MOVING TIPS FROM AN EXPERT
The Chicago Organizer unpacks a lot of happy homeowners throughout the Chicagoland area. The expert in the article has moved 10 times with 3 children and has a lot of good information! She answers these questions amongst others which will be summarized below.
The expert suggests labeling boxes with big bold letters with a black Sharpie pen on boxes as to which room the box belongs. If you open your most important boxes first, you’ll be surrounded with your most comforting possessions to make you feel right at home — in your new home!
The biggest mistake is not starting early enough — to declutter, to pack, to measure in your new space. Double whatever amount of time you think it will take. And when you start the declutter process, start with your heaviest/bulkiest items first like books, magazines, sports equipment, furniture, shoes, clothes. Movers charge by weight so don’t get flustered by too many photos, memorabilia, concert tickets initially.
If you have enough time, online forums are great for selling furniture items. Otherwise, don’t overthink it and donate your un-needed items to a local charity.
Current supply chain issues make getting new furniture longer than you might expect so don’t donate everything — unless you really want to start fresh and can wait potentially a long time for a new couch!
The expert uses newspaper as a low-cost option. However, I’m a bigger fan of clean packing paper as it doesn’t require that you wash all your dishes when they come out of the moving box. Check out Facebook or Craig’s List or Box Dibs to get gently used boxes and packing paper as people are always moving and many pass them along for low or no cost.
Give friends contents of your pantry and laundry room if you don’t plan to bring them. Or check out Move for Hunger to get items to a food pantry via a moving company.
When disassembling furniture, put all small parts (nuts, bolts, etc.) in a baggie and use painter’s tape to attach to the furniture piece (or use plastic wrap.) And take pictures along the way to help put the items back together. Label everything!
Please read the entire article for more information about getting your children involved with the move. And good luck! The expert gives evidence moving can be less stressful and even fun!
Reprinted with permission from. https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2022/05/19/advice-moving-new-home/
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