Movin’ Out

As a child, my family and I moved eight times, twice it was the same house.  Throughout my adulthood  I’ve relocated 11 times for my career (most recently to Florida, which I swore would be my last).  With nearly 20 moves under my belt, you could say I’ve reached “moving expert” status.

So I’d like to share some time-tested tips to help you get through what the Employee Relocation Council has ranked as the third most stressful event in life: moving out.

The trick is to stay organized.

1.    PURGE!  Start in the bedrooms.  Get rid of anything in your closet or dresser drawers you haven’t worn or touched in the past year.  Be honest!

2.    Don’t stop there.  Next, tackle the kitchen, bathrooms, den, and living room.

3.    Take your unwanted clothes, shoes, books, and furniture to a donation center and get a receipt. These can be deducted as non-cash donations when you file your taxes.  The Salvation Army Valuation Guide can help you determine the value of these items.

4.    Now, repeat steps 1 through 3 until you’re moving only what you want and need. Sometimes, less is more.

5.    Now on to your home office.  It’s time to purge again but this time you want to get rid of any unwanted paper.  Shred any unnecessary documents and use ScanSnap to digitize the rest.  Moving is the perfect time to develop new habits and scanning is a great way to reduce clutter and help you stay organized.

6.    Create a “to do” list.  Keep it with you at all times so you can update it as you think of new actionable items.

7.    Complete the U.S. Postal Service change of address form.  Also, notify the IRS.

8.    Select one location to be “move central” where you stack all the boxes as you pack them.

9.    Mark all boxes with the room location and sample of its contents (i.e. kitchen/pots and pans).

10.    On the day of the move, carefully examine the mover’s content list before you sign off.  Keep your copy with you so it’s readily accessible when you unload.

11.    After the furniture has been placed in your new home, locate the bedroom boxes.  Making the beds should be a priority so you can crash when you’ve had enough for the first day.

12.    Most importantly, schedule a spa day for approximately one week after move in day.  You’re going to need it.

Happy “Movin’ Out!”

Pamela Doyle, Director, Imaging Products Group
Fujitsu Computer Products of America