Preparing To Move

Whether you are going across town or across the country, moving can be a daunting task.  We accumulate so much stuff, and it can be difficult to decide between what we need and what we want.  By following the following tips, you can make moving day a little less stressful for you and your family.

Clear out your closet

Have you actually looked at your closet lately?  Really looked at it?  How many shirts do you really need?  Are you holding onto that pair of jeans because you hope that one day they will fit again?  And will you actually every wear that dress that looked so good on the hanger but you’ve yet to wear?  A great way to determine what clothes you should hold onto and what you should consider letting go is to test your wardrobe.

First, hold a fashion show! Try on everything in your closet. Does it fit well?  If you are not actively trying to gain or lose weight, and the article doesn’t fit, why hold onto it?  Is it still your style?  Unless it’s a classic style, will you really wear that suit you bought in 1985, complete with shoulder pads?  Probably not.

Yard Sale

Moving can be a financial stretch for many of us, so why not make some money while lightening your load!  A yard sale is a great way to unload some items that are still in working condition.  You can generate a decent amount of money and thin out the pile of items that will need to be boxed up for the move. Moving in the wintertime?  Look for indoor flea markets where you can rent a table to sell your items even in the colder months when yard sales might not make much sense. 

  If you are have larger items, or more expensive items that may not sell well at yard sales, check out online forums, such as the sales pages on online message boards like Freecycle or Craigslist in your area, or check out Facebook for local online yard sale pages.  Consignment shops are also a great way to sell your high quality furnishings at a reasonable price, and many of them will keep your item in their store, so you don’t have to move it with you!

Get the Kids Involved

Get your children involved in the moving process!  Ask them to consider what toys and books they can donate to other kids in need.  It’s a great lesson to teach your kids while lessening the amount of stuff they need to pack.  If they have toys and games they no longer play with, why bring them with you to the next house where it will continue to take up room?  Maybe they have a toy they’d like to give to a friend as a parting gift of sorts. There are plenty of places that will take your gently used toys, such as Toys For Tots and Ronald McDonald House, or you can contact a local homeless shelter. Conversations with our young ones about sharing and helping those less fortunate can really go a long way, and are lessons that will last well beyond your move!

Will it fit?

You’ve picked out your new place, know what colors you’d like to eventually paint the walls, and have an idea of where you’d like to put the furniture. But have you measured it?  Visit your new home and measure the walls, the distance between the end of the room and, say, a doorway.  Or the height of the basement ceiling.  Will that eight foot tall entertainment center actually fit in the room you envision it being in your new home?  Will your king size bed make sense in your new master bedroom?  Or will your massive sectional couch overtake your new living room?  To be sure, you can check out tools like Floor Planner or Plan Your Room to create a floor plan and see if everything you’re bringing will fit in the new space.  If not, consider selling it before you move.  You can use the money to buy a smaller couch that will fit!