Tip Tuesday – “Pack” to Move

Americans are on the MOVE! The recent shift to remote work, a more urgent desire to live near family, or a greater need to save money by relocating to a less expensive area are ALL factors that have driven several friends of mine to make moves in the near future.

Here are my tips to help you get your things purged and packed up for a move. Everyone wants a new home to be a “fresh start.” Taking the following steps in advance will guarantee that your new home will support you and become a clutter-free and peaceful place.

P = PREPARE. Buy white plastic bags to be used only for trash and black 3 mil contractor bags for unbreakable donations. It will save you confusion about what you want to toss versus what you want to give away. Collect your odd-sized cardboard boxes from deliveries for use packing up breakable donations.

A = ANTICIPATE. Think hard about where you’re moving. Do you need to downsize? Will your colonial furniture look strange in a modern space? Will velvet cushions feel right in Florida? IF not, don’t take them! Sketch out a floor plan of your new home and use post-it notes to represent your furniture. Move the post-its around on your paper floor plan to see how it will all fit.

Envision what this move represents for YOU. Do you need a home office now? Do you want a dedicated space in which you can exercise or do hobbies or crafts? Consider this when you…

C = CURATE. Now it’s time to actually sort and either trash, donate, or pack your things! Start by considering which items you won’t need for a month or two after your move. Things like your holiday decor, your book collection, and off-season clothes are a great place to start editing your items. 

Then make decisions, starting with your largest items, then progressing to the smallest. Decide what furniture will get moved and which pieces are best to sell or leave behind. Many moves are priced on volume and weight so these early decisions can save you money in the long term. Then select which medium-sized things like linens, clothes, and decor will move with you. Finally, choose which of your small things like kitchen items, toiletries, and office items “make the cut” to come along.

K = KEEP & KNOW. You did it! You curated, and you now will KEEP only the things you KNOW you will use and love. These items will absolutely come with you to your next home. Make your move and enjoy your new space knowing the things that you have kept have been well-selected to bring you joy!