck pulls up its ramp and peels off, but what to do now? There’s just one final step: unpacking. It turns out that some American’s let this last part drag on and on and on.

According to a recent survey it takes Americans an astounding 182 days on average to unpack their last box after moving to a new house. And that’s just the AVERAGE. It can take much longer—or shorter—depending on how you go about it. Here are some stories from homeowners who ran the gamut from speedy to seriously sluggish—and what we can learn from each tale.

42 days
“We left our 6,000-square-foot home in Tennessee and arrived at our 4,200-square-foot home in Illinois on June 3,” recalls Kathleen Thometz in Western Springs, IL. “Six weeks later, I headed to New Jersey on vacation to see my family. At that time, my house was completely unpacked and decorated, including curtains.”

Lesson for the rest of us: To unpack in such record-setting time, Thometz not only labeled her boxes clearly with the room where they should go, she also packed many items in clear bins to make them easy to identify. Plus, she and her husband really blocked out the time to get it done.

“I unpacked for two straight weeks, 13 hours a day,” she says. And rather than try to do double duty by unpacking while caring for her family, she says, “my husband took off work and cooked and took care of the kids so I could focus on unpacking.”

While not everyone can devote that much time to finishing this task so fast, it helps to lay out a timeline for yourself. Why not start what a room that you will use frequently and get to work during set time blocks to stay on track. You can also schedule some times when family or friends can help you unpack.

6 years
“My family made a big state-to-state move six years ago,” says Elaine Thompson in Salt Lake City. “Most of the stuff was left in a storage unit back home.”

While they meant to go back and get the stuff sooner, time passed. By the time they did get back and unpack those boxes six years later, “it turns out we didn’t need or want most of it,” she says.

Lesson for the rest of us: While renting a storage unit might seem necessary, watch out—it could become a clutter crutch that enables you to hold onto things you don’t really need. Even worse, if you’re paying for that storage, it’s a waste of cash. And storage units aren’t cheap. A 200-square-foot unit might cost anywhere from $150 to $230 a month.

“If there are boxes you haven’t opened after living in your new home for six months, they should be seasonal items or family heirlooms. If not, they are probably good candidates to donate or sell.

And if you want to reduce the number of boxes you have stored and are having a hard time letting go, ask a friend or family member to help you make those tough decisions.

10 years … and counting!
“It has been 10 years since we moved into our new house, and some of my husband’s stuff is still in the box, the way he packed it,” admits Susan Bozinovic in Northville, MI.

Lesson for the rest of us: Boxes in a garage or attic space could get damaged by the weather or rodents. So if they’re valuable, keep them in a dry, climate-controlled area, ideally in plastic bins that are resistant to mice, moisture, and other problems.

If you get to a point where you can’t recall what’s in that box sitting in your basement, open it, and make a decision to keep or not to keep.

 

 

 

 

Information gathered from: www.realtor.com


Posted on February 27, 2018

Categories

  • Achievements & Recognition
  • Affordability & Financing
  • Blog
  • Buying
  • Charlottesville Area
  • Charlottesville News
  • Charlottesville Real Estate
  • Choosing a Realtor
  • City of Charlottesville
  • Client Profiles
  • Client Testimonials
  • Community
  • First Time Homebuyer
  • Historic Charlottesville
  • Home Repair & Maintenance
  • Landscaping & Exterior
  • Lifestyle
  • Market Reports
  • National Real Estate
  • New Construction
  • Our Favorite Things
  • Real Estate 101
  • Real Estate News and Info
  • Selling
  • Short Sale & Foreclosure 101
  • Sold Homes
  • Staging to Sell
  • Uncategorized

Contact Us

    Subscribe to Newsletter
    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    View Instagram post by storyhousere

    Jul 4

    5 0
    Open post by storyhousere with ID 18049051490185821
    COMING SOON | 🏠 2777 Peppervine Court Charlottesville VA 22911 | MLS #666469 | $725,000 | 🛏️ 5 bed 🛁 3 full/ 1 half bath | 🎉 OPEN HOUSE Saturday, July 12th from 12 PM - 2 PM!

Located in the highly desirable FOREST LAKES SOUTH community, this 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath home is ideal for both everyday living and entertaining. The beautifully updated kitchen features RECYCLED GLASS Countertops, new CABINETS, SINK, BACKSPLASH, and APPLIANCES - all filled with NATURAL LIGHT and opening to the inviting family room. From there, step out to a lovely SCREENED-IN PORCH perfect for relaxing!

 A dedicated HOME OFFICE adds flexibility for remote work or study. Upstairs, you'll find a SPACIOUS PRIMARY SUITE with a PRIVATE BATH, THREE additional bedrooms, and a FULL hall bath. The FINISHED BASEMENT includes a 5th bedroom, a LARGE REC ROOM perfect for game nights or movie marathons, and a BONUS ROOM ideal for a gym, studio, or creative space. Enjoy peace of mind with a NEW ROOF (2021) Situated at the end of a quiet CUL-DE-SACand within WALKING DISTANCE to both the Elementary and Middle SCHOOLS, this home truly has it all!!

 📩 Email showings@storyhouseRE.com with questions!

#Charlottesvillerealestate #StoryHouseRealEstate #StoryHouseRE #startyournextstory #comingsoon #Charlottesville #StartYourStoryWithUs
    View Instagram post by storyhousere

    Jul 4

    1 0
    Open post by storyhousere with ID 18103062730483791
    From all of us at Story House, wishing you and your loved ones a joyful, safe, and spark-filled 4th of July!

🇺🇸 Happy Birthday, America! ✨

#FourthofJuly #4thofJuly #America #Holiday #StoryHouseRE #StoryHouseRealEstate
    View Instagram post by storyhousere

    Jul 3

    3 0
    Open post by storyhousere with ID 18113859067496859
    HOT HOMES ON THE MARKET 🔥🏠

🔥 This Week’s Hottest Homes Just Dropped!
Ready to fall in love with your next home? Whether you're dreaming of clean lines and turnkey ease or a peaceful hideaway tucked in the trees, we’ve got you covered.

✨ Sleek, stylish homes—move-in ready
🌿 Retreats with space and serenity
🏙️ Buzzing neighborhoods full of life

All in locations that check every box.

Your dream home won’t wait.
Which one feels like your next chapter?

FEATURED LISTING | 🏠 608 Davis Avenue Charlottesville VA 22901 | MLS #666120 | $700,000 | 🛏️ 3 bed 🛁 3 full bath | 🎉 

FEATURED LISTING | 🏠 1103 Mill Park Drive Ext Charlottesville VA 22901 | MLS #665911 | $350,000 | 🛏️ 3 bed 🛁 2 full/1 Half bath | 🎉 

FEATURED LISTING | 🏠 3028 Horizon Road Charlottesville VA 22902 | MLS #665834 | $485,000 | 🛏️ 3 bed 🛁 2 full/2 half bath | 🎉 

FEATURED LISTING | 🏠 820 Swede St Charlottesville VA 22901 | MLS #665347 | $500,000 | 🛏️ 3 bed 🛁 2.5 bath | 🎉 

FEATURED LISTING | 🏠 83 Mossy Creek Court Zion Crossroads VA 22942 | MLS#665020 | $675,000 | 🛏️ 4 bed 🛁 3 bath | 🎉 

FEATURED LISTING | 🏠 4760 Bluejay Way Charlottesville VA 22911 | MLS#665043 | $370,000 | 🛏️ 3 bed 🛁 3.5 bath | 🎉 

FEATURED LISTING | 🏠 1184 Partridge Lane Charlottesville VA 22901 | MLS#664253 | $374,000 | 🛏️ 3 bed 🛁 3 bath | 🎉 

📩 Email showings@storyhouseRE.com with questions!

 #Charlottesvillerealestate #StoryHouseRealEstate #StoryHouseRE #startyournextstory #comingsoon #Charlottesville #StartYourStoryWithUs
    View Instagram post by storyhousere

    Jul 3

    14 0
    Open post by storyhousere with ID 18051974999143526
    JUST LISTED | 🏠 1025 Bristlecone Lane Charlottesville VA 22911 | MLS #666383 | $425,000 | 🛏️ 3 bed 🛁 3 full bath | 🎉 OPEN HOUSE Sunday, July 6th from 1 PM - 3 PM!

Step into elegance and comfort in this beautifully updated home featuring:
✨ Light-filled open floor plan
🔥 Cozy propane log fireplace
🍽 Chef’s kitchen with quartz countertops & stainless steel appliances
🛌 Main level primary suite with spa-like bath
🌳 Private backyard with covered patio — perfect for summer entertaining!

Enjoy the best of Charlottesville living, just minutes from 29N Charlottesville, top schools, shopping, dining, and more.

📩 Email showings@storyhouseRE.com for questions!
🔑 Move-In Ready | Main Floor Living | Prime Location

#Charlottesvillerealestate #StoryHouseRealEstate #StoryHouseRE #startyournextstory #comingsoon #Charlottesville #StartYourStoryWithUs
    View Instagram post by storyhousere

    Jul 1

    10 0
    Open post by storyhousere with ID 18111986974447812
    COMING SOON | 🏠 34 Zephyr Road Palmyra VA 22963 | MLS #666386 | $375,000 | 🛏️ 3 bed 🛁 2 full bath | 🎉 OPEN HOUSE Sunday, July 13th from 11 AM - 1 PM!

Elegant light-filled ranch in a prime Lake Monticello location with outstanding curb appeal! This upscale split-bedroom floor plan features multiple rooflines, oversized Palladian windows, vaulted ceilings, and hickory hardwood floor. The spacious living room includes a gas fireplace and opens to the kitchen with granite countertops, maple cabinetry, a breakfast bar, and an eat-in area, plus a separate formal dining room.

The primary site offers vaulted ceilings, hardwood flooring, a large walk-in closet, double vanities, and a walk-in glass-enclosed shower. Additional bedrooms are located on the opposite side of the home for privacy. A vaulted sunroom overlooks the fenced backyard and mature landscaping. Additional features include a side-load garage, paved driveway with extra parking, and established plantings.

Conveniently located near the Turkeysag Gate, shopping, dining, and walkable to Beach 4.

 📩 Email showings@storyhouseRE.com with questions!

 #Charlottesvillerealestate #StoryHouseRealEstate #StoryHouseRE #startyournextstory #comingsoon #Charlottesville #StartYourStoryWithUs
    Story House Real Estate logo
    STORY HOUSE REAL ESTATE
    2110 Ivy Road
    Charlottesville, VA 22903
    Phone: (434) 260-1435
    facebook instagram
    LICENSED TO SELL REAL ESTATE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
    REALTOR icon Equal Housing icon
    © 2025 Story House Real Estate. All Rights Reserved.