Moving tips on how to not be a shenanigan mover
FAIL
My husband and I are moving in a new apartment in two weeks. We have decided that one of the most dreaded things in life is moving. I will have to admit that I used to be on the top list of worst packers until now.
Before I met my husband‚ the way I packed was throw everything in the car‚ fill it up to the top‚ no organization involved‚ and unload everything in a chaotic manner. I did not fold my clothes or put them neatly in a box. I through them in a huge pile in the car and could not see out my rear view mirror. I did not organize boxes and label them. I just went around like a tornado‚ throwing all my stuff in random boxes. Thinking back now‚ I feel bad for the friends who had to endure my sloppy moving habits. Thank God for patient friends.
This time around‚ my packing was not a disaster zone. My husband and I started on our list of things to work on two months prior to moving.
1# A person May think their old stuff is a bunch of junk‚ but one person out there will think your belongings are a pot of gold. Start selling your stuff on Craigslist and E Bay. I got rid of over ten items consisting of furniture‚ golf bags‚ guitars‚ bikes‚ pictures‚ and the list goes on.
2# I do not know about you but I like to overwhelm myself and think I can get everything done in one weekend. Not the case. Pick one room to work on every weekend up until you move. You will not have a breakdown come moving weekend because you have not done anything.
3# Label! Label! Label! My husband taught me this lesson. Before‚ in my shenanigan moving days‚ I did not label anything. Therefore‚ I could not find anything. Also‚ make the label tailored to help you remember what is in the box.
4# I would ask your friends a couple weeks in advance to help you with the move. I was that girl who called my friends up the night before and begged them to help me. Not cute. Also‚ be willing to help those friends move when it is their time.
Have you been guilty of being a shenanigan mover‚ and what are your tips for having a successful move?
As of now (11) people have had something to say...
Chandler -
March 13, 2014 at 11:30 pm
My philosophy towards moving started in the panic desperation move of throwing my shit in the car and piling it in the middle of the room in the new place. Then it transitioned into a few years of semi structured moves. In the transitional years I still found myself reverting to the panicked backseat of the car pack in the last few hours.
The final ascension into moving mastery required me sitting at the feet of a master. I went to help a friend move and I watched him coordinate a four bedroom house move with the precision of a seasoned samurai. Every box was labeled and waiting in the order it should be packed on the truck. Every piece of furniture was disassembled and on floor sliders. He handed out back braces like party favors and you never had to look far for a water or a hand cart. The truck was loaded in under two hours and then he thanked me‚ fed me and bid me adieu (he had structured his friends into 2 hour shifts.) It was like watching a circus de solie act but with boxes and bed sets rather than trampolines and flaming swords.
My friend was a man that didn’t fear moving and I set out to become that man. “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it‚ and I shall move the world.”
Give me enough time and access to free boxes and I’ll move anything.
Carma -
March 14, 2014 at 4:47 am
thank goodness Chandler put some order in your life! lol
crystal -
March 15, 2014 at 10:37 pm
Carma‚ I know right. lol
Susan Cooper -
March 14, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Boy howdy‚ I am involved in a move at this very moment so I get all that you’re saying. I have moved enough to know what not to do and still I make mistakes. The fact that I hate moving May be part of the problem… LOL
‚ Susan Cooper/From BHB
crystal -
March 15, 2014 at 10:24 pm
I love your post. I hope you are not scarred for life from that move either. lol I can relate and have many meltdowns. =)
crystal -
March 15, 2014 at 10:29 pm
Suzanne‚ it can bring up emotions‚ especially the moves you have gone through. Luckily‚ this one is the two of us. I hope you have healed from all of the stuff you had to go through. I can not wait till the day when I can have movers. For now‚ I tell myself I am getting a workout in. =)
crystal -
March 15, 2014 at 10:37 pm
Paul‚ you crack me up. I can not believe it is third on the list. I love statistics! I will try and not get worked up. =)
Shelley -
March 18, 2014 at 2:24 pm
If everyone moved like you do now‚ no one would get that sick feeling in their stomach when asked to help a friend move. Moving with you sounds close to pleasant.
crystal -
March 18, 2014 at 11:11 pm
Thanks for the confidence =)
crystal -
March 19, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Arleen‚ my husband has a rule. He tells me if I have not worn a outfit in a year‚ get rid of it. lol Of course‚ I do not always listen. I do think it is a good idea. =)
crystal -
March 24, 2014 at 12:48 am
I like that idea. Then‚ I will stop trying to talk myself into keeping things I do not wear.