Yikes!
So the job foreman on our house reno, currently my favorite guy in the whole world, told me he hopes to be finished by the end of next week.
Which means . . . moving in.
Yikes. You mean–I gotta pack all this stuff up into manageable sizes and move it into a new house (new to me, at least), where I then have to unpack it?
Hoo boy. Bring on the wine. And the whine.
Any tips for packing, moving, keeping calm, etc.? All support is appreciated.
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March 4th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
All I can say is pack, pack and pack some more. Even when you think you’re done you’re not done. That’s just how it is. Fight getting stressed and stay smiling no matter what. Marriages have fallen apart over moving. I know it tested mine.Oy!
That said, I want to metion that Melissa Walker’s (my new blog friend) new book, Violet By Design is out today. Good luck Melissa.
March 4th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Good labeling while packing is your best friend. It will make unpacking SO MUCH EASIER when you get there. Also, like Kwana said, just laugh. It’s ridiculous to move.
Good luck in the new house!!!!!
JennaP
March 4th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
You know, I didn’t do such a great job of packing when we moved from L.A. I just remember that the mover/packer dudes put everything that wasn’t nailed down into boxes. They’d even box the trash if it was sitting there. When it came time for ME to actually pack something, I think I just got too overwhelmed and dumped half of the stuff in the giant dumpster. So I hope you’re better at it than I was. But YAY for the soon-to-be completed renovation! And congrats on the house, Megan.
March 4th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Put books in small boxes. Your back will thank you. We’ve started using 1 ft. cube boxes for ours when we’ve moved.
And yay for you moving in!
March 4th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Your house looks like….a home! It is lovely and just think all new appliances! Good luck with the move and congratulations on surviving the renovations.
March 4th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
From a veteran:
1. Get rid of everything you possibly can. Including the “skinny” wardrobe. Do you really want to move it? (I’ve totally been there. When did I ever wear a size 4 after my teens?)
2. Every box: line the bottom with books. Put inconsequentials (dishes, clothes, lamps) on top. That way you have boxes you can actually lift.
3. Unpack the kitchen first. You will feel calmer as soon as you have.
4. Put toilet paper and a shower curtain in your handbag with your wallet and carry them last. You do NOT want to have to dig through boxes for toilet paper!
5. Save all your newspapers, starting now. You need lots to wrap dishes.
Good luck!
March 5th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Some tips and thoughts:
1. Your Dad taught me not to waste a trip. When you go to the new place, each time, bring something with you. It can be a little thing. This idea works well within the house when taking things up or down the stairs. If you are going upstairs anyway, bring something with you that belongs upstairs.
2. The plastic mattress bags they sell at U-Haul for about $5 are a good value, they guard against sad mishaps, and rainy days. Consider all the things out there you don’t want to touch your mattress, starting with the floor of moving van. Those vans can be used to moving just about anything! Reuse the bag as a drop cloth. Mattresses are not cheap to replace.
3. Large Zip-lock bags, buy a box. They will often hold an entire desk drawer of office supplies and such. (Also, kitchen drawers) When the desk drawer is in its new home, unzip the bag and empty it in to it. It will be like you didn’t move it all! Or, be a do-be and toss out the used up pens and obsolete address labels before filling the Zip-lock bag in the first place.
These Zip-lock bags are good for cables and cords from computers and other elec. equip. If you are a real hero, you can put an index card in the bag that says what the cord/cable is for.
4. Buy a pack of Sharpies. String is useful stuff, your Dad told me. Soon after, string proved itself to me. Have a ball!
Scissors go well with string. A flashlight goes with everything.
5. Target and such places have inexpensive garment racks with wheels and adjustable bar heights. These are useful. They provide a place to hang clothes if you have not made up your mind what closets, bureaus, and wardrobes they are going into, and/or while you wait for the bureau that is buried in the truck to arrive.
Take care, and congratulations!
March 5th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Not sure if there is an IKEA near you but they sell the best sized boxes for books (paperbacks). I still have some hanging around.
I second a box of sharpies and it helps to know which room you plan on moving things to so you can put on the box - ‘yellow room’, ‘upstair bath’ in case someone else is moving it.
Seriously, why isn’t someone else moving it?
OH! Pick a spot in the house to start packing and know that will be where you will stack all the boxes as they get packed. Our back room was floor to ceiling by the time we were ready to move but at least it was all in one room and not all over the house.
Don’t be afraid to just take a break. When I packed my library I started crying because I was leaving behind all these built-ins that my hubby had built me. I needed to walk away and take a break.
Drinking while packing is part of the equation. My family is famous for beer/wine/pizza moves. And donuts. On moving day, whoever shows up gets beer and pizza but it’s a long ass day.
The last move we did for our family best friends we were in their backyard, sawing a wooden couch in half to get it in their basement at 1am. We’d been there since 10am. To this day they can’t believe Bob was able to take the couch apart and re-build it in their basement. (one of those wooden couches where the cushions are removable) Meanwhile, their two sons got out stain and varathane on the spot and had the furniture looking like new by the time we left 2 hours later.
*sigh* Good times.
No really!
CindyS
March 5th, 2008 at 6:17 am
I say burn the old and buy all new. Ha!
No, a bit of free advice, since you asked, Pack in banker boxes, label, label, and unpack 10 years later, like me! I will never forget Kwana moving right down the street and helping her - the first day - the dryer almost caught fire
so, be prepared for the joys of Home ownership, it is like having a boat, one that you are trying to keep a float!
Wine helps to ease the move!
March 9th, 2008 at 1:40 am
More tips. I asked one half of a couple with kids I know about moving. They are moving again this year. This makes about 5-6 moves in 8-9 years! Here is what he said.
1. Think about how MUCH money you can spend on moving. Don’t think about how LITTLE you can spend. Going cheap when you can afford more can be a mistake.
2. Make sure the place you are moving to is clean enough for you before you start moving in. Do an inspection. Pay attention to closets, cabinets, and so on, that might get overlooked in cleaning.
3. Shed many things before starting to move.
4. Overlap time is precious. Try to have many days with control over both the old place and the new.
Here a few tips of mine, buy a few tape measures, at least one should be pocket/key chain size. Keep at least one at the old place and one at the new place so you don’t have to look for one. Have a tool kit is very good, screw drivers and such to take things apart/put back together. At least one Containerstore I have been to has a huge selection of cardboard box sizes, such as 12×12x12 and 12×12x4 good for LPs. They sell other moving supplies, and fancy storage products.