Simplifying Your Move: Tips to Keep Yourself Organized

Guest Contribution by Gabrielle Gardiner

Moving to a new home might be one of the most hectic processes you ever go through. It’s all too easy to get disorganized and overwhelmed when surrounded by boxes and scattered documents.

Here are several moving tips you can use to organize your physical space, as well as your mental space, to make for a seamless (and maybe even enjoyable) moving process.

Challenges of Staying Organized While Moving

The process of moving your belongings from one house to another is bound to feel a bit overwhelming. Here are some challenges to anticipate before starting to pack up and move out.

  • Limited space. You only have so much space in your house. Keeping boxes of related items together can prove challenging when you’re already struggling to find walking space. Plan ahead by designating specific spaces for each item before you start packing.
  • Distractions. Tensions can be high on moving day and in the days approaching it. A phone call, a conversation with your neighbor, or kids demanding attention may pull you away from the task at hand and cause some added frustration—especially if you’re moving with people who are itching to get the task done quickly.
  • Forgetfulness. It’s all too easy to lose your keys and wallet last minute when there are boxes from wall to wall. Remember to keep the essentials in a separate designated space so that you don’t forget them when you need them most.
  • Working with others. “Wait, I thought Ben already moved the couch!” Miscommunication is easy when you have multiple people trying to complete the same project each in their own way. It’s important to be explicit and communicative with all involved to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Organizational Tactics to Optimize Your Move

Taking the extra effort to keep the moving process organized will pay off generously by minimizing stress and the potential for mistakes.

  • Label and color code. Labeling your boxes should be a no-brainer, but we’d recommend taking it one step further by using color-coded tape or labels to group each box by room.
  • Keep a binder. Fill a master binder with receipts and important documents so that you have every record you need on-hand.
  • Use an inventory checklist. Each time you pack something away, check it off the list. This will give you peace of mind as you think through everything you wanted to pack.
Labels for moving boxes with a different color for each room

Group boxes by room using color-coded labels. You will thank yourself when unpacking.

Budget-Friendly Organizational Moving Tips

Moving on a budget can be challenging, but there are several tips and tricks that will help you keep costs low throughout the process.

  • Re-use old boxes. Decide what you’re ready to get rid of and empty those boxes to use for moving. Consider selling the unused items at a garage or yard sale for some extra cash.
  • Skip the moving truck—use friends and family. Rather than paying for a moving company to help organize and transport your stuff, ask friends to help out. 
  • Fill every space in your car. If you’re moving within driving distance, save money in gas by tucking small items under seats and even strapping bigger items to the top of your car.

Maybe you don’t have the time, desire or health to do this by yourself. If you would like help, Queen B Organizing can do everything from packing, to discarding, donating and selling unwanted items, to coordinate the moving company. If you are staying local, we can unpack and organize your belongings in your new home. Read about our packing services by visiting our website

Also, check out these free downloadable and printable resources to help make your move more organized. 

 

 

Preparing to Downsize

Preparing to Downsize

At a certain point, because of retirement, health issues, or lifestyle preferences, many seniors consider downsizing their home. Sometimes, it is loved ones who initiate a conversation because of concerns for older adults’ safety or financial health. Being aware of the challenges you may face with this important decision can help you prepare for downsizing smoothly.

You’re Not Alone

Nearly 4 out of 10 retirees move, and just over half of those numbers are downsizing. Downsizing, even for positive reasons like moving to be closer to family, can be difficult because it represents how are lives are contracting, according to Gary W. Small, founding director of the University of California at Los Angeles Memory Clinic and director of the UCLA Center on Aging. Most of our lives we are building and growing, and downsizing represents a reversal of this trend.

Moving, as most of us know, can be stressful. For seniors who have spent a lifetime in one place, the emotional and physical stress of downsizing can be overwhelming. Besides having to make decisions about what to keep, what to give to family members, what to donate, and what to throw out, we have to process the emotions of attachment we have to our homes, our stuff, our loved ones, and possibly, our independence.

Downsizing can be less stressful with preparation. It is important to focus on the positive aspects of the change, and to get help navigating the more difficult parts of this transition.

Find A Good Reason

Graying With Grace is a website dedicated to “seniors, the elderly, and those who love them.”  The author identifies 5 steps for planning a downsizing move, starting with a conversation about the benefits of downsizing. For instance, we could have more time available to do things we love if repair and maintenance issues are minimized in a smaller space. Identifying positive reasons for the change helps us set a goal for success and provides the motivation to begin.

It is also important to note that downsizing takes time, both for the physical aspects of sorting and packing a household and for negotiating the many feelings that result when we go through our belongings. One suggestion from the AARP is to start in a spare room or perhaps an office, a space that has the least number of important memories. Starting small helps us build resilience so we are more prepared for tackling places like the kitchen where many family memories live.

Find Some Help

Tackle decluttering with a friend or family member. They can provide a listening ear as you sort through your feelings. They can also be objective and help you stay focused on the task at hand. When you come across items that you don’t know what to do with, or what their value might be, both the AARP and Graying With Grace agree that trusted professionals like appraisers, movers, and organizers can provide useful insight to save you both time and energy.

Find the Right Professional

When you search for your local professionals, seek out those with positive reviews and testimonials.. Find those who are not only knowledgeable and efficient, but who treat their customers with respect. Queen B Organizing has successfully assisted clients with downsizing for the last 10 years.  A recent client had this to say:

“There is a great deal of emotion that goes with emptying and selling a family home of so many years. Queen B Organizing really made a challenging task survivable. And they did it with respect and consideration. I recommend them without reservation.”

Queen B Organizing can help you prepare for the challenges of downsizing your home so that you can focus on the people, places, and things you enjoy. Consider calling us at (541) 231-6964 to plan for the move ahead.

It’s Summer! Getting Your Home Ready for Sale

image from PexelsAre you planning a move? Let Queen B Organizing help you prepare! Realtors across the Willamette Valley are indicating a high volume of sales for the spring and summer. While the pandemic has created some major ripples in the real estate industry that will likely be in place for the foreseeable future, you can still sell your home at a price you’re happy with in this market.

Here is some information to get you on the right path for both online and in-person listings:

Prep Your Home
From decluttering to staging, start with these basics to be sure your home looks its best.

  • First, declutter every room in your home to create a visually appealing space.
  • Then, deep clean every nook and cranny to make it sparkle!
  • Once your home is clutter-free and spotless, stage furniture to make it look perfect, yet lived-in.
  • Be sure the exterior of your home is clean and well-kept; curb appeal is one of several major selling points.

Hire Professionals
Consider hiring professionals who can make the entire home selling process easier. Check your local Chamber of Commerce for reputable businesses.

  • A professional organizer like a staff member from Queen B Organizing, can make a huge difference in your home’s presentation and save you time packing.
  • A professional cleaner can keep your home spic-and-span throughout the selling process.
  • Unless you have ample experience in photography, hire a professional to do your listing photos and video. You want them to stand out.

Showing Your Home
While there’s something special about seeing a home personally, there are several ways that buyers can view your home virtually.

  • Realtors can take buyers on a live tour by using a video chat app.
  • Professional photographers can create a 3D walkthrough of your home, which allows buyers to tour your home whenever they want – no appointment needed.
  • When your listing photos and videos are good quality, often that is all buyers need to see to make an offer!

Though things have changed in the real estate market, you can still land the home sale you’ve been looking for. Remember to invest in staging your home, look into alternatives to in-person showings, and work with professionals who can showcase your home.

Summer is here and the pandemic doesn’t have to keep you from moving on. Let Queen B Organizing help you through the transition. Call today to learn how!

For more information, check out these links:

Decluttering Your Home Room by Room

Home Staging Tips

How to Make Your Home Look Its Very Best for Selling

Guide to Real Estate Video Marketing

Best Video Chat Apps in 2020

 

with thanks to Natalie Jones, HomeownerBliss.info