Moving Time Made Easy

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Spring pretty much means moving for quite a few people. It's getting nice outside, and guess what that means...it's moving time. Some folks dread moving as it is tedious and requires a lot of work, but it can be a renewing experience and be a heck of a lot easier if it's approached the right way.

When it's time to start packing up your place, it can be dreadful if attempted in one day. Don't do this to yourself. Whether you are a home owner or a renter, the simple steps in moving are very similar. In my case, my landlord has permission to show my place while they search for the next tenant. This has made my situation like a home opening and I have used this process and a few tips that I live by. Organization and preparation is a big key in making anything successful.

This is how I do it:

1. The De-Clutter Factor. Don't pack everything in one day. Moving takes preparation and packing day by day will definitely make things a little easier. For instance, walk around and pick up all the picture frames from every room and small decorative pieces. Begin to pack them. Do this for a few days and grab larger and larger items as you go.

This is a great tip in showing a place. People who walk through have more of a chance of envisioning themselves in the area if there are fewer personal touches around. It lets visitors focus on how they might use the space, not how you have.

2. Choose your boxes wisely. Don't choose big boxes just because they can fit a bunch of stuff, choose on what size items you are packing. Use big boxes for lighter, larger items and smaller boxes for everything else. Lift with the legs and hold at your 'power zone' which is located at your abs...less chance of breaking valuables and your back.

During the showing period, I have moved my boxes into a storage area in the basement below my living area. Avoid stuffing items in closets, you want to enhance the spacial quality. The less the potential tenant sees of your stuff, the more appealing the environment.

3. Clean a few hard things a day. Even if you are meticulous at cleaning everyday, your old home will need a deep cleaning before you go. My mother always told me to leave something sparkling more than I how I found it, and it will make a difference.

Go ahead and degrease that stove and wipe out the cabinets. Wipe down the fridge while you're at it and save some time in the long run. After doing this a few days, a little bit at a time, the final cleaning will be a breeze. It'll only require touch up and light wiping and then you can get the heck outta out of there. Enthusiasm is not a requirement.

4. To clean. Or not to clean. You can clean everything before you pack it, or you can clean everything while unpacking in your new nest. Wiping and cleaning your stuff may prove useless because boxes breed dust. This just may depend on the timing of your relocation.

Since I am showing my apartment as I clean and pack the place, I have decided to pack everything dusty as it is. The anticipation of the move is far greater than my need to unpack everything to find it in pristine and clean. Wiping and dusting as you unpack will be fun as you room for all your stuff.

5. The best way to clean. Many people are particular in the way that they clean, and I can raise my hand high in that crowd.  After you have officially pulled up the stakes, going back to finish the place off should be easy. If you cleaned at those dreaded tasks like the fridge, stove, cabinets, and such already, the rest is pretty refreshing.

Call your girlfriends, order some pizza and clean the place like mad women. It's a party when you do all the hard work first and cleaning in company of friends can make a dreadful task a farewell party. Bust open a few cold ones as you say goodbye...whewhoo!

    a. Top to bottom, room to room. Dust first, top to bottom as dust will settle downwards. Always wipe down blinds before perfecting the windows and dusting. Work the dust down and around and into oblivion.

    b. Sweep after dusting. A good exception to this method is removing dust bunnies and floaty stuff before starting to wipe down your wood furniture. This kind of dust is very light and likes to jump all over your furniture unless you grab it first. In general, though, all dirt will fall to the floor where it will be swept and mopped away.

    c. The devil is in the details. Hitting your door frames and floor boards with a dusting agent can be the difference in a room. Wiping door knobs, switches, and faucets with a cleaner will add a sparkle, too. Even if someone doesn't directly recognize it, they will notice the difference.

* Rental companies such as Enterprise offer cargo vans cheaper, no mileage, and weekend flexibility than that other moving truck rentals offer.

Suggested Items: Boxes, Packing Tape, Marker, Scissors, Cleaning stuff, Pizza, and a whole lot of friends to help move all those boxes.

Authors note: My so called expertise in moving and cleaning comes from years of jobs that I am grateful to have learned from. Housekeeping and box/shipping tips have definitely made these transitions in my life a heck of a lot more fun, but when it comes to organizing, cleaning, and method, I can at times take these passions to the extreme. I do not claim to give professional advice :)