The good move: Part One
It’s often said that moving to a new house is among the most stressful of experiences, right up there with the death of a loved one, loss of a job and divorce. Experts say disruption of your ordinary routine is a primary source of discomfort.
But perhaps fear of the unknown is also an element. Letting go of your current home — the site of pleasant, memorable experiences — might prompt fears of leaving behind something that’s emotionally valuable. You might be
frightened by the thought that life in the new home, no matter how recently built, might not measure up to your current level of satisfaction or fulfill your lofty expectations. Add to that any negative experiences or memories associated with a past move, and you have a recipe for fullon emotional collapse.
If you’ve ever experienced a sloppy move — as in, you end up frantically tossing belongings into trash bags and stuffing them into the truck as you lock up the old house — you’ll have some idea of the value of accomplishing an effective move. While easing the emotional and spiritual trauma of moving might require a more powerful prescription than anything we can offer here, a strong plan of attack for tackling the logistical side of things might smooth the transition. We consulted area moving and organizing experts who offered surprisingly simple tips to make your move less fraught and more efficient.
“Planning is everything,” says Gayle Grace of All Things Home Organizing in Oakland. “Planning, being organized, prepping in advance ... (make) the difference between surviving a move and having a horrible move.”
Planning, she says, means detailing everything you want to accomplish before the move. She also notes that allotting ample time is a must.
“You have to be realistic about how much time (you have) before your actual move (as you) are listing the things you want to get done,” she warns. “If you think you want to sort through everything you own, you’d better start at least six months in advance.”
When it comes to sorting and decluttering, Breeze Carlile, president of It’s A Breeze Moving in Oakland, offers a few solid pointers. She recommends placing a typical grocery store brown bag with handles in each room and then sorting “drawer by drawer.” With such an approach, it’s easy to see why ample time must be allowed.
She also suggests obtaining some moral support, professional or amateur. Both pros mention that hiring an organizing and moving facilitator can save you a lot of headaches. But if you’re not so inclined, remarks Carlisle, “ask a friend to help” with premove organizing tasks. “Having another person there is what keeps you focused.”
Another good idea is to set a defined time period for sorting. For example, you can elect to sort for three hours, then take your friend out for a snack, a meal or a fun activity. (Take it easy on the comfort foods, of course, if you want to avoid packing on the pounds!)
Carlile notes that sometimes people have an easier time psychologically when it comes to deciding what to give away as they sort if they know who is going to receive it. She recommends identifying a charity that aligns with your values, so that you can feel good about where your old stuff is going.
Finally, she suggests that you actually ask a friend (maybe not the same friend!) to take the fruits of your decluttering efforts out of the house. She says she has known clients to declutter successfully, only to leave bags and boxes of what they intended to give away sitting in the garage.
A quality move requires what could be months of advance planning, sorting and organizing. Being thorough about these early tasks will set the stage for a successful transition, whether you choose to hire a professional mover or accomplish the task on your own.