Family ... House and Home
Reign in Your Relocation: Downsizing Tips for Seniors Part 3
from Jessica Kohler, founder of Home Again Move Management
All your preparation culminates on the big day, Moving Day!
Obviously, the smaller the move, the quicker/smoother it will go. An excellent bonus if you’re downsizing. Especially, if you’ve already removed from the premises items you don’t want to take with you.
Don’t worry if you haven’t. It’s fairly easy to inform the movers of which items they should load & which items they should leave. If you haven’t already, you can label the items to go so they’re easily recognized by the movers. Colored tape, stickers, string, & tags all work. I also recommend creating a list of items to stay. Start checking things off as the movers complete each room. It’s easier to check off items you see (staying), rather than items you don’t (already on the truck.) Any item left in the home that isn’t on the list should be loaded onto the truck before it leaves.
Professional movers start loading the truck with items from your public spaces (living room,den, kitchen) first & your private spaces (bedroom, office) last. When they arrive at your new home items from your private spaces will come off the truck first. This usually works out well because private rooms tend to be farther from the entry. If you direct the movers to place the items in the appropriate room as they come off the truck you’ll fill the far rooms first. The near rooms will still be empty leaving movers a clear shot to the far rooms, preventing them from having to maneuver around stuff left in the near rooms. Your bed assembly will be one of the first things the movers take care of, which is great if you need to rest a bit.
Things that are often overlooked on Moving Day:
- Over-Night Bag. If you’re moving out-of-state it may not be moving Day at all, more like Moving Days or Moving Week. Be sure to keep a bag with everything you need to get you through including change of clothes, medications & toiletries.
- Personal Transportation. So much time is spent making sure your belongings get safely from point A to point B. Have you thought of how you will get there? Whether you plan to drive yourself, have friend take you, go by train, plane, or bus it’s definitely something you need to think about prior to Moving Day.
- Meals. It’s really important to stay nourished & hydrated during your move. This is not the time to loosen up on any diet restrictions. Your kitchen may not be in working order come meal time so plan ahead to make sure you get something healthy to eat.
- Forbidden List. Moving companies have long lists of things they will not load in their trucks due to the heat that builds up inside. The list includes live plants, lighter fluid & other combustibles. There are also items, NOT found on the movers “forbidden” list, but that may not survive prolonged exposure to heat on a long distance move. Among them are photographs & some moisturizers. Some of these items are easily replaceable. You’ll have to make alternate plans for those that are not.
#1 Moving Day Tip
There are so many new people going in & out of the house on Moving Day. I suggest finding someone you trust to take pets & young children somewhere off the premises during the move. It’s a smart way to relieve yourself from concern over their supervision & safety during a very hectic day.
