MOVING - What? When? Where? How?

How WONDERFUL! You’re MOVING! So exciting, so many decisions….so much to DO! Let’s see if we can get you moved with all that excitement intact and without breaking Grandma-ma’s favorite reading lamp, the bank OR your back!  I’ve done some research, and I’ve moved a few times so here are some ideas I hope you can use!

FIRST THINGS 1^ST-GET RID OF EVERYTHING!

Well everything would possibly be counterproductive, but the more unused and unnecessary items you eliminate from your home, the less stuff you’ll have to pack up, haul across town, unload, and organize. If you haven’t used it in the last 12 months, and it didn’t come from Grandma-ma…then it should be in the photo J Like that really cute coat (you paid too much for), but haven’t worn in 2 Winters? Donate pile. The very 1^st Fondue Set you got when you were married that flavors all your sauces with little bits of rust? Trash pile.

This is a BIG one because this preliminary purge has the biggest bang for your buck in the efficiency and ease of your entire packing process!

PILES, BOXES AND BAGS! OH MY!

You probably have a few items you no longer want, but would love to get a little money for. If that’s the case, set these items aside and determine where you can sell them. If you have the time & energy for a “Moving Sale”, GREAT! Pick a date, advertise it on your local community Facebook page and have a blast entertaining all those folks (who will show up around DAWN) and if you don’t have everything out yet will be happy to follow you back into the house to “help” J

My advice? Pick the app (Let It Go, Craigslist etc.) or the donation/charity of your choice and let them come pick it up – then take the deduction at the end of the year! If it’s a valuable collectable (circa 1990 Beanie Babies) think EBAY. (Do keep good records J)

TIME TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL!

This is not a place to skimp. The moving company you trust with the loading, hauling and unloading of your belongings will have a direct bearing on your memory of the move in general and very possibly your bottom line if you don’t check the fine print! Put in the time researching the RIGHT moving company and it’ll save you peace of mind and hassles on moving day!

Make sure they are licensed in the state you’re moving in and not just some guy looking to pick up a few bucks on weekends! Make sure to read the company’s list of services, fine print, and refund or damage policies, too. For example, on moving day is not the time you want to learn that they don’t take anything that is not in a packed, closed and taped shut box! So those overstuffed drawers from the dresser or your duffel bags won’t make the cut! Also, when do they want their money? Some want a deposit weeks in advance. Trust me when I say, moving day is not “hit me with your best shot day”! Find out the specifics so there are no unwelcome surprises come moving day.

Pick the right day too. When you schedule far enough in advance you can often get a discount! Not to mention that when you choose to move on a weekend you’re risking an overbooking situation making your move either later in the day than you wanted, or possibly even the next day! 

BECOME THE “LIST MASTER” OF YOUR MOVE

Let’s see now, how many things are there to do, to remember? About 600!! So don’t leave all these tasks and reminders to your memory, and sticky notes have a way of disappearing!

Write them down somewhere. Put them in the Notes app on your phone, or the Wunderlist app, or go old-school with a giant yellow legal pad.

No detail is too insignificant. You just remembered the name of the little bookstore in town that will accept your used novels? Write it down.  Not sure which novels to donate though – check out http://makespace.com for that advice J

You stuck that extra screw from the broken drawer next to the sink? Take note. You have to return your cable box to your provider at least one day before you leave? Jot it down.

Take your organization a step further and spend an evening making a calendar and mark the empty white boxes with important daily tasks to prepare for your move.

Tuesday: Call moving company.

Wednesday: Sort through toiletries.

Thursday: Buy new sheets.

This does as much for your time management as it does for your memory and your energy level. You’ll have a visual of tasks on certain days, make the load bearable and leave no stone unturned! J Also, don’t forget to add “celebrate with wine” somewhere in there to give you something to look forward to.

Pay a visit to your local liquor store (that’s where you can buy the aforementioned wine) to see if they recycle their used boxes. They are often reinforced, may have dividers and should be “gently worn”.

The only boxes I ever keep when I buy something is the electronics because these are very fragile…AND expensive! The best way to transport your electronics is in the original boxes they arrived in when you purchased them.

If you did not save these in the attic or garage or under the bed, then put down on the list items for protecting these like: Quilted blankets, bubble wrap, and sturdy tape all work well to protect TVs and similarly delicate items.

Make a shopping list that is really thorough and detailed. Sit down with your family, partner, or roommates and brainstorm every possible item you will need to help you get through the moving process.  Again, nothing is too insignificant. Packing tape, cardboard boxes, packing paper, extra screws, putty, a measuring tape, a new industrial-size broom, you name it. Buy it all in one big haul. Extra packing and moving supplies should be on there too like small flashlights, wire cutters, zip ties and don’t forget the “just in case” items when you’re making your hardware store list. Stock up now on extra supplies like light bulbs (check your lamps to verify the type you need), extension cords, and power strips so you’ll be set to go when you start moving things in.

CALL THE CABLE, ELECTRIC, WATER, GAS, PHONE ETC.

Call your cable, internet, electricity, and gas providers at least a week ahead of your move to figure out when you need to shut everything off. Make sure you leave enough time in your schedule to gather any necessary items — like cords, remotes, or cable boxes — you may need to return.

HELP WANTED!

The more notice you can give family and friends the better chance you’ll actually have them really show up! Don’t forget to plan for a babysitter for all the kiddos if needed! Send out an email with the details of where to meet, what time, what to bring, so everyone is on the same page.

OK TROOPS-PACK AND LOAD!

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, that’s how! Packing is the elephant in this little story so take a few bites now, and some later…Packing little by little is far less stressful than trying to tackle it all in one day. As early as a couple months out, start packing the stuff you know you won’t be using.

You know that you don’t have to have access to that off-season clothing or the books you’ve already read. How about all those mementos, pictures, and keepsakes, can’t you live without them for a few weeks? Go through every room deciding what do you use within a month? Pack the rest a bite/box or 2 each couple of days. Don’t forget art and decorative items too because these pieces can be some of the trickiest to store because they’re fragile and often oddly shaped, so having a bit of extra time to figure out how to properly cushion them is crucial.

THINGS ARE CHANGING-LIKE ADDRESSES!

This is one of those things everyone forgets to do until they’re two weeks into life in a new home and they realize their Amazon Prime shipment still hasn’t arrived. Change your address ahead of time so your bills, credit card statements, and packages can arrive on time and without hassle.

PACK LIKE A BOSS!

There are as many methods to pack as there are items to be packed so here are a few favorites:

Overnight stay?-Don’t underestimate the value of packing an overnight bag – just like you were going away for a day or two because chances are you won’t get everything unpacked in the first day, so bring whatever you need to feel relaxed and settled on your first couple of nights. A change of clothes, your toiletries, a water bottle, and your laptop can go a long way in making your new place feel more like home.

 Labeling-tops and sides works best, then just be sure they go in the truck with a side you can read facing you. Some folks label by category and or room to speed up unloading. Some use a numbering system-writing everything that is in the box on a list-give the list a number or even use an app like “Sorty”, then number the boxes – this way you know exactly what box the plunger is in just by checking the LIST!

A picture is worth a thousand minutes when you are trying to remember which plug went into which hole!  Before you take them apart and pack them up, take a few pictures of the back of your electronic devices — the cord situations, if you will.

Clean up on …ANYWHERE!  Set aside a broom, mop, dustpan, duster, sponge, cleaning products, paper towels, and old rags for wiping the grimy, hidden surfaces you could never get to when all your stuff was in the way.

Stack and load boxes in groups according to the rooms indicated on the labels. Put all the kitchen stuff together, all the bedroom stuff together, and all the living room stuff together.  Then while unloading right into the right rooms with much less time spent trying to decide…makes unpacking a cinch too!

Keep a stash of Ziploc bags in your purse or backpack for the big moving day. You can use the bags to store doorknobs, tiny screws and brackets, luggage keys, or other small, easily forgettable items.

 WHEW! I’m beat! Make the beds up FIRST! That way when you’ve done all you can for this day (didn’t go all that badly) you don’t have all the pushing/pulling/tugging that goes with making the bed to look forward to, just the falling, stretching and exhaling that goes with a wonderful nights rest!