The packing blues........

[LJC1861]

I hate packing to move. Simple as that. It always makes me very out of sorts and this time it is particularly bad.

We need to thin out and downsize and it is not going as well as it should. As the boxes fill up the house, I wonder where all the stuff will get put. I know that everything will have its place, but right now, when it is in total disarray it makes me nutty.

I keep telling myself that all this is temporary, but I don't think I am listening too well. I keep telling myself that all the work will get done, but I am not believing too well.

We do a little each night, and have just over a week before we get the keys and start moving stuff in. The furniture goes next Saturday.

We are doing things very systematically, with boxes clearly labeled as to where they go in the new house. We have everything staged pretty well, so that the heavier boxes go out first and will get put on the bottom. We have movers coming to help us load and unload the furniture, so that is a bit of a relief.

Any other suggestions for getting through this next week?

Linda

 

[dislal]

I have no great suggestions but and just try to relax and break it down into smaller jobs.

 

[ShesAPirate]

First of all, I feel your pain! I absolutely HATE moving. It can be so stressful and overwhelming, especially when you're downsizing. I can't tell you how many trips I made to Goodwill to donate things during my last move. And the mountain of garbage left for pick up at my old place rivaled Mt. Everest.

That said, I have a couple of ideas that helped me a lot...

This may sound like even more work, but... the last time I moved, I didn't just write what room each box was going into in the new place, but also wrote what was in each box. You can write it on the outside, or make a list and pack it inside the top of the box. It made it much easier when I got to the new place. Instead of tearing through 10 boxes that said "kitchen", I was able to just go to the one that had the can opener in it (or whatever I happened to need). I didn't get super-granular with all the lists -- there's always those last-minute boxes that have a zillion little things in them -- but just having a general idea of where my utensils were, where my extension cords were, etc., was a huge help.

Also - have you seen those gigantic bags that Ziplok makes now? They're like 3 feet high or something. They are great for moving bedding, clothes, towels, etc. Smaller and less bulky than boxes, and they're clear, so you can see exactly what's in them. They hold a lot and aren't expensive, and they're very durable. In fact, I'm still using the ones I bought for the last move to store my winter clothes.

Good luck and try not to stress too much. You know it'll get done, somehow. And before you know it, you'll be in your new home

 

[LJC1861]

Thanks for the tips and support.

I love the ziplock bag idea. I do remember hearing about them, but completely forgot that they existed. I will get some today!

I also like the list of what is in the box. That could be very beneficial as we unpack.

Linda

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I will join you. I have been living in "mess" since April.

We are closing on our house Sept 25th. YEA....bye-bye apartment, storage sheds, etc....I want my stuff back.

Since we have the apartment till Dec. we are doing a slow move in.

 

[LJC1861]

I wish we could do a slow move in.

We are lucky that we get the keys to the condo several days before the actual move, so we can move boxes and such. That will help on the actual moving day. We also do not have to be out of the house until Oct 1, so that gives us a few extra days to finish cleaning out.

I know it will all be fine, but right now, it is just not fun at all.

Linda

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I know it will all be fine, but right now, it is just not fun at all.

Linda

Tell me about it....

I just keep saying "it will all work out"...repeat.

I never have had a "slow move in" so I am going to savor.

DH is lining up some guys for the heavy stuff. My family has been ill and other stuff so I prefer we pay some people to move the HUGE heavy stuff.

Good thing about moving day, it will be over.

 

[kristilew]

Linda, It is a shame we're on opposite sides of the state...helping people pack is what I do for a living! (prof organizer)

The ziplocks and lists are two of my tricks as well. Just get a spiral notebook and do a page for each box. Number each box and put the corresponding # on the top of the page. The upside of this is that you are doing two things at once here, packing and updating your insurance inventory. Once you move, you can keep the notebook and just add in your new purchases as you make them - you'll never have to whole-house inventory again.

The other idea to keep chaos to a minimum is to pick one room as your box room. If you have a dining room, this is the perfect place as no one entertains in the middle of a move. Put all packed boxes in here, rather than piled up in all your rooms. If you have enough space, keep packing supplies here as well and make it your staging area. A garage also works for this, or a guest room if it's on the ground floor.

Try to get one room completely totally empty and cleaned. Then you will have a place to go stand and scream that won't remind you of the work still to do.

Since you only have a week left, pick out your outfits as though you are packing for a trip, but hang them in your closet and pack everything else. Most people save closets for last, but this is the first thing you look in each morning and it just reminds you of what you haven't done yet.

Your movers can wrap plastic wrap tightly around your dressers, so just leave everything in drawers.

If you have a lot of luggage to move, remember to pack stuff in it!

Good luck - it's a crazy time!

 

[LJC1861]

Kristelew,

I wish you were closer too! I could use a professional organizer right about now.

We have been using the guest room as our staging and box room. Everything we pack goes in there, and it has helped. As for the luggage to pack clothes....already thought of and done. We have just enough outfits and clothes that we will need for the next week. We have done the same with the dishes. Those get packed up tonite when several of our friends come over for a dish packing party.

We had planned on keeping things in dresser drawers, and using empty drawers to pack things in as well.

Where I am struggling most right now is with the boxes of "stuff". Stuff that came with us from our move from NYC...stuff that for whatever reason we are having trouble letting go of. I have weeded down alot, and Lisa, not so much. I know that I can't forcer her to let go of stuff...but I am looking at a mountain of boxes, knowing that there will be no place to put them in our new place. We have thought about renting a storage unit, but I hate the thought of throwing away $50 per month for stuff that we really don't need or use.

I know that once we move and are faced with where to put it all, this problem might resolve itself naturally, and I am doing my best not to let my anxiety over it all get the best of me, or my relationship.

Linda

 

[MagicalMom]

I guess this will be us soon. We close on our new home Oct. 2nd. We are actually still in a bit of shock because we just put the contract in last week on a home that we wanted for years but couldn't afford. We viewed the model when it was being built and loved it. It just went into foreclosure and we submitted a bid immediatley, never thinking they would accept in so fast. We've heard stories where banks can take months to even review the offers.

So, I guess I better start thinking about packing huh?

 

[kristilew]

Kristelew,

I wish you were closer too! I could use a professional organizer right about now.

We have been using the guest room as our staging and box room. Everything we pack goes in there, and it has helped. As for the luggage to pack clothes....already thought of and done. We have just enough outfits and clothes that we will need for the next week. We have done the same with the dishes. Those get packed up tonite when several of our friends come over for a dish packing party.

We had planned on keeping things in dresser drawers, and using empty drawers to pack things in as well.

Where I am struggling most right now is with the boxes of "stuff". Stuff that came with us from our move from NYC...stuff that for whatever reason we are having trouble letting go of. I have weeded down alot, and Lisa, not so much. I know that I can't forcer her to let go of stuff...but I am looking at a mountain of boxes, knowing that there will be no place to put them in our new place. We have thought about renting a storage unit, but I hate the thought of throwing away $50 per month for stuff that we really don't need or use.

I know that once we move and are faced with where to put it all, this problem might resolve itself naturally, and I am doing my best not to let my anxiety over it all get the best of me, or my relationship.

Linda

Sounds like you could be a PO - you're doing everything right!

As for the stuff that you don't think you will need but aren't ready to whittle: put that in its own set of boxes. Boxes that you will not open in the new house for the first 6 months. If you are short of space, line them up along a wall there and put a tablecloth over them and a lamp on top. Then if you haven't gone to them in the 6 month time frame, take them to goodwill, still unopened. (do make a list of contents, though, so you don't end up opening them all if you want to salvage something, and so that you don't buy something you've already got, and for tax forms)

As for the relationship stress: just keep repeating "This too shall pass, this too shall pass." And don't pack the wine or the corkscrew!

 

[LJC1861]

Kristalew,

Thanks for the advice about the wine and the corkscrew. I have 2 bottles of our favorite cheap wine and two wine glasses that will remain with us until the day we move. I firmly believe in a glass of wine after a long day of packing.

I am off today and have been going through closets. As of now, they are all empty and that is a nice feeling. Yes, it means more stuff in our space, but it is nice to know that the closets no longer need to be touched.

Linda

 

[Chicago526]

I hate packing to move too. Last time I swore that I'd hire packers to do it for me, I don't care how much it costs!!! I'll still have to clean out stuff I don't want to take along, but I find packing is the worst part anyway.

Make sure to pack a box of things you'll need the moment you enter your new home. Paper towels, cleaning products, toliet paper, shower curtains (and rings/rods if you think you'll need them) old sheets for curtains or drop cloths, paper plates/cups/plastic utensils. If you're new to the area, look online for restaurants and pizza places that deliver, jot their numbers down or print their menus, you won't be able to look online at your new home with the computer in a box and there is no guarantee the old owner left the phone books. Pack this box (or boxes) last on the truck so it's the first one off, along with your vaccum cleaner (and carpet cleaner, if you have one). This way, you can clean if needed before you start unloading and you have other things you need (like TP!) without having to wait until the right box comes off the truck.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I guess this will be us soon. We close on our new home Oct. 2nd. We are actually still in a bit of shock because we just put the contract in last week on a home that we wanted for years but couldn't afford. We viewed the model when it was being built and loved it. It just went into foreclosure and we submitted a bid immediatley, never thinking they would accept in so fast. We've heard stories where banks can take months to even review the offers.

So, I guess I better start thinking about packing huh?

We close on the 25th of this month. However most of our stuff is in storage so I am packed about 85%.

Which brings the point...yea...we don't need 50% of the crud we own.

I am getting by pretty well with the basics in this apartment.

 

[LJC1861]

Chicago526,

Thanks for all the good tips. We will be bringing all that stuff over to the condo on Thursday, when we get the keys, so that it is there and ready for us on Saturday. We have some friends, as well as movers helping us and want the condo to be stocked with TP, soap paper towels and drinks in the fridge.

The unit is immaculately clean, thank god! The landlord is super nice and said that he would be having it cleaned, professionally, just before we moved in....which we said wasn't necessary as it was sparkling clean when we went to see it. Still, it will be nice to know that the carpet, windows, stove, fridge, etc will be freshly clean when we move in.

Linda

 

[MagicalMom]

So, how is everyone's packing going? I have been so busy and haven't gotten much done.

 

[LJC1861]

I had yesterday off, and packed all day. All the closets are empty!! We took last night off and our very good friends cooked us dinner, which was a blessing.

Tonight those same friends are bringing dinner in to us and we are packing dishes. I have all the dishes that we will not need on the dining room table. Boxes, bubble wrap, newspaper for stuffing, tape, etc. is all at the ready. With 4 pairs of hands, the work should go quickly.

Tomorrow night I tackle the office. I have a beautiful desk that my father made for me. It comes apart into 12 pieces, and I have to figure out how to take it apart without his physical help. Of course when he built it and first put it together did we think to write down the sequence????? NOOOOOO!!!

Mom can't travel, so I will have to figure it out on my own with verbal help from Dad via telephone. Taking it apart should be relatively easy. Putting it back together might be a bit harder. I am going to make sure that I write it all down and mark on the bottom of the desk top and shelf top which way is the front. It makes a difference, as there are screw holes and cable holes in many of the pieces.

This weekend is devoted to packing our room, and finishing up the last few boxes of stuff. We also need to finish the basement and make a landfill run. We have lots of larger things that we are not taking, and are not in good enough shape to give to Goodwill that will need to go to the dump. I am truly thankful for friends with pick-up trucks.

Next week I hope to just get things staged, so that on Thursday night we can actually begin the process of moving things from the old house to the new.

We get the keys next Thursday night and will take a pick up and car full of boxes over that night. Friday we have friends with SUV's and a pick-up truck coming to get more boxes. Saturday we have a truck rented and men coming to assist with loading and unloading and that should be it. Then we can unpack and be DONE.

I can't wait.

Linda

 

[SeeVee]

Throw stuff away. Just throw it away. I just moved from a 1500 sqf house to a 2600 sqf house and I dont have a clue where everything is going to go. I wish I threw stuff away!

BTW, the brand new house I just closed on has no power due to Hurrican Ike and probably wont have power for at least a week.

 

[MagicalMom]

Throw stuff away. Just throw it away. I just moved from a 1500 sqf house to a 2600 sqf house and I dont have a clue where everything is going to go. I wish I threw stuff away!

BTW, the brand new house I just closed on has no power due to Hurrican Ike and probably wont have power for at least a week.

Yeah, that's what I am thinking too. Each time I pick something up I try to think of where it will go in the new house. I just don't need all this crap! LOL

 

[MagicalMom]

How's it going everyone? We changed our closing date to the 21st of Oct. but we still have a ton to pack here. DH is off all next week and we are going away thursday & friday, but hopefully we can get a lot packed at the begining of the week.