One of the sisters asked me to post about packing. I just moved for the second time in 2 years so it's nice and fresh in my mind. (Meaning I have nightmares about it still)
- GETTING STARTED If you're selling your home take down all your family and personal items. I know your family is beautiful, but strangers have a hard time imagining themselves in your home when all of your personal things are out.
- AFTER IT SELLS As soon as you really know you're moving, whether it's selling your home or giving your notice on a rental, it's time to start taking decorations down. Take everything off the walls first so you can patch and paint all the holes. WHY? Because you're a decent person and it's the right thing to do. Also, you don't need your decorations to function as a human being and you really do have a month's worth of packing ahead of you. WASTE NO TIME BECAUSE INEVITABLY SOMETHING WILL COME UP THAT PUTS YOU BEHIND. You want to give yourself some cushion so that when that weekend with the family shows up unexpectedly you don't feel like you're a crazy person when you get back to packing.
- YOU NEED A TAPE GUN Whether you buy one or borrow it from a neighbor, packing is so much easier with a tape gun. We are a family of 6 and we went through 5 rolls of tape.
- DON'T BUY BOXES Utilize ksl or craigslist and see if anyone is giving their moving boxes away. Also, go down to your local stores at re-stocking time and get some of theirs. I've found that calling and asking them to save them isn't as effective. There are a lot of people who work in that store and the message might not make it to everyone. If you buy moving boxes it will cost you more than you have budgeted for such a thing, I promise. A wardrobe box runs around $13 brand new. (YIKES) For my family of 6 we used around 100 boxes.
- YOU NEED LESS THAN YOU THINK You really don't need all those extra dishes or half of your clothes during your transition. Pack it all up. Label everything in mild detail so that it will be easier to sort into the new house. Don't leave a ton for boxes when the neighbors come to help you move. Be organized and efficient. Moving is so hard and so stressful, but you can make it easier on you and everyone else by being ahead of the game. Make sure that the last 2 days are paper plate days so that helpers aren't packing your breakables. They are not something to be hastily packed and you want to do it yourself.
- HAVE A BUDGET FOR EATING OUT There are a few days there where you will be unable to cook (or too tired to do so). Make sure you put aside some money for grabbing pizza or Cafe Rio for your family.
Moving is hard and expensive! Make sure you ask for help when you need it and you have a few hundred dollars saved up beforehand for those unexpected expenses. We are in transition right now and hoping to be in our new home soon. Hopefully for longer than 2 years this time. ;) We go where the work is though. Hope this helps.
Lots of Love,
Nicole
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