Moving is not usually a joy. Whether you're moving across town or across the country, it's go time--what to do with all the trove of treasures (and not-so-dear-to-you possessions) you've accumulated? All of your possessions must move (thus, moving) and someone needs to go through it, pack it, and load on a moving van. And then repeat the process in reverse once you're ready to move into your new place to live. Are you going to handle it by yourself, or will you enlist someone? And will you ask the pros for a turn key move, or pack yourself and have the movers come with a truck or two on moving day?
It's a lot to think about, and your budget is the primary aspect in determining the portion of your move you want to hire out. But despite your budget, your time frame or anything else, you want to actually pack and move as little as possible. As soon as you recognize you might be relocating, start thinking about the purge.
When you walk through your residence and really look at all your possessions, the prospect of packing it all up is overwhelming. Which is why you need to begin clearing, de-cluttering, donating, and dumping as soon as you start looking at new homes. If you're selling your house, your realtor will read you the riot act regarding the de-cluttering and de-personalizing before it goes on the market, so you might as well get boxes and trash bags and start. Cleaning house is an sensitive challenge, especially if you've been in the house awhile, so follow this Protocol for Purging for a stress-free clearing out.
The One-Year Rule
The rule of thumb is, if you haven't put it on in a year, get rid of it. This makes a lot of sense for kid’s clothes and current 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 does not fit, is out of style, or your lifestyle has changed (if you're no longer in the corporate world and have a closet full 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? Three weeks into packing, you'll be entirely cutthroat, whereas in the beginning you'll have a barren box of things to donate with a sweater, two pairs of maternity jeans and ratty tennis shoes, so allow yourself substantial time to purge closets, dressers, and cabinets.
If you don't have a shredder, invest in a cross-cut one that can even shred CDs. While you are purging and shredding old paperwork, save the shredded mulch in large 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 Denver?
When you're taking time away from purging is a perfect time to look for moving companies; you'll want to decide how much help you need and get on their calendar as early as possible. If you're having the movers box everything up for you, you'll still need to weed through all your stuff for purging. The packers mission is to pack, not to decide what to keep. If you have a dirty ashtray on the coffee table, count on seeing 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 the keys to a successful move. Remember, everything you decide to take with you will need be packed and moved, so be sure you are taking only what you can't live without to your new residence.
