I have to move next week. Moving is a job no one can love. No one likes change, and changing your home can do personal, self-inflicted, violence to your sense of place. To add insult to injury, moving as a senior citizen brings with it a number of added burdens. Typically, you are -
- learning of a whole raft of tasks that must be completed by a firm deadline,
- forced to part with some treasures that are either too heavy or fragile to move sensibly,
- required to dispose of some items, e.g. plants and paints, that movers don’t handle,
- faced with the need to find a “new home” for furniture and accumulated “stuff” that simply will not fit into your new surroundings,
- picking out a responsible mover from a fairly large group of suppliers,
- packing cartons yourself, possibly with the assistance of friends, or paying the professional movers to do the job, and
- paying out of your own pocket.
Some suggestions I have learned from past moves -
- Structure your housing deal to permit 60 days of time for preparations. The more planning you devote to the moving process the less stressful it will be.
- Talk to friends and neighbors to learn the name of 3 - 5 movers in your area. Local movers operate differently than interstate movers, who have to abide by federal rules.
- Develop a plan of where your furniture will be placed in your new home. The process will help you decide whether to keep certain pieces and also provide the movers with a guide once they arrive at your new home.
- Select three movers and get quotes from each. If some offer a “not to exceed” price, it is worth serious consideration, especially if gas prices are escalating.
- If you choose to do the packing, create a packing station in the dining room or garage to which things can be moved and collected before the actual packing process. You must have a high enough surface to spare the strain on your back.
- Purchase your cartons, tape, magic markers, and packing materials from your mover or a U-Haul store. If you enjoy being creative, the cartons discarded by liquor stores are usually stronger than others, and their dividers can be used for glassware.
- Take the time to learn about the packing process, e.g. use 2 - 3 sheets per plate. The external links below contain some resources for your review.
- Review the quotes from the movers and select the one whose approach makes you the most comfortable.
- It is very smart to write down what you place into each carton. A good carton inventory can help your sanity at the other end when you are looking for a special item one month later - especially if some cartons are going into storage.
- Pace yourself carefully. Ideally, you should plan to complete a week early because you will need that time to address the surprises you encounter along the way.
- The night before the move, pack the “last in, first out” cartons of basic kitchen supplies, tools, blankets etc.
- Meet the movers the next morning and be prepared to answer a number of questions throughout the day.
- Once the movers leave, pick up the final pieces, lock the door, and start traveling to your new home.
- When you meet the movers at the new home, have your copy of the furniture plan in hand and guide its final placement to suit your taste.
One site with more helpful information on packing is How to Pack by Atlas.
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