Moving is crazy. No matter whether you're moving across town or across the country, it's reckoning time--what to do with all the trove of treasures (and other stuff) you've accumulated? Everything you own must move (thus, moving) and someone is going to have to go through it, box it, and load on a moving van. And then repeat the process in reverse once you're at your new residence. Is that going to be you, or will you employ someone? And will you have the pros to do everything, or pack yourself and have the movers come with a truck or two to load, transport and unload?
It is a lot to ponder, and your budget is most likely an essential aspect in determining the amount of your move you want to subcontract. But aside from your budget, your time frame or other factors, you want to actually pack and move as little as possible. As soon as you realize you might be relocating, begin thinking about the purge.
When you go through your house and really look at all your possessions, the prospect of packaging it all up can be staggering. Which is why you must start clearing, de-cluttering, donating, and dumping as soon as you start thinking about new places to live. 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 dig in. Cleaning house is an sentimental challenge, especially if you've been in the house awhile, so follow this Protocol for Purging for a hassle-free clearing out.
The One-Year Rule
The unwritten rule is, if you haven't worn it in a year, toss it. This makes a lot of sense for kid’s clothes and current fashion, but you don't need to part with 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 if it doesn't fit, is out of date, or your lifestyle has changed (if you're no longer in the corporate world and have a bunch of suits in various shades of navy blue), feel free to consign or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 up 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 plenty of 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 shreddings 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 San Antonio?
When you're taking time away from purging is a perfect time to interview moving companies; you'll want to settle on how much help you need and get on their calendar as early as possible. In the event that 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 judge. If you have a dirty ashtray on a table, count on seeing it again when you unpack. There are some items 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 more information on items that cannot go on the moving truck.
Being proactive ahead and giving yourself plenty of time to purge and pack are vital for a carefree move. Remember, everything you decide to take with you must be packed and moved, so be sure you are taking only what you can't live without to your new home.
