Moving Support Thread - Page 2

[Tinas3muskateers]

I would love to join! We are moving by the end of this month into next month. We bought a home and the closing should be by April 30th. You never know how much crap you have till ya move I swear!

[Tinas3muskateers]

guess I should add my goals. Well today for starters we are painting the dinning room and should have the hallway painted by mid week, then we will have inspectors come and check it out for our buyers and get the appraisal done. I have been freecycling like a mad woman. And tossing as well. I love Freecycle, whoever thought of that is a genius

I pack a little everyday. Id ont want to pack too much because we have a month to go but I try and do at least a box or two a day

[Thalia]

More moving tips:

This is from the Flylady site:

http://www.flylady.net/pages/Flying_MovingTips.asp

Pretty basic advice, but good to remember:

If you will take your time and not be rushed about this, you will do a more efficient job and not be so stressed out. Do you hear me on this! I do not want you to make yourself sick. Slow and steady wins the race. Not crash and burn!

If you have plenty of time to prepare for the move, you can have everything labeled and ready to load on the truck, all before the final day. No stress and no worry. Also, you will be able to find things when you get to your new home. Take baby steps and each day pack up 5 boxes and keep them in the room that they belong in. Color Code the boxes and number them. Label on the outside the contents or which drawer they came from and put it on your master moving list. Get a clip board and keep everything together or a zip up notebook or canvas bag to hold all your markers and supplies. Keep your moving supplies together. If you are having to do this by yourself, you will thank me later.

[MamaFern]

we have all been sick with the stomach flu : ug.. so yesterday while baby was sleeping after a Very long night.... i took everything out of my disaster closet, organised & decluttered it. i know what and where everything is now (its our only storage) i have a huge bag of stuff for the second hand store and another of trash/recycling.. and i rooted out a bunch of clothes that i'd put away that now fit my 16 month old. summer clothes yay!
the only thing is that everything is still in bins in my bedroom, not yet put away but ill get to it today.ter the mountains of puked on laundry.. *sigh*

[zeldabee]

All right! I just found a cheaper rental, and will move the last week in April! Time to potty train the chillun now!

I haven't read the rest of the thread yet, but it caught my eye. I know I'll find some good stuff here. I'm a single mommy, so I'm doing this all by myself, while working full time. I can barely keep my house live-able as it is, so this should be interesting.

I've done a pretty good job with periodic declutterings, so at least it's not as bad as it could be. The most daunting tasks concern some areas I've been procrastinating with since my last move, one area in what should be my son's room. There's a built-in shelf in that room where I've shoved things I don't want to deal with, right from when I moved in here 2 years ago. Then there's the closet in the same room. Just looking at it makes me want to run away. Still, could be worse.

Ok, off to read the rest of the thread. Oh, and then to the bedroom.

[my2girlz]

I will probably 6 hours away to a new city a few states away in the summer of 2008. It will be a job transfer for dh. I've been decluttering like crazy. We are currently finishing the basement too and trying to get our house ready for a sale. The housing market here stinks right now so we need to do some upgrades.

[Kavita]

I'm so glad that someone has started a thread on this!!! Can I join in?

We are moving sometime around June across the country for DH's work. We're listing this house (tomorrow!) and then hoping/planning to buy a house in our new location.

Currently we are busting our butts trying to get some emergency last minute stuff done so we can have pictures and a virtual tour done in the next day or two--we've had all kinds of workman related disasters in the last couple of weeks so we're behind schedule.

[Thalia]

First two steps to finding a mover...from Real Simple

1. Get recommendations. Ask friends, coworkers, and local real estate agents. Look in the phone book for moving companies that have offices near your home. You’re going to want to get an in-person estimate of how much your move will cost. Don’t rely on any estimate that comes from someone who hasn’t looked in every one of your closets. Don’t assume that big-name companies are best. Do not get estimates through websites that offer to “find you a mover.” Find the mover yourself and avoid the numerous scams associated with some of these sites. And don’t use household-goods brokerage services that find a moving company for you — they are not regulated by the laws that movers must follow.

2. Do an initial screening. When you have a list of recommended movers, go online to do a quick background check (you can do a more thorough check later). Call or go to the website of the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org). You also can call or e-mail the American Moving and Storage Association (703-683-7410, [e-mail]) to see if a moving company is a member, which means it has agreed to abide by the organization’s published tariffs and to participate in its arbitration program. AMSA membership is voluntary. As long as a moving company checks out in all other ways, the fact that it is not a member shouldn’t rule it out.
Be sure to check the consumer-advocacy sites www.movingscam.com and www.movingadvocateteam.com. Each of these has a blacklist of companies with a history of consumer complaints, as well as tips and general information about the moving industry. You can also do a search using the company name at Rip-off Report (www.ripoffreport.com).

[Nature]

Can I join?
Hopefully we'll be moving sometime this spring/summer. (fingers crossed) We really need to get out of here and find a ground floor house or apartment so my dd's can really live and play.

[Thalia]

Tips from USAA:

Moving Checklist from USAA:

•Create a move file to store information and collect expense receipts.

•Contact the local chamber of commerce or visitors' bureau for your new community. See if they can send you a telephone directory and newspapers.

•Take care of auto maintenance and repairs.

•Obtain coverage for your possessions while in transit or storage.

•Check school schedules and enrollment requirements.

•Get an auto insurance quote for your new location.

•Get change-of-address cards from your post office.

•Aside from friends and family, make sure you provide your new address to medical facilities, schools, magazines to which you subscribe.

•Have a garage sale. Donate anything that isn't sold to charity. (Don't forget to keep receipts for income tax deductions.)

•Arrange to pick up school records or have them sent to the new schools.

•Obtain appraisals for high-value items.

•Notify your utilities and local services of disconnect dates. Contact new utilities and tell them when to begin service, if you know. Some may require deposits.

•Properly dispose of flammables such as aerosol cans, cleaning fluids, paint, ammunition, weed killer and acids.

•Drain oil and gas from your lawn mower or other power equipment.

•Clean the refrigerator and the freezer; allow them to dry one or two days with the doors open. Remember to block the doors to keep them from closing if you have small children or pets.

•If you have children, compile a list of traveling games for the car or plane ride.

•Separate items you don't want to pack, such as suitcases, and store in an empty closet.

•Pack prescriptions and immediate necessities in an easy-to-access suitcase. If you are traveling by air, do not check this bag.

•Contact your homeowners insurance company at least 24 hours before you release your belongings to the mover.

[ipfree]

Thalia and all of you great Moms what a great support thread!

We are moving out of a massive house with massive storage at the end of the month! Luckily dh is home with me and we're doing it together.

What a great feeling to release everything except the bare essentials. We are only taking our car, 1 yr old son and our dog ... clothes, music, books, spiritual pieces and our sanity!

Thanks for this thread, I'm down to 21 days until move day! Time to get it together.

[ollineeba]

This might be a tad off-topic, but how are you all handling the emotional aspects of moving? (and no, I don't mean crying because of all the decluttering/organizing/cleaning left to do )
The reality is beginning to set in and I found myself tearing up last night at the thought of moving on. I know we need to.. the children need a yard to play in and we may have a wonderful opportunity soon. They would be able to have friends over and we could have a swing set.. and our living space would be slightly bigger. Still less than 1000 sq ft for the 4 of us, but more than enough.

But.. this is the home I brought both babies home to. This is the home that DH and I bought together when we decided to spend our lives together.
I thought I'd be so happy to be rid of this place (it has its downfalls to be sure) but now it seems so much harder
tips?

[UberMama]

mama2babybeans --- I felt the same way when we moved a few years back. I was sad the day we moved and for a good week or two after. DH was on my case, saying how I wanted to move so badly and now we had and here I was upset. He just didn't get it. But the feelings eventually went away. We still drive by the old place once or twice a year and I enjoy that. I don't think I could handle seeing it more often.

We are moving sometime in May. We weren't planning on moving for another two years, but issues with the house and landlord have forced us out (well, we're forcing ourselves out and away from this mess). So we're looking for a place to rent still, but I pray like mad that we move next month. I can't handle much more of living here.

We found a place not far from here. We go see it next Wed morning. It's awesome $ and GOOD amount of space and fenced in yard-- woo!

I am starting to pack but DH is getting flustered. He gets very anxious when we move. So I am trying to handle most all of this. I've rid of a lot on CraigsList and FreeCycle so far. I also sold quite a bit on eBay a few months back.

Sorry to yammer on! I need to read over all of the replies tonight and get more ideas. We have some time, but I'm feeling the crunch as the days go on. With the weather getting nicer as summer approaches, it's getting more and more difficult to do things around the house when the kids just want to be outside. I guess that means I should tackle the outside and cleaning up the plants and stuff.

[ollineeba]

Originally Posted by ttcanother

mama2babybeans --- I felt the same way when we moved a few years back. I was sad the day we moved and for a good week or two after. DH was on my case, saying how I wanted to move so badly and now we had and here I was upset. He just didn't get it. But the feelings eventually went away. We still drive by the old place once or twice a year and I enjoy that. I don't think I could handle seeing it more often.

We are moving sometime in May. We weren't planning on moving for another two years, but issues with the house and landlord have forced us out (well, we're forcing ourselves out and away from this mess). So we're looking for a place to rent still, but I pray like mad that we move next month. I can't handle much more of living here.

Thanks. It's just so hard. I know that we need to move. It's what is best for the children and all of us, really. I'm just too darn emotional about it.
I hope you guys find a great place soon! The place you're going to look at on Wednesday sounds nice
My DH gets stressed out about it, too. Well, he doesn't like any sort of change, really, so I know this isn't going to be an easy process for him. I love the idea of a fresh start, I just hope that I don't regret it. It's a heart vs. mind issue

[ipfree]

Yes Mamas I can completely relate to the emotions and how hard it is to leave memories behind. I was sad to leave the first home my dh and I shared ... aaah. The hardest was the first home we had as a family when we welcomed our little one and slept together for the first time all cuddled up. I still get nostalgic over our first family bedroom.

The excitement of moving sometimes helps calm the other emotions, and to me all emotions are good when they are expressed. So I try not to keep my feelings to myself. Sure helps to share them. My advice is to really feel all the emotions the sadness of moving, the stress of packing, the anxiety about uncertainty and change.

Good luck to you all Mamas! We'll have to start a thread for unpacking and starting our new life in a new house. And how to keep it simple and organized

[Thalia]

I've lived in the same apartment since late 1995! I moved in during my second year of grad school, when it was a bit too big for me just living by myself. I discovered my faith while living here, and this is where I was living when I met DH and fell in love. DH moved in when we got married four years ago. I finished my dissertation while living here. My two sweet childhood kitties (who are both gone now) lived half their lives here. I had a miscarriage here, and God willing, in July we'll be bringing our first baby home here. So I have a ton of memories associated with this place, even though it is just an apartment and not something I own. It is going to be hard in many ways, to leave. I'm trying to just take lots of photos as it is now, before we pack and it all changes, so that I can remember.

[Nature]

Two of my children have known no other place than this apartment. We've been here 5 years. I never expected nor wanted to be here this long.. it just kinda happened and time flew by.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to transfer our "height chart" on the wall? We kinda just did names and dates in pencil.. and I don't want to leave it behind. You can literally see how my children grew up on that wall.. and it makes me nostalgic for my old home as a child. My height chart was done against a back chimney in permanent marker. I don't want to lose my childrens..
(well I know I can't take the wall with me but.. you know what I mean. Somehow transfer it so I can keep it)

For some reason this has been the saddest thing I think about when moving. Kinda lame huh? "But honey! The height chart!!"

[Kavita]

Originally Posted by Thalia

Okay, so here are some of my mid-range goals, ones I want to accomplish in the next three months or so:

1). Get DH's cassette tapes transferred to digital format and donate all the used tapes

Thalia, how do you get tapes transferred to digital?? DH has a million and five cassettes of music that will never be found again in the U.S., and our stereo doesn't even have a tape player!!!

[Kavita]

Originally Posted by Nature

Two of my children have known no other place than this apartment. We've been here 5 years. I never expected nor wanted to be here this long.. it just kinda happened and time flew by.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to transfer our "height chart" on the wall? We kinda just did names and dates in pencil.. and I don't want to leave it behind. You can literally see how my children grew up on that wall.. and it makes me nostalgic for my old home as a child. My height chart was done against a back chimney in permanent marker. I don't want to lose my childrens..
(well I know I can't take the wall with me but.. you know what I mean. Somehow transfer it so I can keep it)

For some reason this has been the saddest thing I think about when moving. Kinda lame huh? "But honey! The height chart!!"

Maybe you could transcribe it onto a piece of paper or cardboard or something--like put the paper against the wall and make the exact same markings for names and dates. And then take a few photos of it in the original. If you are feeling really fancy you could probably even do it on a piece of wood or a piece of drywall! If you have some paint from that wall you could paint the drywall the same so it looks like you *did* take the wall with you!

[Kavita]

Originally Posted by mama2babybeans

This might be a tad off-topic, but how are you all handling the emotional aspects of moving? (and no, I don't mean crying because of all the decluttering/organizing/cleaning left to do )
The reality is beginning to set in and I found myself tearing up last night at the thought of moving on. I know we need to.. the children need a yard to play in and we may have a wonderful opportunity soon. They would be able to have friends over and we could have a swing set.. and our living space would be slightly bigger. Still less than 1000 sq ft for the 4 of us, but more than enough.

But.. this is the home I brought both babies home to. This is the home that DH and I bought together when we decided to spend our lives together.
I thought I'd be so happy to be rid of this place (it has its downfalls to be sure) but now it seems so much harder
tips?

Oh, I hear you on this one. This house is my first house that I bought myself, before I met DH. We met and got to know each other while I was house hunting, the first thing we did together was that he came over and helped me paint the living room! I knew then that he was a keeper! He moved in when we got married and later we conceived our DD here, and I gave birth to her here! That's a hard one for me--that's a little-publicized risk of home birth--that it makes it even harder to sell a house and move when you've birthed your child there!! Luckily, I ended up having her on the bed and not in the bathtub or on the floor somewhere, so in fact I will later be able to point to that mattress and say, see that bed, you were born right there!