It's countdown time! Thankfully we have two weeks to get the house packed and ready to go, compared to the 6 days I thought we had....whew! Still, with a baby who is now crawling it's a ton to do. Luckily, both hubs and I spent 6 years in the Navy and did plenty of packing and moving in that time, so we've kind of got it down to a science and an art.
Moving doesn't have to be completely overwhelming, and if you happen to be ADD like I am, it is absolutely crucial to stay organized and on top of things. Lists, lists, and more lists will be your friend. You can have just one big one, or have it broken down into many subcategories. Whatever floats your boat.
Some simple steps to making moving easier:
Make a 'To Do' list for each day. About a month out, start cleaning out one closet, one drawer, or one cabinet each day. This will rapidly dwindle the amount you need to do, and make the last packing and cleaning much more bearable. In a typical day, my to do list will look something like this:
To Do:
Fold laundry
mop kitchen
Pack baby B's extra clothes
Pack bookshelf
That simple. Make your way through the house with the small to-do lists each day.
Break Down Packing by Room. Instead of freaking out and getting distracted by things throughout the whole house (guilty!) take each step, room by room. This will make everything seem much more manageable, and you won't end up feeling like you have to pack the whole house RIGHT NOW!
Make Lists Your Friend, Your BFF, and Your Lover. Some people feel like lists are overrated. I disagree. Make a list of what needs to be packed in each room and cross it off as you go so you have a correct and up to date inventory. Then, make a list of what needs to be cleaned in each room, crossing off as you go. So simple, and crossing things off really gives a sense of accomplishing things, instead of feeling like you are forgetting something or multiple somethings. If you're really organized, keep these lists in a binder or notebook for reference.
Use the 'Pack, Trash, and Donate' Method. While packing and sorting, clearing out what isn't necessary will ultimately make your move so much easier, and not leave you trying to find space for useless and miscellaneous items in your new space. For instance, even though we just bought our mower for the rental house less than a year ago, we are selling all of our yard maintenance equipment since we decided to move into an apartment for a year to get our bearings in our new city and save to buy a house or farm. A bummer yes, but what would be the point in having to store all that lawn care equipment, and having no use for it? So, decide what you can't live without, trash or recycle what you no longer need, donate things that can still be used, or have a garage sale to downsize while bringing in a little extra cash which always comes in handy for a move.
Hire in Professionals to Do the Nitty Gritty. If you're on a short timeframe like we are, or have stupid strict regulations from a rental company like we have, go ahead and hire in a professional to clean the carpets, and to do the deep cleaning in the house. Yes, it can be costly, but it will save you a major headache and even more money in the long run. Rental companies (at least the ones I've dealt with) are notorious for deciding that the cleaning job you did was not good enough and will hire someone to come "clean" after you, and then send you the bill and deduct it from your deposit. Beat the rental company to their own game. Get a clean guarantee and receipt of service from each provider and hand deliver it to the rental agency when you turn in the keys, and make sure to keep a copy for your records as well just in case the agency "loses" their copy.
Go to Grocery Stores For Boxes. We are very fortunate that both of Dustin's parents work at Costco, so we have tons of boxes at our desposal. However, if you don't have Costco at your service, go to your local grocery store or drug store and see if they have any extra boxes lying around that they plan on recycling anyway. Most shipments come in on Tuesdays, so go on a tuesday or Wednesday to see about scoring some free boxes for your move. Heck, even check your local craigslist or FB Buy/Sell/Trade page to see if someone has just moved and needs to get rid of their boxes. Military are pros at this. One move I did, I was using boxes that had been used in 3 different moves already. We take care of them, then hand them off to the next person in need.
On the Other Hand, Invest in Furniture Covers. Getting moving boxes for free is amazing. However, you need to protect your big furniture and large electronics and appliances. Go ahead and invest in proper covers like
these. What's the point in managing to do a move for cheap if you're going to end up with ruined furniture you will have to replace? That's just a waste of money. Bite the bullet if you can, and make your things last!
Most of all, just relax and take things as they come. Moving is always stressful, but stressing yourself out about it will make everything 1000 times harder. Don't feel you have to keep packing every minute of every day. Right now I'm watching Portlandia and eating a Gluten Free Brownie. Because, dammit, I can. Because tomorrow and Sunday, the lists will be happening.
Happy Moving!!!!!!!!!
