From note-taking apps to all-in-one browser tab managers, here are some of the tools that kept me, a massive mess, organized.
Moving during the competitive summer months is stressful enough, but I made it even harder on myself last year. My mistake? Living in a complete pigsty, both physically and digitally.
Amid the chaos of being forced to relocate after years in the same place, clutter quickly accumulated. I missed out on several potential apartments because I misplaced application links or simply forgot about them. Despite my best intentions, my physical space remained a disaster until the day I left. However, I discovered some digital tools that made managing my move significantly easier. Thanks to these apps, I was able to secure a new place in no time.
OneTab for Tab Management
When I started apartment hunting, I was the person with 1,000 tabs open at a time. Thanks to OneTab, I’ve reduced that to a more manageable 500. This browser-agnostic tool works with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, letting me easily see and organize multiple tabs and browser windows. It closed all my tabs and generated a list of them—timestamped by session—that I could reopen, export, and share as a webpage. This newfound organization allowed me to reply to landlords faster and keep track of listings more effectively.
Notion: The Ultimate Organizational Tool
My biggest mistake was not having an organizational system in place from the start. Once I created a dedicated workspace in Notion for everything from tracking my apartment search to storing checklists for before, during, and after the move, life became much easier.
Notion’s customizability and intuitive design made it perfect for my needs. I could easily divide my workspace into different pages for movers, budgeting, decluttering, and more. Ready-made templates, many of which are free, saved me time and effort. Notion’s web clippers and third-party integrations were particularly helpful. They allowed me to save listings from Zillow and research from Yelp directly into my workspace, significantly reducing my tab count. Syncing apps like Google Calendar helped me keep track of tours and deadlines all in one place.
Keeping Emails Organized During Your Search
Although I discovered the Gmail Tabs extension after my move, it will be indispensable next time. This extension offers flexibility beyond Gmail’s built-in tabs, allowing you to turn labels or search queries into tabs pinned at the top of your inbox. You can set up filters to funnel relevant emails into appropriate categories, making it easy to manage property notifications, rental applications, and more. After you find a place, you can repurpose the tabs for moving-related emails and other tasks.
Voice Assistants for Managing the Chaos
In the hectic weeks before my move, I found Alexa to be incredibly useful. By syncing my Google Calendar with my Echo Show 8, I could quickly add viewing appointments and keep track of last-minute tasks. Alexa also helped me remember things like changing my address for subscriptions and companies.
Other Small Organizational Hacks
While the above tools were game-changers, a few other small hacks also helped:
Enlist a Chatbot at the Beginning
AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini can assist with planning and research. ChatGPT helped me break down the moving process into smaller, manageable steps and was useful for summarizing articles and finding the best real estate sites in my area.
Utilize Property Website Features
Many property websites offer organizational features. For example, Zillow’s Renter Hub provided a centralized way to compare listings, manage tours, keep track of applications, and message prospective landlords.
Use Inventory Apps like Sortly
Inventory apps can help you keep track of your belongings. Sortly, an iOS app, allows you to create a visual inventory of your items with photos. The premium tier, costing $50 per month, even lets you create QR codes for your moving boxes, though most people won’t need it for more than a month or two.
Moving is never easy, but with the right digital tools, you can streamline the process and stay organized. These apps helped me manage the chaos and find a new place without losing my sanity. Hopefully, they can do the same for you.
