*** In this blog, we are more concerned with the steps involved in organizing yourself to pack, not the actual packing itself. For detailed information on how to pack, please see HOW TO PACK (coming soon).
So…. You’ve sold your house and now it’s time to pack up your belongings for the move. You stand in the middle of the living room and wonder where to start. The basement with all the things you hid from view in
order to show the house? The attic, filled with Grandma’s china, the kids’ cast-offs, and boxes of who-knows-what? Certain rooms of the house will require more of your time simply because of their designated purpose. Storage areas can be cluttered and items jumbled together. The kitchen contains odd-shaped small appliances and the dining room has delicate glassware. Should you attack the difficult things such as lamps and kitchen items, or begin with the easier things like linens and clothing?
Even if you’re only moving down the street, you want your belongings to travel well and, after the stress of selling your home, just the thought of starting to pack can be completely overwhelming. But never fear – we can help you organize yourself and your home for pain-free packing.
Before you begin, consider how much time you have to prepare. Most homeowners have between 30 and 90 days to complete packing and move out of the house; you’ll want to assess the type and amount of packing to be done in the window of time that you have. Knowing what you are tackling will enable you to establish a time line. Of course, we recommend the services of a professional moving company however, whether you opt to use a mover or not, you will want to reduce where you can and streamline your shipment as much as possible in order to expedite the moving process.
Is your home sparsely decorated? You will probably require less time and material to protect your goods, but don’t delay: postponing packing until the last minute will result in poor packing and consequent damage.
Do you own many fragile collectibles, a library of books, or a wine cellar? These specialty items need special handling and packing materials and often take longer to pack. You may consider using a professional mover to protect these goods.
Are you a pack rat? If so, your belongings will probably require sorting before they can be packed. People often attempt to purge when moving and this activity demands the most time of all. You may consider the services of a professional organizer, and should plan to reduce the volume of your belongings prior to placing your home on the market. “Decluttering” in advance will lessen the stress of packing.
Pick a start date and then estimate the number of boxes you will need to accommodate your belongings. Divide them by the number of days you will have available to pack between your start date and the move date. Example: 100 cartons divided by 30 days means that you will have to pack three to five boxes a day to accomplish the packing with a minimum of stress. The above calculation assumes you have 30 days available in your schedule… most people do not. If you do plan to use a mover, your estimator can provide you with packing tips and a list of the cartons and other materials that you will need.
Note: You can use any carton that has a lid or closes completely. Double check grocery store boxes to ensure that no food remnants remain, as they can attract pests. If you decide to purchase new cartons, it is far less expensive to buy them from a moving company rather than from a box store or storage facility. Most movers have everything you might need and do sell directly to the public.
Now that you have collected your materials, where do you begin? Your first decision should be where to stage the cartons you will pack. Step back and assess two things: the amount of space that you have to stack packed cartons, and the means access to various areas of the house.
Do you live in a two-story home? You may consider shifting your cartons to the first floor as they are packed, assuming that there is enough space on that floor to accommodate them. This will lessen the number of trips made up and down the stairs when moving.
Do you live in a ranch-style home? For you, staging cartons will be easier because an additional flight of stairs to a second floor has been eliminated.
Do you have a garage or outside storage area? These are perfect spaces in which to stage packed cartons because they won’t congest your living space.
Do you have a basement? The same idea applies here as to the two-story home: the fewer steps involved in the actual move, the better. Staging on the first floor or in the garage will reduce the moving labor, but if there is outside access to the basement, items can be moved out and around the house rather than maneuvered up the inside stairs and through the house.
Do you have a unit in a self-storage facility? For very small or heavily furnished homes, you may want to rent space to hold your goods until the move occurs. This sort of staging is more labor-intensive as you will have to load, transport, and unload the cartons, but many realtors recommend that you “declutter” the house prior to placing it on the market and this is an ideal way to keep your living space open even after the house is sold.
Now you must decide where to begin. This decision relates to the area in which you opt to stage the majority of your cartons: you will want to open up that area first. If you choose the garage, sort and pack that area first so that all available space is clean and clear to house the cartons. If you are using the first floor, begin in the room that will allow the most area for staging.
You will want to avoid blocking normal traffic patterns; this can cause undue stress as you continually weave your way around the boxes and can lead to a fall. Use open wall space, closets, and inside storage areas where available. If you are using a mover, avoid filling an entire room with cartons and furniture as the estimator must be able to see individual items in order to provide a proper quote.
You’re almost ready to start packing. Before you do, dedicate one or two areas in the house in which you will place items you may need before you move or that you intend to carry yourself.
Note: If you plan to use a mover, mark these areas with a “Do Not Pack” sign so that these items do not end up in the shipment. Once the cartons are packed, the mover is not obligated to open, search, and repack the cartons for you, and will charge you for additional labor should you open and search the cartons yourself.
- Checkbooks and credit cards.
- All papers relating to the sale/purchase of your home.
- Prescriptions and medications.
- Laptops, cameras, and camcorders that you plan to use.
- Work-related items.
- Very fragile or collectible items that you do not want others to handle.
- Suitcases that you will carry and the clothing and personal items that go in them.
- Passports, licenses, social security cards, and other personal identification.
- Pet food and treats.
It’s time for the next assessment: outside of important papers and your checkbook, what will you require to live in the house until you move? We recommend that you consider the items that you will want last at your current house and first in your new house. Mark these boxes “priority” or with a giant red “X” so that you can find them easily at destination
- Paper plates and plasticware.
- Paper towels and toilet paper.
- Coffeemaker, filters, coffee, Styrofoam cups.
- Sugar, salt and other dry condiments.
- Light bulbs.
- Cleaning materials.
- Soap, towels, and shampoo.
- Bed linens and pillows.
- Scissors, a box cutter.
- Tool kit.
- First-aid kit.
- Pet food and treats.
- Maps and other information pertaining to your new town and home.
Do you have children? Kids will survive with few of their belongings; however they can suffer the stress of relocation more deeply than an adult. Leave the packing of a child’s room until last and make sure to keep a special toy or stuffed animal handy for comfort. In our experience, many children enjoy packing their things and will often dispose of toys and other items on their own. But don’t pressure them… the comfort of knowing that their favorite baby book will be at the other end can offer comfort and ease the transition to a new space. Give them crayons and markers in bright colors to decorate the cartons.
Do you have pets? While children are open to new experiences and can express their emotions related to moving, animals can only endure. Because they thrive on continuity, be sure to keep toys and bedding available until the last minute. Avoid disposing of a favorite chair or piece of carpet, and keep an old sweatshirt, nightgown, or blanket to travel with… your smell will comfort them. Be sure to give your pet a little extra attention and keep treats handy!
Does an elderly person live with you? The living space of an older person is often limited when sharing a home. We advise that that area be maintained ‘as is’ until the end of the packing process; the elderly person will have his or her own haven to retire to while the rest of the home is in upheaval.
No comments:
Post a Comment