Moving is not usually a joy. If you're moving across town or across the country, it's reckoning time--what to do with all the trove of treasures (and trash) you've collected? Everything you own has to move (thus, moving) and someone needs to sort it, pack it, and load on a truck. And then repeat the process in reverse once you're ready to move into your new residence. Is that going to be you, or will you enlist movers? And will you ask the pros for a turn key move, or pack yourself and have the movers come with a truck or two on moving day?
It is a lot to contemplate, and your budget may be an essential consideration in deciding the portion of your move you want to hire to be done. But aside from your budget, your time frame or other factors, you want to actually box and move as little as feasible. As soon as you think you might be relocating, start thinking about the purge.
When you stroll through your residence and really look at all your stuff, the prospect of packaging it all up can be crushing. Which is why you must commence clearing, de-cluttering, donating, and dumping as soon as you start looking at new homes. If you're selling your house, your realtor will be all over you regarding the de-cluttering and de-personalizing before it goes up for sale, so you might as well get boxes and trash bags and dig in. Cleaning house is an emotional challenge, especially if you've been in the house several years, so follow this Protocol for Purging for a agony-free clearing out.
The One-Year Rule
The unwritten rule is, if you haven't put it on in a year, get rid of it. This makes a lot of sense for children and fast fashion, but you don't need to discard that Hermes scarf if you didn't get around to wearing it last December. Practically speaking, why haven't you worn it? if it doesn't fit, is out of style, or your lifestyle has changed (if you're no longer in the corporate world and have a closet full of suits in various shades of navy blue), feel free to consign or donate. If you're on the fence, ask yourself is it worth the time and money to pack and relocate? Three weeks into packing, you'll be completely cutthroat, as opposed to in the beginning you'll have an almost empty box of things to donate with a sweater, two pairs of maternity jeans and ratty tennis shoes, so grant yourself enough time to purge closets, dressers, and cabinets.
If you don't have a shredder, buy a cross-cut one that can even shred CDs. While you are purging and shredding old paperwork, save the shredded mulch in large trash bags as you empty the shredder’s bin and then use it as packing material to put in boxes so the innards don't shift in transport.
Who's Doing the Heavy Lifting in Oklahoma City?
When you're taking time away from purging is a perfect time to look for moving companies; you'll want to settle on how much help you need and get on their calendar as early as possible. If you're having the movers box everything up for you, you'll still need to go through all your stuff for purging. The packers mission is to pack, not to decide what to keep. If you have a dirty ashtray on the counter, count on seeing it again when you unpack. There are some things a moving company can't transport, and some things that they won't move. Anything flammable or toxic (gasoline, propane tanks, ammunition, nail polish and remover (seriously), and chemistry sets are a few of the things that can't be commercially moved. Click here for additional information on items that cannot go on the moving truck.
Planning ahead and giving yourself plenty of time to purge and pack are very important for a successful move. Remember, everything you decide to take with you will need be packed and moved, so be sure you are taking only what you cannot live without to your new home.
