Moving is crazy. Whether you're moving across town or across the country, it's go time--what to do with all the treasures (and trash) you've collected? Everything you own must move (thus, moving) and someone needs to go through it, box it, and load on a moving van. 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 enlist professionals? And will you have 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 is an essential factor in deciding the portion of your move you want to hire out. But regardless of your budget, your time frame or other factors, you want to actually box and move as little as possible. As soon as you realize you might be moving, begin thinking about the purge.
When you stroll through your residence and really look at all your possessions, the prospect of boxing it all up is crushing. That is why you need to commence clearing, de-cluttering, donating, and dumping as soon as you start thinking about new places to live. 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 emotional challenge, especially if you've been in the house awhile, so follow this Protocol for Purging for a agony-free clearing out.
The One-Year Rule
The rule of thumb is, if you haven't put it on in a year, dump it. This makes a lot of sense for kid’s clothes and current fashion, but you don't need to toss that Hermes scarf if you didn't get around to wearing it last year. 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 bunch 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? A few weeks into boxing things up, you'll be completely merciless, 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 give 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. While you are purging and shredding old paperwork, save the shreddings in large trash bags as you empty the shredder’s bin and then use it as packing material to top off boxes so the innards don't shift in transport.
Who's Doing the Heavy Lifting in Austin?
When you're taking breaks from purging is a good time to interview moving companies; you'll want to decide 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 judge. If you have a dirty ashtray on the counter, count on finding it again when you unpack. There are some items 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 more 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 smooth 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.
