Tips

Preparing for a move? These tips can make your life easier:

• Allow as much time as possible to prepare.

• Develop a floor plan of the new home to assess how many of your belongings can come with you. Measure cabinets and closets so you’re not surprised when you move in that all your things won’t fit.

• Identify the things you will definitely keep.

• Begin to sort through your remaining possessions, making decisions about which things to:

• Keep and move into you new home
• Give to family or friends – keep in mind that if it upsets you to part with something you love, you can sometimes arrange to give it to a friend or family member who will be happy to have you come visit it and enjoy it in their home.
• Sell – an appraiser might be brought in to assess the value of good china or furniture, or you may find it’s possible to sell things directly through online marketplaces such as eBay or Craigslist.
• Donate – we all have many possessions that we don’t necessarily value a great deal ourselves anymore, but that charitable organizations would really appreciate. For example, animal shelters are always in need of old towels or fur coats to line animal cages.
• Recycle or discard – any documents with personal information should be shredded, and electronics and things with hazardous components should be properly recycled.
• Decide about later – you have a lot of decisions to make so don’t worry if you find you bring things with you that you might decide you don’t need later. Don’t feel like you have to rush to decide on everything now, but make a plan to sort through these things a month after you’ve settled comfortably into your new home. But avoid putting anything in storage.

• Break this sorting process down so you don’t feel overwhelmed by thinking about all your possessions at once. You might start by tackling one type of item – such as clothes or books, or one room, such as the kitchen.

• Pack thoughtfully, with detailed lists of things included in each box.

• Set up a section of your home to stage the move and keep all your boxes and packing supplies in that area so your home doesn’t become unlivable during the packing process.

• Allow extra time to organize and pack important documents, medications and medical records. Shred any discarded document that includes personal information.

Remain focused on the goal but also be patient. Don’t try to do too much in one sitting, and try to have someone help you as you sort and pack.   If you’re helping a senior move from or to New York City, give us a call for additional help.

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