Moving is no fun. No matter whether you're moving across town or across the country, it's go time--what to do with all the trove of treasures (and trash) you've collected? Everything you own must move (thus, moving) and somebody will have to comb over it, pack it, and load on a moving van. And then repeat the process in reverse once you're in the driveway of your new place to live. Are you going to handle it by yourself, or will you employ 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 to load, transport and unload?
It is a lot to contemplate, and your budget is the primary factor in determining how much of your move you want to hire to be done. But despite your budget, your time frame or other factors, you want to actually pack and move as little as possible. As soon as you think you might be relocating, begin thinking about the purge.
When you walk through your home and really look at all your things, the prospect of boxing it all up can be staggering. Which is why you should commence 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 a long time, so follow this Protocol for Purging for a anxiety-free clearing out.
The One-Year Rule
The rule of thumb is, if you haven't worn it in a year, dump it. This makes a lot of sense for children and fast fashion, but you don't need to discard that Hermes scarf if you didn't get around to wearing it last winter. Practically speaking, why haven't you worn it? if it doesn't fit, is out of date, or your lifestyle has changed (if you're no longer in the corporate world and have a bunch of suits in various shades of navy blue), feel free to consign or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 undecided, ask yourself is it worth the time and money to pack and relocate? Three weeks into packing, you'll be completely ruthless, whereas 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 grant yourself enough time to purge closets, dressers, and cabinets.
If you don't have a shredder, buy a cross-cut one that will even shred CDs. As you are purging and shredding old paperwork, save the shredded paper in good-sized trash bags as you empty the shredder’s bin and then use it as packing material to fill boxes so the contents don't shift in transport.
Who's Doing the Heavy Lifting in Atlanta?
When you're taking breaks from purging is a good time to interview moving companies; you'll want to settle on how much help you need and get on their schedule as early as possible. In the event that you are having the movers box your belongings for you, you'll still need to weed through all your stuff for purging. The packers job is to pack, not to judge. If you have a dirty ashtray on a table, count on finding 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 additional information on items that cannot go on the moving truck.
Being proactive 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're taking only what you can't live without to your new home.
