If you have a question on personal organization, decluttering, simplicity,
or goals, feel free to ask away
on my Facebook page.
Here’s a recent one…
Q:
So what are the getting organized tips for moving house? The only thing I can think of is leave it to your wife to do.
A:
Excessive spousal delegation is rarely a substitute for sound personal organization skills, dear reader, and sometimes an impediment to other conjugal pleasantries.
Instead, I suggest you consider my top 3 tips for getting organized to move house:
Tip #1: Get rid of 25 – 30 % of your stuff before you start packing.
See Get Organized Mission #1: Fill a Hu-u-uge Trash Bag for ideas on what to ditch.
If you really need something again, you can buy it. Chances are, you won’t miss it.
Best of all, packing, moving and unpacking will all be 25 – 30% easier.
Tip #2: Donate anything not used in the past 12 months.
If you didn’t use it last year you’re unlikely to use it this year.
Most of us have too much stuff anyway – pass it to someone who can use and enjoy it.
Tip #3: Pack for unpacking.
Think about how your new home will be set up, and box up your stuff accordingly.
- Keep a rough floor plan with you to help you visualize – you’ll save time and hassle at the other end.
- Keep like items together – eg books, clothes for hanging, kitchen utensils.
- Label boxes by storage section as well as room – eg KITCHEN: Drawer; HALL: Linen closet; BATHROOM: Top cabinet.
And happy new home!
Image by teadrinker
Thanks for the tips Michele, everything helps! Over the last 2 years I have actually been getting rid of a lot of old and unneeded items (with the help of your programs and apps. 🙂 I am proud to say that I have already exceeded getting rid of at least 25% or more of old/unneeded/unwanted/unused stuff over the last two years as well. And now as I’m packing up my rooms I will most certainly be filling some huge trash bags and giving more to charity.
That’s very cool Tami! Moving is such a great opportunity to declutter, downsize, and simplify. You’re a wise woman to make the most of that incentive!
I agree with all of these and would add to the last one. Colour code your areas eg everything going into the kitchen has a box with a blue label, everything for the bathroom has a green label etc. THEN on the wall in that room (or on the door) put the same label (I used A4 paper on the box and the wall) in the spot where you want all the boxes to go. This really helps the movers who don’t have time to read labels and look around.
If you have a really big area put a map in a central spot and mark the rooms the same as the boxes. That way they can check, or another family member can check for you…..people forget what will be the 3rd bedroom or study or something.
Put big signs on your furniture too if you can using safy pins or Blu tak.
Totally going to try and implement some of these suggestions, my hubby and I just moved and it was soo stressful because of all the crap I’ve been keeping!;-S.
All that crap is stressful in so many ways, Rachel. I encourage you to get rid of it! This post might help: http://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2010/12/but-i-might-need-it-one-day-how-to-stop-making-excuses-get-organized-declutter-simplify/ 🙂
Will check it out, thanks so much;-)
I spent the last 30 days completing this same process. I feel so so so good. Threw more than 9 years of trash away. S happy with your suggestions. I’ve been reading you for 2 years.
Oh wow that makes my day, A.J! Congratulations on ridding yourself of that burden. Enjoy those good feelings my friend! 🙂
My first tip will be to make a list when moving. That way you have a plan in front of you. It might take a while, but if you do it well it will save you time later.
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