Moving is no fun. Whether you're moving across town or across the country, it's decision time--what to do with all the prized possessions (and trash) you've collected? Everything you own has to move (thus, moving) and somebody needs to sort it, box it, and load on a truck. And then repeat the process in reverse once you're in the driveway of your new home. Are you going to handle it by yourself, or will you hire someone? And will you have the pros to do everything, or pack yourself and have the movers come with a truck or two on moving day?
It is a lot to ponder, and your budget is a fundamental consideration in determining how much of your move you want to hire to be done. But aside from your budget, your time frame or anything else, you want to actually pack and move as little as possible. As soon as you think you might be relocating, commence thinking about the purge.
When you walk through your home and really look at all your things, the prospect of packaging it all up is anxiety producing. That is why you should begin clearing, de-cluttering, donating, and dumping as soon as you start looking at new houses. If you're selling your house, your realtor will read you the riot act regarding the de-cluttering and de-personalizing before it goes on the market, so you might as well get boxes and trash bags and start. Cleaning house is an emotional challenge, especially if you've been in the house a long time, so follow this Protocol for Purging for a hassle-free clearing out.
The One-Year Rule
The rule of thumb is, if you haven't got it out of the closet in a year, get rid of it. This makes a lot of sense for children and current fashion, but you don't need to part with that Hermes scarf if you didn't get around to wearing it last year. Practically speaking, why haven't you worn it? if it does not fit, is out of date, or your lifestyle has changed (if you're no longer in the corporate world and have a bunch of suits in various shades of navy blue), feel free to consign or donate. If you're undecided, ask yourself is it worth the time and money to pack and relocate? Three weeks into boxing things up, you'll be completely merciless, as opposed to in the beginning you'll have a barren box of things to donate with a sweater, two pairs of maternity jeans and ratty tennis shoes, so grant yourself plenty of time to purge closets, dressers, and cabinets.
If you don't have a shredder, buy a cross-cut one that will even shred CDs. As you are purging and shredding old paperwork, save the shredded mulch in good-sized 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 Tulsa?
When you're taking time away from purging is a grand time to interview moving companies; you'll want to figure out how much help you need and get on their calendar as early as possible. If you are having the movers pack for you, you'll still need to weed 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 coffee table, 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 further information on items that cannot go on the moving truck.
Planning ahead and giving yourself plenty of time to purge and pack are the keys to a carefree move. Remember, everything you decide to take with you must be packed and moved, so be sure you're taking only what you can't live without to your new home.
