5 essential tips to turn your new house into a home

(BPT) – Moving brings great opportunities in the form of careers, social connections and new beginnings. However, the act of moving can create unnecessary stress and tension, which makes the process less than desirable. About 35 percent of Americans move every five years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which results in many people who are looking to simplify the process and turn their new house into a home.

Celebrity design expert and ADT spokesperson Sabrina Soto has the expert moving advice to make your house a home:

* Review everything being packed: If you have items you won’t use or haven’t used in six months, put them aside. They are good candidates for selling at a garage sale, listing in online classified ads, donating to charity, or as a last-case scenario, throwing away.

Also, look for ways to reduce your load. Canned goods may still have shelf life, but evaluate whether it makes sense to move or donate – it’s likely the latter. The same goes for other items you can easily and inexpensively purchase at a discount store when you arrive at your destination. As you approach moving day, be sure to think twice before loading up at grocery or convenience stores.

As you take inventory of everything in your home, be sure to clean, organize and sort the remaining items so they can be packed quickly and then easily found when you arrive at your new home.

* Get secured before you move: Feeling secure and in control is an important part of transforming a new house into a home. An ADT Pulse home security and automation system gives homeowners the ability to not only monitor their home’s security, but also control functions such as adjusting lights, unlocking doors and controlling thermostats – all with the touch of an app. Plus, it can start working for new homeowners on day one, whether using it to grant access to trusted contractors and technicians or receiving alerts when deliveries arrive at the front door. In a new neighborhood and a new house, it will be a sigh of relief to know you’re in control both at home and while away.

* Keep organized on moving day: Walk through the old home with your movers to identify how you’d like your items organized and packed. Let them know you want the house packed room by room, which will make it easier to unpack and place everything into your new house. If you have anything fragile, be sure to note how you’d like those items to be handled, saving you plenty of time and headaches in the long run.

If you’re planning to move yourself, it’s important to take precautions and protect your belongings while the truck is being loaded and unloaded. Have a team of trusted friends or family help you – the more sets of eyes, the easier it will be to keep track of your belongings. If you need to keep the truck parked overnight, back the vehicle up to a wall or garage door, which will make it difficult for someone to break in.

* Make yourself a happy place: Choose one room in your new home to be the room you completely unpack and organize on the first day. This gives you a restful sanctuary where you can retreat, even if the rest of your items are still in boxes scattered among the other rooms for several days to come.

* Document and share the transformation: Use your smartphone or camera to document the change of your new home as your items are unpacked and placed. This allows you to see how your hard work has paid off. If there is a room in your home that still needs some love, snap a photo and enter the #MoveInMakeover contest at www.facebook.com/adt for a chance to win $1,000, an ADT Pulse home security and automation system, and a video chat with Sabrina about your house-to-home design inspiration and ideas. No purchase necessary. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 21 years and older. Ends 6/30/14. To enter and for Official Rules visit www.facebook.com/adt. Void where prohibited.

With these tips, you can streamline your move and make it less stressful for you and your family.