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Every year, so many of us pack up our belongings and move cities or countries to join new jobs or universities. The excitement of living in a new place can be considerably dampened by the prospect of packing up items, moving boxes and loading trucks. It may be time to move, but you do not want to take with you any of the clutter you’ve been hanging onto for years now, to your new home. The following tips will help you make the most of your move –
Tips and Tricks
- De-clutter – De-cluttering will not only make your move easier but help you set up your new home simpler. Start by asking yourself if you need/love/use the items you are planning to move with you. If these items don’t even stand up to two of those grounds, it is time to get rid of them. Sell it, donate it or just toss it away. Hold a garage sale – it will help you get rid of things you don’t want, in bulk. On top of that, you will save on moving costs. The earnings from your garage sale can go on to fund your packing and moving.
- Begin the process with your bathroom – It is recommended to begin de-cluttering with your bathroom as it will most probably be the easiest. You will be saving yourself a significant amount of time as opposed to if you start with your bedroom or any other room. These rooms will have their share of photographs, souvenirs and other memorabilia that will distract you from the work at hand. Your bathroom will most likely have expired medication and half-used bottles of toiletries, making it the best place to start de-cluttering.
- Gather supplies that you will need while de-cluttering – Keep trash bags, shredders, scissors and highlighters ready. In case you are planning to donate a few of your things, stow them away in cardboard boxes instead of trash bags.
- Make use of storage units – If you are selling your house away, you may want to store certain properties in a storage unit. It can prove to be a good short-term measure for storing the items you intend to use in your new house.
- Prepare your kitchen – Buy canned/frozen food in the run-up to your move. Don’t buy fresh produce; only things you will be able to use before the move.
- Pack each box according to room – De-clutter your rooms one by one. Don’t try to tidy them all at once. Allot a period of time to de-clutter one section of the room and proceed to the rest gradually. It will give you an idea of how much time the overall process will take. If you manage to de-clutter even one room, it will make you move much shorter and cheaper. Label each box according to the room its contents will go to, to make unpacking easier. You can even choose to color code these labels according to room type. Write “Open First” on boxes that have items you will need as soon as you reach your new home. Numbering each box is also a good idea. It will help you keep track of the boxes as well as its contents.
- Keep your important documents with you – Never pack your passport, checkbooks, IDs with other general items in a box to be carried by the moving truck. Keep them aside with you to prevent losing/misplacing them.
- Minimize distraction – Try to keep your children/pets away on moving day, so you are not distracted by their presence.
- Schedule the disconnection/transfer of utilities – Remember to schedule/transfer utilities such as electricity and cable TV for the day after you switch homes, so you have access to them until you move.
- Take pictures – Suppose you have items that hold sentimental value for you but no longer work like a stopped clock, take photos. It will remind you of these items and the memories associated with them but take up much lesser space.
- Set the “undecided” aside – There will be items that you will be split over keeping/throwing away. Set them aside in a different box and mark a later date to open and review these items after your move. If you are still confused about them in the future, you probably don’t need them as much as you think.
- Document your home – If you are planning to sell off your house, click photos/take videos that will record its condition before the moving crew arrives. You may have to pay up in case of damage to walls, switch plates, fixtures or flooring. The documentation will enable you to find out who caused the damage, so you are not stranded with an unfair expense.
Conclusion
De-cluttering your old home won’t necessarily make you feel better about the move. You will most likely still anguish over it, but reward yourself for the job and you will feel less stressed over time.