Are you moving this year, or thinking of moving in the next few years? Moving can be a daunting task, especially if you have a busy life or have lived in your house for many years. There are steps you can take NOW that will make things much easier when it’s time to move.
Please note that if you are moving in the next month or two and you are feeling overwhelmed, read our post about Moving Do’s and Don’ts, or better yet, contact us here. Our team can step in to provide help where you need it. To find out more about our team, see recent post here.
If you are fortunate enough to have some time before your move, the most important thing to do STARTING NOW is to make decisions about your belongings. The reality of STUFF is that too much of it costs time, money, and also causes stress, especially at move time. If you are able to make decisions NOW and avoid keeping, moving, and storing items that are no longer important to you, it’s a win.
It is important to understand that most of us will not completely finish the sorting process before our move, so be kind to yourself. Some sorting is better than none. Just like a junk drawer, there are usually some items that don’t get sorted, sometimes over the course of multiple moves. It’s OK.
Here are some tips for getting started:
- Avoid buying boxes and beginning to pack before sorting is completed. Let’s face it, packing is much easier than decision-making. Don’t be fooled. Packing too early will almost always cause you to take more than you need. Starting to pack too early also increases stress, as your home is disrupted for longer than is necessary. Packing can be accomplished just before you move, by you or by professional packers, like ours. Decisions can only be made by YOU.
- Locate items in your house (think of areas such as your garage, basement or attic) that do not belong to you. Do you have grown children with homes of their own? You may be surprised to find that they don’t want their belongings that you have been storing for years. Ask them and make a plan for them to pick up what they want, then discard the rest. Are you storing items for anyone else? Make a firm deadline for when the items need to be removed and stick to it.
- Keep it moving. Don’t wait for a big load before you haul away items you no longer want. Creating space will get things moving and inspire you to continue the process of letting go. Plus the space you create will be useful for when you make the next round of decisions.
We hope these tips help you get started. Look for more tips in our February newsletter.