photo found via bonnie tsang
Now that our internet is finally connected, I wanted to check in and wish you all a wonderful weekend. Mine will be filled with finishing up moving of course, but I hope yours is much more fun. (I especially need to finish moving the kitchen stuff. Trying to find a fork today was like searching for the holy grail. For the record, I ended up eating with my hands.)
We still have some things back at our old condo that I need to bring over, but as of yesterday we are now officially living in our new house which has been kind of surreal and crazy. Sure it's been a little tiring and we've definitely had a few moments that jolted us into the reality of home ownership (case in point, roof leak in our bathroom. Thank goodness it was warrantied!) but I wouldn't change a thing. It's ours. We've lived in 3 different places since we've been together, but this feels like our first real home. I honestly had no clue how much emotion I would feel about this.
And now, some random tips, tricks and ramblings that may or may not help you if you move.
BEFORE MOVING
-Use up your stuff. You probably don't need 4 bottles of lotion, 3 things of shampoo, and 5 tubes of hair stuff that does relatively the same thing. We all have our favorites, so use up the rest (or give it to someone who would like it) and only move what you actually love.
- Speaking of stuff, get rid of some of it. For someone who loves to live more on the minimal side, I definitely feel like a hoarder right now. I dare you to guess how many silver candlesticks I own.If you haven't used it in the past 6 months, if it doesn't have crazy sentimental value, if it's broken, or if "you'll just put it into storage," get rid of it. (A few exceptions to this- if it has a particular purpose- i.e. a portable air conditioner, seasonal equipment like bikes, skis, etc, a fondue pot for your annual fondue party, you get the picture, then keep it. Just don't keep the "maybe one day I'll take of cross stitching so I should keep these broken wooden circle things." You're not going to take it up. And if you do, I'm sorry. Go get a 50% off coupon to Michael's and go buy some more.
-As for storage, I try to keep long term "never ever going to use this again" storage to no more than two regular sized plastic boxes. This lets me keep some of my old journals, photos, baby blankets etc, but doesn't take up too much space or overwhelm me or our limited storage space.
-open a Word Document, email, whatever you prefer and put in the numbers to the cable company, your utility companies, HOA people if you have them, and any other possible number you may need. Print out and keep in your glove box. (This seems to be the only place you don't lose it.)
-Go to usps.com and forward you mail. Collect your magazines and forward all of those as well. Call your doctors, dentist, pharmacist, and anyone else you see regularly and change your address with them too.
-Call the electric, cable, and gas companies to make sure you'll have everything working by the time you move.
-Donate stuff
-If you're leasing/renting, notify your landlord as early as possible. (At least 30 days, though your lease may specify longer.)
-If you can afford it, hire movers. We did and our backs are still killing us. Not sure what we would have done (or how badly we'd feel) without them! (If you're in Denver, Stallion Movers are AMAZING.)
RIGHT BEFORE MOVING
-Pack 4 bags. Bag 1. pack like you're going out of town for the weekend. Toiletries, clothes, etc. Bag 2. Fill with common household tools (hammer, screwdrivers, measuring tape, tape, pens/pencils, screws, nails, etc.) Bag 3. Toilet paper, paper towels, light bulbs, clock, chargers for your phones, soap, shower curtain liner, sheets Bag 4. a weekends worth of food/drink, cups, glasses, utensils etc. We slacked on bag 4. This why I ate with my hands and our frig only has 2 diet cokes, an apple, champagne, and turkey for sandwiches. Oh and cheese. I bet I'm really making my Mom proud right now haha
WHILE MOVING
-drink water, eat food, and make sure your doors are unlocked (or at least don't lock behind you.) If you are one to lose your keys, clip them to you, put them on a necklace- whatever you have to do to not accidentally leave them/pack them.
-break down boxes as they are emptied and keep a walkway clear.
AFTER MOVING
-Breathe. Moving sucks. There's no way around it. You'll inevitably forget something, not want to cook, break something, or hit a bump in the road (we discovered our ENTIRE HOUSE is made of poured concrete, not plaster like we thought. While we're super safe from natural disasters, this means hanging art etc. is a pain in the ass. We had to go buy a new drill and broke 2 bits. There may have been some choice words and hysterical laughter.)
-Try not to put boxes on the street.Especially boxes that held your TV, computer, other valuable looking things. Probably not a big deal, but it's better to not let everyone walking/driving past know you own.
-Donate more stuff.
-Go get a massage. Scour living social or groupon if you have to, but it's worth the money to insure your sanity and ability to get out of bed without wincing in pain.
Any tips you guys would like to add? Or any funny stories? I'd love to hear them.