The physics of packing for a move....

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The movers come in 4 weeks and while I am
making progress, I am simply amazed at how it looks
like little progress has been made.

I feel like I am cramming last minute for a college exam as it feels like the movers will be here any second.

(yes the movers can pack for us, but I've been on a decluttering mission so that I do not have to deal with it later. 11 years since our last move---so lots to go through.)

 

[golfgal]

Just tackle one room at a time. Don't move on until that room is done. Another tip that has helped me tremendously when unpacking is move like things to the same room. In our old house we had some really deep cabinets in a built in entertainment center in our tv room. The cabinets went all the way to the ceiling and the top cabinets I used for storage of big kitchen things, my griddle, wok, etc. Before the movers came I took those kitchen things out and put them in the kitchen so they would be packed with the"kitchen" boxes. I also went after the movers and added some of my own content notes on boxes so I knew which drawers, closets, etc. they took from so I could find things easier on the other end.

One move we had I couldn't find my drinking glasses for 3 days so I learned from that (that box got put into the basement for some reason).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Great tips! Thanks!

The room shuffle is a bit difficult due to our small home. Buy I've been doing a modified version of that.

Hubby alreayd lives in our destination house, so worst
case scenario---I've got a made king sized bed to sleep
in when we arrive and a set of dishes and minimal cookware
that can be used if boxes get a mind of their own and end up in the wrong spot in the house.

 

[clh2]

By any chance - do you have a freind that could help you out for a couple of hours? Maybe bribe her with a casual dinner out?? I would recommend a place that serves margaritas...but that is just me!

I think you will find that while you are in the middle of these types of projects, things always appear worse than they are. Keep plugging away at what you are doing, and eventually, the "done" stuff will be far more than the "undone" stuff.

Also - figure out what you absolutely need to have for the next month. and pack up the rest. Especially in the kitchen. If it is only you...you need a couple of plates, a couple of glasses, minimal cookware etc. Paper plates will be helpful to you right now! Pack up everything else!

I would also ask the movers if you should be removing clothes from dressers. It is my experience that they just move them "full". Obviously - take out anything that is breakable!

Luckily - your DH has the basics already for you, so that should be one less thing to worry about!

 

[Disney Doll]

Here's some of the stuff I did when we moved from our 1st apartment to our house:

First I packed all the pictures and knick-knacks and decorative type stuff

Then I packed all the stuff I wasn't going to need for the next few weeks...china, crystal, off season clothing. Wrote on the boxes what was in thm and what room or area of the house it should go to...ie- china went to the dining room, off season clothing went to the attic.

Next I packed one room at a time and put like stuff for that room into the same box...ie-bedroom curtains, bedspreads & sheets for the master BR went into one box labeled as such. Kitchen linens in another box.

We were moving ourselves and only form one town to another (about 15 minutes apart) so I did not empty out my bureau drawers...I simply took them out fuull, put them into my sister-in-law's minivan drove them to my new house and put them on the floor of the attic until the bureaus came and then put them back in.

 

[Carly_Roach]

All of these are wonderful tips! The only one I'd like to add is the clock approach. This will likely work better for you when you've reached the point of packing everything, but you can try it out now.

Treat the room like a clock. Start at the doorway and work your way around the room packing as you go. Don't be extremely strict: if you see something across the room that would help you fill the box you're working on, get it and pack it. But your goal is to clear walls in a clockwise or counter-clockwise fashion.

I use this tip when cleaning OR packing. Works like a charm!