Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Moving Season
Every season brings organizational hurdles. In spring, just about the time my clients finish their taxes and all the files are put away, moving season is gearing up and I start to get calls to help people prepare for moves.
Moves come in all shapes and sizes: temporary, downsize, upgrade, cross country, marriage, divorce, first apartment…. Each one brings it’s own challenges. But there are best practices that apply to every situation:
Plan ahead: The best moving companies (and you want the best!) get booked up well in advance, so set your date and commit.
Weed: Even if you’re moving to a bigger space, even if someone else is packing, moving is a natural time to let go of stuff that isn’t serving you any more. The less you move, the less you have to unpack, the less cluttered your new place will be. And why pay to move stuff you don’t even want? Win-win-win.
Label by room. Mark all the boxes with the room they will be going to. Also, put big signs on doors in your new location so the movers know which room is which. They can only put Sam’s stuff in Sam’s room if they know which one it is. It’s not good enough to write “bathroom,” you have to distinguish, “master bath” or “kids’ bath” on the boxes and corresponding labels. Also, if you are moving into a bigger place and will now have a dining room, separate and label what you want to go into the dining room as you pack.
The more organized you are, the better job your movers will do. Don’t assume you’ll be able to answer any questions they have the day of the move: There will be one of you and probably at least four of them. So make everything as clear and self-explanatory as possible.
Even if you’re just moving across town, have a go-bag with your important moving-related documents, your computer and anything hot that you might need that day. Consider having a small overnight bag with everyone’s toothbrush and pajamas, because after you make your bed, you’re going to want those.