Ten Ways to Keep You and Your Boxes In a Row
Posted in General Info by Karen Rhodes on January 25th, 2007 Whether you’re moving across country or across town, the whole process can go smoothly or border on a major life crisis. All the aspects of uprooting , reorganizing and adjusting to new surroundings can make for significant stress.
We’ve been a big part of family relocations for some time, and we’ve accumulated a little list of tricks we’d like to pass along to help smooth your next move:
- When your home is up for sale, combine the chore of clearing out clutter (for showing) with sorting and packing. First, get rid of the things you’ll sell, give away, throw out. Then get a head start on packing by boxing off-season clothes, unneeded books, etc.
- Keep a personal moving book (3-ring binder plus pocket dividers) for keeping track of what’s where – receipts, mover information, running daily notations, checklists, etc.
- Expect a certain amount of stress and be as patient as you can be – with yourself and everyone else. Listen carefully.
- Involve the whole family (down to the smallest member) in the move from start to finish. Get everybody making lists, planning, timing, packing, working as a team.
- Make moving as much of an adventure as possible. Find out all you can about your new surroundings – what’s useful (shopping, transportation, etc.) and what’s fun (swimming, theater-going, etc.). Get pictures, maps and guidebooks of the new town to help plan future explorations. Visit the new place, if it’s not too far away. Plan parties at both ends of your move.
- As soon as your home is sold, start rerouting subscriptions, handing out notices for cancellation dates for deliveries and utilities, transferring bank accounts, school and medical records, and notifying friends.
- If possible, renovate any floors and walls that need it in your new home before you move in. This will save your having to move things around after you’re settled.
- Pack slowly and carefully, time permitting. Doing a little at a time staves off exhaustion. Making lists of the contents of every numbered carton saves hunting through several boxes for one needed item. To save space (and money), pack lightweight things in bureau drawers and other empty containers.
- Pack a care package to take care of all those small family needs at the new home on the first day: light bulbs, a bar of soap, tissues, children’s toys, sauce pans, canned food, powdered drinks, radio, etc. Mark the box "UNPACK FIRST" and put it on the van last so it can be the first off upon arrival.
- Give yourself plenty of time to recover, unpack and settle in. Unpack the kitchen first and sit down for refreshment. Go out for dinner, you deserve it! Remember a home isn’t built in a day.
