*This post is inspired by the fact that I'll be moving soon!  I'm so excited as the place to which I'm moving is one big blank canvas.  By that I mean white walls to decorate and about 1/2 acre of land to garden.  Seriously, for me, that's like setting a child loose in a candy store with free reign.  Woo hoo!  Don't worry, I'll share all of my decorating and gardening adventures with you as they happen!

Moving can be an exciting time of change (hopefully for the better) or it can be a huge pain in the *BLEEP*.  I prefer to try and see it as an opportunity to clean house and redecorate all in one fell swoop (which, of course, excites my nerd self to no end). 

Think about it.  How often do you get to move everything out of a room and start over?  This unique opportunity presents itself when you pack up your things and haul them elsewhere.  So take the time to maximize this opportunity, and see moving as less of a chore and more like an exciting adventure.

How to move (as painlessly as possible ):

1.  Two months out- Declutter.  Now is ABSOLUTELY the best time to get rid of things that you a) aren't using, b) don't want, or c) aren't serviceable anymore. 

Usually when you're going through a declutter session, you might ask yourself if you need the item in question or if it holds some value to you.  However, now there's a third and very important question...Do I feel like moving this?  Go through your home at least two months prior and start putting aside everything you don't want.  Then sell or donate those things by at least two weeks prior to your major packing day.

2.  Two weeks out- Pack up your favorite decorative items.  Before you pack anything, however, CLEAN IT.  Wipe everything down with a damp cloth before placing it in a packing box.  DO NOT MOVE DIRTY THINGS.  Leave the old dirt behind- there's always more wherever you go .

Also, two weeks out, you should arrange for help (if you haven't already!)  Hopefully you have friends you can blackmail, ahem, I mean, beg, to help you!  If not, hire a hand or two, depending on the number of heavy items to move.

3.  The weekend prior- Have a yardsale!  Anything that you haven't already sold can be liquidated quickly.  To really make your yard sale successful, get your neighbors in on the deal and have a multi-family yard sale.  Bargain hunters prefer a larger multi-family yard sale to a small out-of-the way sale any day.  Have items left over at the end of the day?  Donate them and take the deduction on your taxes.

More to do the weekend prior-

a.  Make a list of the large furniture and appliances that you're moving.  Again, if you don't love something, and if it's not essential, sell or donate it.  Another thing to consider is that larger furniture, like sofas, dining tables and beds don't always fit into the new home.  These items may need to be traded in if they won't fit.

b.  Make a "new house kit".  In a paper grocery bag, put paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, an all-purpose spray cleaner, a bottle of hand soap, any necessary pet supplies (including a big bowl for water), pens and paper.  Also include a new filter for your vacuum cleaner and a new filter for your dust buster (you'll see why later).  This 'kit' will travel in your vehicle (not the moving truck) and be one of the first things that goes into the new house with you.

c.  Rent a truck.  It's worth the  <$100 to rent a truck rather than try and manage a circus of friends with various vehicles.  Rent a truck one size larger than what you think you need, that way, you don't have to do the "cramming olympics" to get everything inside.  Plus, they usually come with a dolly which will make moving larger items easier.

d.  Pack.  Pack everything that you don't use every day.  Make sure to clean everything before you pack it!  Don't forget the outdoor/yard and garden things, like your shed, garden tools, etc. 

4.  The day before moving-  Do laundry and put away.  Lay out your clothes and toiletries for the next day.  Clean out the fridge.  Pack your dishes and the contents of any bureaus (dresser, nightstands, armoires, cabinets, etc.).  Plan to treat yourself to breakfast out in the A.M. so that you don't have to worry about food and dishes.  Unplug TVs and other electronics, wrap the cords up and tape them so they don't drag when they are moved.  Dust all furniture and appliances that will be moved.

5.  The day of:  Take your shower and put the dirty towels as well as your sheets/bedding in the hamper.  This is the only dirty stuff you should be moving.  After you get ready for the day, pack up your toiletries.  Everything should now be packed!

6.  Load the truck:  Load the truck as neatly as possible.  I prefer to load the big heavy furniture last, which I know seems counter-intuitive, but it allows me to take it off the truck first at the new house and put it directly where it goes when we get there.  Load up everything except your vacuum cleaner and dust buster, as well as two rags, several trash bags and some all-purpose spray cleaner. 

7.  Leave some things behind:  This may not be for everyone, but there are certain things I never move.  I just get new ones.  I like starting fresh with a few things.  They are:

• Trashcans (clean and leave behind for new tenants)
• Litterboxes (clean and donate or trash)
• Brooms and dustpans (leave behind for new tenants)

8.  Clean the old house:  Wipe all surfaces with the rags and all-purpose cleaner.  Use the dust buster to quickly get into corners and to knock some dust off of any window treatments you're leaving behind.  Sweep and vacuum all floors.  Empty your vacuum and dust buster into a trash bag and throw out the old filters as well...then load those on to the truck.  Place new liners in the trash cans you're leaving behind.  One other nice touch:  leave a new vinyl shower curtain liner on the side of the bathtub for the new tenants. 

9.  Do a final sweep:  Check cabinets, closets, and appliances for things you might have missed. 

10.  Move!  When you get to the new house there are a few things you should do first:

a.  Care for your pets.  Make sure they are safe, have water and not left in the car.  It might be good to leave one person in charge of pets only for the day.

b.  Take that "new house kit" right into the kitchen.  Unload everything.  Put the TP and soap in the bathroom.

c.  Quickly clean.  Insert your new vacuum filter and vacuum the floors where big heavy furniture will go.  You won't be able to get to those spots for years!  It'd also be nice to quickly wipe off the baseboards there as well.  If you have time, touch up the whole house, but if not, just hit these spots and come back to the others later.

d.  Order a pizza.  Reward yourself and your help with lunch and sodas! 

11.  Put big stuff in place.  Move in the big furniture while you have help, and make sure it's exactly where you want it. 

12.  Finally, unpack.  This step can be done at your leisure, with or without help.  I recommend doing one room at a time, in this order:

a.  The bedroom.  You need a nice place to rest that night.  You'll be tired!  Make up a nice bed, put your clothes away. 

b.  The kitchen.  You'll want to start cooking in there soon!

c.  The bathroom. 

d.  The living area.

e.  The dining room.

f.  Your yard and garden. 

I hope this article helps make your moving day fun and less stressful!  If you have any additional tips please feel free to add them to the comments section below. 

Related Posts:

Learn to Declutter

How to Clean Your Home Quickly

Learn to Organize