By Mary Lynne Murray
Reprinted from Contra Costa Times, June 21, 2003
IT'S NOT TOO often that someone says "I love moving, and
can't wait to do it again!"
Whether it's across the country or around the corner, moving
can test yourorganizational prowess. According to the Census Bureau,
some 16 million Americans will go through the upheaval of moving
this year, and many of them over the summer months.
It is helpful to think of your move as a series of small steps,
and not one major task. By breaking the move down into parts,
you can manage the process and accomplish your mission with less
overwhelming feelings.
The single most effective action you can take to make your move
easier is to weed out your belongings. Now is the time to sort
through books, clothes, toys, furnishings and household items.
Get rid of anything you can live without. The less stuff there
is to move, the less stuff to organize at the new place. You'll
also pay less to the moving company if your load is lighter.
Call for a charity to pick-up your donations, have a garage sale
to off-set the cost of moving, and/or call for a special pick-up
for extra trash that accumulates as you clean out. (Many garbage
companies offer an extra pick-up free.) Check out www.itsdeductible.com
(mention Code 439643 for a $5 price deduction) to get the maximum
fair market value of donations.
As you sort your daily mail, note who needs to be notified of
your change of address. Obtain a change of address kit from the
post office, and provide your new address to the post office.
Most creditors can be notified by completing the change of address
section on your statement. Be sure to notify magazines as soon
as you know your forwarding address - they take 6 weeks or more
to process. Here is a partial list of other people to notify:
• Doctor and dentist
• Veterinarian
• School
• Bank
• Church
• Newspaper
• Insurance
• DMV
• Utility companies (arrange for disconnection/connection)
• Friends
• Employers
Get address labels that you can use for the above notifications.
The fastest way to get these is to print them from your home computer.
Back up your computer files in case of a technical disaster during
the move.
Use up as much food from the refrigerator and freezer as you can.
Save the Costco run until after the move. For local moves, pack
perishables in a picnic cooler for transfer to the new refrigerator.
Give the leftovers to neighbors and friends.
If you're using movers, ask friends for a recommendation, and
then get two estimates. If moving yourself, arrange for helpers
and a truck. Don't try to go it alone -- the moving process will
be prolonged and exhaustion will affect your performance at work.
Work on one room at a time. Begin by packing items (such as china
and out-of-season clothes) that you use least often. Think of
the highest shelves and garage contents. As you pack, label the
side of each box, indicating the general contents, so you can
locate items even when the boxes are stacked. Write the name of
the room that you would like the box placed in at the new location.
To save on brown packing paper, use towels, sheets, and other
linens to wrap dishes and other breakables. Useful packing supplies
include:
• Boxes
• Packing tape
• String
• Note pad
• Ziploc bags (for hardware when disassembling)
• Felt tip markers
• Scissors and box cutter
• Basic tools such as a hammer and screwdriver
Make a floor plan of your new house for the movers, whether professionals
or friends. A simple drawing showing the rooms and where you want
furniture and labeled boxes placed will ease the unpacking process
and save muscle.
Arrange to have your house maintained if not yet sold. Ask a neighbor
to keep an eye on the house, making sure that no flyers or other
unexpected items sit outside, announcing that the house is empty.
Place a timer on a light at the front of the house.
Have food/snacks for your family, friends and helpers on moving
day. Make special arrangements for pets. The best might be a quiet
room in the new location with water and food. For the children,
have a relative or friend who is there just for the kids while
you tend to the details of moving.
Make a survival box, including the essential items you need right
away at the new house: medications, first aid kit, linens to make
beds (or sleeping bags), towels, basic toiletries such as soap
and toothpaste, toilet paper, special "lovey" toys for
the kids, change of clothes, etc.
Recognize that your move is a major change, and it will take
time to process and adjust. The silver lining of a move is getting
a fresh start.
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