CHAPTER FIVE
Moving
Made Easier
HOUSEHOLD MOVING OVERVIEW

One of the biggest challenges in making a household
move easier is getting organized and thinking
through all of the steps that need to be done. The
Household Moving Overview provides a summary
of the steps you will need to complete to accomplish
the goal of moving. Every situation is unique. You
may have plenty of time to move while someone
else may only have days or weeks to move. As with the Organization portion of this workbook, jump in and
complete the tasks that are most urgent in your moving journey.

STEP 1: DECLUTTER: See page 7 for items to eliminate
quickly. If you have time to plan, reducing your household
inventory is the most important first step in your moving
journey. You can toss one box of unused items into a car or
moving truck and place it on a shelf with little effort. However,
most of us have far more than one box of unused items. For
each and every box, there is a cost associated with it. You must
pay to box it, move it onto a truck, pay for transportation, move
it off the truck, and then pay for the space to store it in your
new home. Consider the boxes, tape, packing paper, bubble
wrap, and labor involved to move five boxes of unused magazines or books, for instance. Lastly, every residence offers a
specific number of square feet. If your storage needs exceed
your available space, you will have the added expense of a
storage unit. The unused items create clutter, work, and
expenses.

STEP 2: ROOM PLANNING:
See page 33 for a worksheet. Sometimes our current home isn’t ideally organized. You Know some areas of
your home work well while others need improvement. Use that information to make a plan for your new home.
Take time before you move to plan room uses, furniture placemet, and storage.
Maybe you are constantly battling your children about getting homework finished because they need better
supervision. Working in the kitchen instead of their bedroom might be a solution. Maybe you want to read and
your spouse wants to watch TV in the evening. Use the Room Planning Worksheet to make those adjustments.
Then pack according to the room uses, placing items where they will be used. This is a very important step. If
the items are not where they are used, one person must either constantly move things around in the home or
battle with family members to put things away. This also leads to more lost items. When your items are easy
to find, easy to use, and easy to put away, your entire home will stay more organized.

HOUSEHOLD MOVING SUMMARY CONT

STEP 3: CONSIDER TEMPORARY STORAGE:
STEP 4: HIRE A MOVING COMPANY: See page 47. Complete this step in advance so you can research
companies. Some may charge by the job, some may charge hourly and have a minimum charge. Check with
co-workers, friends, family, and read online reviews. Get several estimates and hire them ahead of time to
reserve your move date.
STEP 5: CHANGE OF ADDRESS: See page 48. Many businesses and government offices allow you to
change your address online. The Change of Address Worksheet provides an outline for the places you will
need to contact.
STEP 6: PURCHASE MOVING SUPPLIES: See page 49. Check a few stores to get the best deals on
supplies. Also, consider reusable fabric totes that can be used to store clothing or bedding long-term in your
home. The totes would allow you to move the items and place them on the shelf without unpacking. They also
provide a neat way to store things on higher shelves.
STEP 7: PACKING FOR YOU & YOUR FAMILY: See page 49. Even the most organized residential move
is stressful. Be sure to have the things you need set aside so you can bathe and change clothes without searching through piles of boxes.
STEP 8: STAGING YOUR HOME: See page 50. If you are selling your home, it needs to visually sell itself.
Buyers are buying a lifestyle. What is it like to live in your home? Staging does not need to be costly. Simple
efforts such as setting the table for guests, thoroughly cleaning all surfaces, and placing fresh fruit or flowers on
the countertop can make your home feel more welcoming. The Staging Worksheet provides ideas for all areas
of your home. Also consider looking at pictures of different home interiors for more ideas.
STEP 9: PACKING HOUSEHOLD ITEMS: See page 53. You might be tempted to just jump in and start
boxing your household inventory. However, since your household items will be boxed for a period of time, it
is best to have a plan before you begin. The Worksheet on page 53 provides easy steps to work through your
entire household systematically.
STEP 10: UNPACKING: See page 54. Before boxes, bubblewrap and packing paper take over your new
living room, plan ahead so you have the items you need to shower, get ready, feed pets, and care for children.
Be sure there is room for furniture to be placed according to your Room Planning Worksheet. Moving requires
a great deal of time and energy. Having a plan for each stage will reduce your workload and frustration.
See page 46. You may find it useful to use companies
like Pods.com to store items you do not frequently use. Plan ahead and reserve storage containers and storage
units. This eliminates the need to move every box into your new home immediately and it reduces your
household inventory if you need to sell your home. Homes that are organized and clutter-free will photograph
better and likely attract more potential buyers