Moving house is a big project.
Sorting. Decluttering. Packing. Unpacking.
It’s enough to give you a headache thinking about it.
A friend of mine is currently surrounded by boxes. Her hubby moved most of them into the garage, which means her car now sits in the driveway. She’s constantly complaining about not being able to find things. Or more importantly, find the time to unpack the boxes. It’s starting to get serious … the move was 6 months ago!
“Help me!” Was the first thing she said when I saw her recently. “I’m stuck, and I’m overwhelmed by the unpacked boxes.”
Her inability to take action was preventing her from enjoying her new home. My suggestions were to:
- Allocate 1 hour a day to unpack a box. Set a time limit, focus on the task, get it done.
- Consider what she was actually unpacking before she found a new place for it in her new home. My thinking is, if you’ve done without it already for 6 months, do you really need it?
- Consider employing a professional unpacker. They do exist! If all you really want is for everything to be unpacked and put away, then this could be well-worth the money. They consult with you as they unpack, but generally, as professionals, they have a good idea on where things should go.
- Get the family involved in unpacking. If you live with others, and they are old enough, let them take charge of boxes that relate to them.
- Discard empty boxes! Recycle them. Sell them. Return them. Whatever the plan, make sure you’re not left with empty boxes.
I’ve got a big move coming up in a couple of months time. I hope I heed my own advice!
What’s your experience in dealing with a big move?
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Yes. Typically, I simply request the individual to move, and they comply. On one occasion, however, I was driving an old, unattractive pickup truck. Nonetheless, this truck was rugged.
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Take time to label the boxes i.e. kitchen pots & pans, kitchen dishes, etc. Have the boxes placed in the appropriate rooms in your new home. Unpack the boxes spending time each day until they are all unpacked and placed in the appropriate space.
Having been in the military, I am very familiar with moving. In prepping – try to declutter as you pack. Do you like or need that item enough to unpack it again at the other end? Also, clearly label the boxes by room, and don’t mix things for different rooms in one box. That is vital for your sanity at the other end. When the boxes arrive, have them put in the appropriate room. As for unpacking, we’ve tried it a few ways. One is to set a goal of so many boxes per day. Another is to finish a particular room. Of course you will have your necessities unpacked for each room, but then you may say, the kitchen gets done this week, and so on. Save one box to gather all that wrapping paper, and another for the further decluttering you may do as you unpack. Break down the rest as you empty them and get them out of the house. Set a stop time for each day, so you can relax and enjoy the progress you have made. Finally, set an “all done” date and write it on your calendar. This helps keep you going because you can see an end. Hope that helps.