The 1 Step You Should Never Skip When Moving
Moving is a whole thing—trust me, I get it. Personally and professionally I would like to think I have learned a thing or two about the moving process. The necessary and unnecessary. If there is one step that I emphasize with all of our clients as the most important part it is the…
PRE-MOVE PURGE.
“Ria, what is a pre-move purge? Teach me your ways!”
So glad you asked—let’s get into it.
The goal before diving into packing up for a move is to be sure you are only packing the items you have purposefully chosen to transition with you to your new home. While this takes up more time on the front end of the move—it eliminates a headache on the backend which is always the more overwhelming part!
PREPARING FOR THE PURGE
1. MAKE TIME
Set aside an appropriate amount of time to really embrace the task and be able to give your attention to your items. Feeling rushed may not help you really tackle everything. Purging takes time and FOCUS!
2. EMPTY SPACE &
CATEGORIZE ALL ITEMS
No matter what space you’re in - kitchen, garage, closet- emptying the space helps you see how much of each item you have and what you DON’T NEED. If you forgot you had something, it’s expired, or it doesn’t fit, chances are you don’t need it anymore.
3. LABEL
Grab some post-its (or blue tape) and label items that will be tossed, donated, or given to a friend, separating them from items to be packed.
4. GO FOR IT!
Purging feels so great. Once you understand what you don’t need, getting it out of the space will help you feel ready to conquer your move!
Sometimes it is helpful to start with a smaller space to get your feet wet with the process. You can get in the rhythm of analyzing your items and asking yourself these questions:
Do I need it?
Do I want it?
Do I use it?
Has it served me well, but time to part ways?
The choice to keep or toss should come easily. If you find you are hesitating on an item—label it with “maybe” to get back to. You never want to lose your momentum in this process—this is what the post-its are for. Instead of walking things to piles (unless you have help), use the post-its to label items that can go and keep moving through your items. Assessing items one at a time is so important because it really makes you think about it—it can be overwhelming when making decisions in a cramped and cluttered space. When you separate the items from the chaos, the task gets much less daunting.
Packing and moving don’t have to be a pain— we’ve got your back with more tips and tricks for how to tackle the task every step of the way!
Still not convinced you can do it yourself? Check out our RíLocation services and let us carry the load by coordinating your relocation from start to finish. Our services ensure a seamless transition and a happy home.