The Move Makers Team: Thankful for 2023, Excited for What’s Next in 2024

As 2023 comes to a close, we asked members of the Move Makers team what they appreciated about 2023, and what they were looking forward to in the year to come. Here are their responses. We wish all our clients, friends, and blog readers a happy and fulfilling 2024!

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Rachael:

Looking back on the year I am grateful for the milestones we celebrated as a family, my dad turning 80 and my youngest kiddo turning 18 and launching into college. I am so grateful both my parents are aging gracefully and are an active part of my life. This coming year I am looking forward to skiing the Tetons, Rockies and Little Cottonwood Canyon.

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A Bookworm’s Guide to Downsizing A Book Collection

If you’re anything like me, you understand that books aren’t just inanimate objects: they are cherished companions on life’s journey. The classics of childhood evoke memories of days gone by, and the sight of a particular volume can transport you to the very places where you first enjoyed their pages, whether it was in a cozy mountain cabin or a sun-soaked beach. Perhaps you even possess valuable or rare books, or books signed by your favorite authors, with your name etched within.

There’s no denying that books are one of the most difficult things to downsize. They even earn their own chapter in Marie Kondo’s The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up... Read the rest

Find Joy in Editing Your Holiday Decor

Last year, one of our Move Makers team members realized that the holiday decorations she’d collected over the years were taking up more time and space than she wanted. What was once a fun activity had become a chore, due to the sheer volume of decorations she had accumulated. Dragging those boxes and totes out of storage was becoming exhausting.  

Those of us who have been in our homes for many years can face the same challenges.  Do I need to put out ALL of my decorations each year?  Will it still feel like Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas if I don’t?.. Read the rest

Ready For The Next Chapter?

EVERYONE’S NEXT CHAPTER IS DIFFERENT.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING relocating or downsizing? Is your family growing or reducing in size? Are you planning for your financial estate, power of attorney or medical future? Are you looking for senior assistance, or do you need to understand how your insurance coverage will be affected with a new lifestyle change?

You are invited to hear from professionals who will share updated information to help you move forward into your next life chapter. In this casual gathering you will have the opportunity to talk to qualified professionals in a variety of industries. This forum will help you create a solid strategy to advance toward your future goals... Read the rest

Tips for Downsizing Decor and More

Even though I live in a small home, I enjoy changing out my decor with the seasons. Over the years I have curated a collection of interesting items that I can arrange and rearrange with endless possibilities, which keeps me interested and my spaces fresh. I am fortunate to have a small walk up attic and this is my designated area for storing all decor by season.

When I was putting away holiday decorations earlier this month, I noticed that about half the boxes had not been touched. In fact, I remembered that this was the second year in a row it had happened, signaling to me that it was time to take action... Read the rest

Clean Up Your Outdoor Spaces NOW to Save Time, Money, and Stress When It’s Time to Move

Fall is a great time to downsize everything outside your home since indoor projects can happen once the weather turns cooler. Even when you are not planning to move, a quick clean-up will give you a head start in the spring. Think of starting at the edges of your property and working inward from the areas most visible from the street (and your neighbors). If you are planning to move within the next year or two, you will save yourself significant stress by taking care of the outside cleanup early, enabling you to focus on the inside of your home later... Read the rest

The Move Makers Celebrates 2022 National Senior & Specialty Move Managers Week

The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) has designated the week of September 11-17 as National Senior & Specialty Move Managers Week. During this recognition week, NASMM and NASMM members around the world are promoting the value of Senior & Specialty Move Management and Move Managers’ commitment to assisting older adults and their families with later lifestyle transitions and individuals who have unique needs.  

Senior & Specialty Move Managers assist adults and their families with both downsizing to remain in their current home, as well as the entire process of moving to a new residence. Move Managers specialize in helping their clients with the emotional and physical aspects of sorting through a lifetime of memories in the transition process, while providing them with effective options and resources to increase efficiencies and reduce stress... Read the rest

Garage Refresh –  Take Action and GET IT DONE

If you are planning to move in the next couple of years, it’s especially important to get control of large areas like the garage, which, for many of us, can be a repository for items we have deferred making decisions about. Making these decisions well before your move can save you time, stress (and money) when it is time to move. Remember that if you need help, the garage is a great place to start with a professional, like one of the organizers at The Move Makers.

Even if you are not planning a move, garages need some TLC. Fall is a great time to rethink and reorganize the garage... Read the rest

Painless Closet Organizing – The Liberating Feeling of LESS

I moved into my current petite home after seriously downsizing three times before. In the beginning, everything fit beautifully, with plenty of room to spare. Five years and one pandemic later, I began to feel the crunch. Somewhere along the way, my normal routine of editing my wardrobe seasonally had stopped working. Drawers were a little harder to close, I had even purchased additional hangers. Twice. I found myself laying clothes over a chair rather than wedging them into my closet. Does this sound familiar?

I decided it was time to do something about it. I borrowed a sturdy folding clothes rack, put a gardening podcast on speaker and got to work... Read the rest

Prepare to Pack – 10 Packing Tips from the Pros

During the months/weeks/days before your move, remember to stop buying food and supplies. Eat the food in your freezer and pantry, and wait to replace tools and small appliances until you arrive at your new home. For more tips, download our Move Checklist

Do not underestimate the time it takes to pack. If you have ALL of the materials you need and have made ALL of the decisions about what to keep, it may still take 20-40 hours (or more) to pack up your home.

10 Packing Tips from the Pros

  1. Set up an area in each room to place items you will need before, or immediately after your move (medications, computer and phone chargers, vitamins, toiletries, clothing, etc.).
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