Moving is the Great Equalizer. When Lori and I decided to move to North Carolina, I had the characteristic yard sale.   Advertised start time was 7 a.m. Probing buyers were at the door by 6 a.m. At six I was still fixing breakfast for my helpers. Moving from Raleigh to Chapel Hill-heck-that was to be a breeze. The NY to NC move reduced our square footage. This second move, in as many years, decreased our square footage again. As the title of the book states, the best laid plans of mice and men.
I miscalculated the stuff we had to move. I knew it was a lot, but the number of boxes and the stuff in storage threw me. It took not only a moving van, but two rented van trips, and more car trips than I want to remember. However, the lessons learned are invaluable. The most important lesson was a reminder. Purge your belongings at least twice a year.
The move to Chapel Hill and the subsequent settling in has proven that hording is not beneficial to one’s being or fiscal health. Sharing or giving articles away that have not been used in a two year frame are best contributed to another’s enjoyment. Purging is a difficult lesson to learn. Especially for this pack-rat, but the end-results are beneficial.
Another lesson learned from this move – Don’t do anything half-way. If you are going to hire movers, let them do the moving. Don’t share the workload. Heck, if you are going to do it yourself, then do it yourself-all the way. I’ve had clients facilitate their moves in both manners. The ones, like me, who try to reduce cost, shoulder the burden of cost, in both time and money, usually paying out more in the long-term!
Owning a home is great. As an owner, you get to purchase stuff to decorate, enhance and beautify the home. So many individuals have stuff in their possession that Feng Shui has become a very popular method of decorating. The real decoration in the home is the love, caring and relationship-building that exists with the people who live there. Or the person who lives there, and the friends who visit helping to create an environment that is conducive to being called home.
Moving from point A to point B can be a healthy and eye-opening experience. Just make sure you plan your move. Include all the various aspects of the same.
For more information on moving, call or e-mail me.