The Three P’s of Relocation Made Simple

Posted: March 12, 2010

Whether it’s another state, across town or even just down the street, a move is still a move – and they’re all difficult. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a shorter distance makes things that much easier, because preparation for any move, big or small, requires some thinking about how to handle the three “P’s” of relocation: planning, packing and the process.

Planning

You wouldn’t start a project at work or around the house without a plan, and you shouldn’t move without one either. First and foremost, decide whether you’re going to move yourself or hire some assistance. Figure out how you are going to handle the big things before you think about all the small stuff. Do you need to rent a truck? If so, how big of one and for how long?

Also consider how much you really have. Chances are, it’s more than you’re anticipating, so think about when you need to start moving things out and where you’re going to put them. It’s amazing to see what’s lurking in the back of the closet, down in the basement or up in the attic after you’ve been in one place for several years.

Mobile storage containers can be a wonderful thing, especially for anyone who needs to start the process early and get as much out of the old house before moving day as possible.

Packing

Moves are all about making the most of your space and moving as much as possible in a short amount of time ‐ that starts with boxes and organization. Bars, restaurants and local liquor stores are great places to look for boxes, because these businesses go through a lot of bags, bottles and cans on a daily basis and almost all of them come off the truck in some kind of box. Most of these places are more than happy to give them away, so check around your area and see what you can find.

After you’ve got the boxes, the next step is to figure out what stays and what can go. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that everything is essential, because something that’s just filling space in a cabinet, closet or cupboard in one house is just going to do the same at another. Pack a little bit every night. One more box each day leading up to a big move can make a big difference. Organize your things in a way that makes sense to you, take everything you need and get rid of what you don’t. For most movers, a trip to a local thrift store or nonprofit can save a lot of time, space and frustration when its time unload and unpack.

The Process

Efficiency is always the goal. Use every bit of your space, whether it’s a car, truck, mobile storage unit or anything else. Why make two trips when you could do one, or even five trips where you can do it infour? Make the most of each load, and make every trip and every inch count. When you get to your destination and start to unload, go ahead and take things to where they need to be. If something is destined for the bedroom, take it there and don’t just drop it off inside the front door. The same goes for things like holiday decorations that you know are destined for the attic. Go ahead and get those things to where they need to be so you don’t have to deal with them again.

It’s tempting to just get everything inside and drop it, especially at the end of a long moving day, but in the long run it will just make the unpacking process that much harder.

A few minutes of planning can go a very long way when it comes to a move, regardless of how manymiles you’re actually trying to go. Think about the three “P’s” ahead of time so when the day arrives, you know what to expect, what to do and where to put everything when you finally get there.

Janelle Larson is the owner of UNITS Mobile Storage in Milwaukee,WI. She is an expert on relocation and the ins and out of this tough life change. To contact her, call 414‐476‐8648 or visit www.unitsstorage.com.