Moving is not usually a joy. No matter whether you're moving across town or across the country, it's reckoning time--what to do with all the treasures (and not-so-dear-to-you possessions) you've accumulated? Everything you own has to move (thus, moving) and somebody needs to go through it, box 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 professionals? And will you ask the pros to do everything, or pack yourself and have the movers come with a truck or two to load, transport and unload?
It is a lot to contemplate, and your budget is a fundamental component in determining how much of your move you want to subcontract. But aside from your budget, your time frame or anything else, you want to actually box and move as little as possible. As soon as you realize 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 packing it all up can be anxiety producing. Which is why you need to start clearing, de-cluttering, donating, and dumping as soon as you start thinking about new houses. 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 start. Cleaning house is an sentimental challenge, especially if you've been in the house several years, 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, dump it. This makes a lot of sense for children and current fashion, but you don't need to discard 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 if it does not fit, is out of date, or your lifestyle has changed (if you're no longer in the corporate world and have a multitude of suits in various shades of navy blue), feel free to consign or donate. If you are on the fence, ask yourself is it worth the time and money to box and relocate? Three weeks into packing, you'll be completely ruthless, as opposed to in the beginning you'll have a sad box of things to donate with a sweater, two pairs of maternity jeans and ratty tennis shoes, so allow yourself substantial time to purge closets, dressers, and cabinets.
If you don't have a shredder, purchase a cross-cut one that can even shred CDs. As 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 fill boxes so the innards don't shift in transport.
Who's Doing the Heavy Lifting in Little Rock?
When you're taking breaks 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 schedule as early as possible. If you're 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 vital for a carefree 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 residence.
