I’m taking a sabbatical and have lined up a few posts ahead of time. I’ll also be re-sharing some of my fave OTR articles and introducing you to new guest authors as well as other interesting info while I’m away. Here’s a bit of advice from OTR friend, Naomi Seldin, on extreme downsizing.

Moving can be stressful regardless of the circumstances, but moving to a much smaller place can be particularly challenging.

Two moves in seven months! That’s insane, isn’t it? Today’s guest author, Theresa Finnigin, did just that. And she’s still sane. Read more to find out how she did it.

Wow, I did it!  I survived two moves in seven months.  To make a long story short, in July we moved from Maryland to Illinois.  Then in February we moved from Illinois to San Diego, California.  It’s been a hectic seven months but we’re getting settled…slowly.  With each move I learned more about the moving process and our things.

Here are five rules to staying organized when moving…

1.  Assume Nothing! Don’t assume that the crew who might be packing your house cares as much about your things as you do.  Don’t assume that a mover knows what an object is or the function of a piece of furniture.  You know what they say when you assume!

2.  Pack items that are irreplaceable in your car, not the moving truck. I let the movers move my fine china and crystal glasses because at the end of the day if they all shatter, I can go to Macy’s and pick another pattern that I love.  Yes, I’d be sad.  It wouldn’t be as special as the set I got when my husband and I got married.  But I’d be able to move on after a few tears and curse words!

Truly think of items that are irreplaceable.  Since my first Christmas, my mom has given me a Christmas ornament each year.  My husband’s mom did the same for him growing up. These ornaments, simply put, are a timeline of our lives.  These ornaments and the memories associated with them are irreplaceable so they were packed carefully in the back of my Camry.  Sometimes it’s a tough call but the space in your car is limited so only take what truly can’t be replaced. Then cross your fingers and say a prayer that the moving truck arrives safely!

3.  Over communicate. Recount the fine details and next steps at the end of each conversation you have with the moving company before and during the move.  Take notes or photos, if necessary.  Make sure all involved parties are on the same page.  Call to confirm dates and appointments. Hold yourself and the moving company accountable for promises made.

4.  Label, label, label. Labeling rooms and boxes saves you an immense amount of time packing and unpacking. Itminimizes questions you have to answer and ask.  Labeling the boxes as to the room they came from (and will go to) and the contents of the box is critical to a smooth move.  It’s also helpful to label each room (i.e. Master Bedroom, Bedroom 1, Living Room, etc.) in the house you’re moving from and the house you’re moving to.

These labels should match the labels on the boxes.  This will make things easier for the movers when they are unloading the truck.  They will immediately know what box goes where without having to ask you.  Things happen quickly when the truck is being loaded and unloaded.  Use labels for rooms, boxes, parts, etc. as this will save you time and energy.

5.  Have a plan B. There is no such thing as a smooth move so having a backup plan is essential.  When we were moving from Maryland to Illinois, our rental house wasn’t ready when we needed to move in so we had to find temporary housing for 30 days and our things had to go in storage.

On our most recent move, the “storm of the century” was moving across the country dumping three inches of ice and two feet of snow in various parts of Illinois and surrounding states.  Our move was delayed one day and we had to drive on some treacherous roads.  Because we had a backup plan we were able to easily shift the schedule and adapt.  We were also prepared with flashlights, blankets and non-perishable food in case the power went out during the ice storm.

Moving isn’t easy!  But it can be easier when you’re organized.  So far we are enjoying the sun of southern California.  Our plan is to stay here…at least for a few years!

About the Author

Theresa Finnigin is a professional organizer and owner of Ready Aim Organize. Ready Aim Organize works to rid homes and offices of clutter and chaos to ensure time is not wasted and each day is more productive and peaceful than the one before!

When not working to restore organization, Theresa is a guest speaker for various local organizations and a contributor to the Ready Aim Organize blog and other organizing websites.  Ready Aim Organize is currently serving clients in N. San Diego County and across the country through virtual organizing services. Contact Theresa at 707.RAO.2DAY (707.726.2329).

Connect With Theresa: Web | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail

Some of you might remember today’s guest blogger, Lindsey Mastis.  She was the first person I interviewed for OTR.  Stardate 2009.   Back then, she talked about her daily routine and how she stayed on top of things.  Today, she tells the tale of lessons learned during her recent move.

I’d like to take a few moments to simply sigh. It’s been three weeks since my husband and I moved into our new home. I’m still trying to catch my breath.

As a news reporter, I’ve moved around a lot. From St. Louis to Carbondale to living in a hotel in Dallas to interning in DC and then moving back to Southern Illinois. Two years ago, my husband packed up our three bedroom house. I packed up my two bedroom apartment. We drove to DC, and moved into a two-bedroom (one bath) apartment in the Rockville Town Square. We loved living there, but decided it was time to get our stuff out of storage. So we got a house.

This was supposed to be the “easy” and “cheap” move. Three weeks later, I’m eating my words.

I’m overwhelmed with the amount of stuff we have.

Confused about where some of our stuff is.

And, I’m getting impatient with the time it’s taking to put it all away.

Here’s a list of some of the things we did that worked, didn’t work, and could have done better to stay organized:

1.   Start packing a few weeks in advance. We were able to clean, dust, and gently pack everything into labeled boxes.

2.  Use trash bags. This is my favorite kind of move because it’s quick. It’s best to double-bag a trash bag and use it to pack clothes. Don’t forget to label the bag, otherwise it might become trash.

3. Be nice to U-Haul. We rented our truck for one day, and promised to have it back by 5 pm that night. Around 4 am — yes, AM — we were so tired, we decided to get some rest. We took the truck back almost 24 hours late. But, they were so nice (and probably felt sorry for us) so they didn’t charge us any extra. Thank you U-Haul!

4.  Find friends to help. We moved 4th of July weekend. We felt too guilty to ask anyone to give up their holiday for us. Big mistake. It took us four-times as long to move big items. Having a few friends would have kept us more sane.

5.  Watch what you throw away. My parents loaded up a 20-foot trailer with some items we had in storage and some of my husband’s childhood things. I hadn’t seen some of this stuff for 20 years. Because of all the stress, it’s hard to tell what’s truly sentimental. I threw a lot of it away (trophies, pictures of old boyfriends, notes from school). Now, I’m regretting it. So our new rule is: Don’t throw anything (but trash) away for at least a month.

6. Watch what you give away or sell. When we moved across the country, we sold as much as we could. Two years later, I’m politely asking family members if they’re still using the table/elliptical machine/bar stools/cookware. And we are having to re-purchase some items. It’s getting expensive – fast.

7. Take pictures. Moving can feel like a traumatic experience. Take a few moments to be silly, climb on top of some (stable) boxes, and smile. It will help.

8. Learn how to multi-task. I’m having a hard time doing anything but unpacking. That means I’ve missed out on some very special social events. It also means I’ve missed out on training for my half-marathon in two weeks. It’s hard to ignore the mess, but it would have been better if I kept up my running schedule and other commitments.

9.  Live tweet your move. I didn’t tweet until we took the U-Haul back. That’s when one of my friends offered to bring us his truck. It was too late.

10. Sleep. My husband made a great point at 4 am. Getting the moving truck back in time wasn’t worth the risk. We were tired, and because it was a holiday weekend, who knows how many drunk people were driving. We rested, had a good breakfast, and went back to work the next day. It all turned out for the better.

About the Author

Lindsey Mastis is a Digital Correspondent with WUSA 9 News Now, a local CBS affilate in Washington, DC. She covers Government 2.0 and Social Networking. Lindsey is also an avid runner and participated in the 10-Mile Cherry Blossom Race last April.

Connect With Lindsey: Website | Twitter

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Today’s advice is quick but the process will need to happen over time.  You should consider creating a household inventory to help you if you experience loss of or damage to items in your home (e.g. burglary, natural disaster, water damage, etc.).

Take a few minutes every day to add items to your inventory list and involve family members, when possible.  If there are four people in the family (old enough to participate) and you each spend 15 minutes working on the inventory, that’s 1 hour of collective time.  This will be time well spent.  It’s a lot easier to refer to a list than to try to rely on your memory, especially when you’re feeling stressed.

Check with your insurance agent/company to see if they have a form that you can use.  My policy is with Erie and they offer a very comprehensive checklist. Click here to see it.

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NASA knows what it’s like to move after being in the same place for a long time.  They’re ending their space shuttle program after 30 years.  Just like anyone who’s trying to clear out a home or office, it can be a daunting task. They are starting off on the right foot by separating the good stuff from the space clutter, and are in the process of finding a home for all the things that are considered valuable.

How can you be like NASA when it’s time to move?

1. Start the process early. When the folks at NASA realized the program would be ending in 2010, they started going through their inventory back in 2006.  They began to identify the pieces that were special enough to give a way.

2. Identify “The Getters.” NASA has three space shuttles and they’ve already figured out that one of them, Discovery, will go to the Smithsonian.  Bonus:  “the getters” will have to take care of transporting/delivery of the shuttles.

3. Use the Internet. NASA has posted several items with photos in specific categories (e.g., clothing, shuttle parts, etc.) on the web so that museums, universities, and other institutions can browse and choose the things they want.  You can use websites, like Craig’s List or Freecycle, to sell/give away items that you will not be keeping.

Having lived in the same state (and same house, really, with the exception of college and summers down the Jersey shore) for 25 years, I never really had much experience with moving.  Then I got married, and my husband and I managed to log 5 moves, and 5 states, in the first 7 years of being married.

The process had proven to get harder each time, as we accumulated more “stuff” and added a few kids to the mix, who also come with their own set of “too much stuff”.  Reading Alice Chan’s post, “3 Simple Steps to Keeping on Track During the Home Selling Process,” got me thinking of a few invaluable tips that I have learned through our moves.  They relate to the actual packing up and moving process.  When you are ready to pack up and make the move, keep these few quick tips in mind.

•  Make a master list. When you pack a box, keep a list of general items that are contained in each box.  This way if you can’t find something, you know where to look.
•  Label/number the boxes. For example, Master Bedroom, Box 1.  Underneath it, put your “moving to” address and cell phone number.  The reason for this is, if your box gets lost, there is contact info to reach you.  It also gives you (or your movers) a reference on which room to drop the boxes.  During our moves, my husband and I would check the boxes off our list as they came in the door, so when all the boxes came off the truck, we could quickly see if there were any missing.  Also, tape 2 labels on the box, on two different sides of the box, in the left corner.  It’s easier to read when they are being carried or stacked.
•  Handle important items yourself. Set aside valuable, sentimental and important items and move them yourself.  Documents, personal info, photos, jewelry, etc.  These are items that can not be replaced easily, and the sentimental value can not be replaced at all. Why chance it?
•  Get 3 estimates. When hiring movers, get 3 estimates, and DO NOT go with a company that will not put their estimate IN WRITING, and guarantee it within 10 percent.  We learned this the hard way.  The first time we moved, we did not do this, and they ended up charging us double on the other end.  My husband’s company was paying for the move, and since they did not get anything in writing, they were responsible to pay for it.

These tips will tack on additional time in your packing, but will save you hours, headaches, and dollars in the end. And, wouldn’t you much rather spend your time in your new home decorating and getting settled, than worrying about where you packed the coffee maker?  That would be tragic!!!

Best Wishes in your New Home in the New Year!!

Image Credit: Trendology

Today’s guest blogger and Professional Home Stager, Alice Chan, shares some tips on how to organize the  selling of your home and make the process go more smoothly.

The mere thought of preparing for a move is enough to send most people over the edge, let alone actually preparing it to sell.  Keep in mind that these two events go hand-in-hand and the more you invest in the process upfront, the easier the entire experience will be.

While you are preparing your home to sell, you’ll begin the editing and packing process which will be extremely helpful when you finally physically move.  This is when having an organized schedule and a game plan will be your best friend.

Let’s talk about how to manage this process.

• Get a notepad and pen and walk through your entire home, inside & out, and make a list of the following for each space/room – repairs needed, upgrades needed, what can be packed up, or sometimes what may be easier is to indicate what can stay and know that everything else should be packed up.

• Evaluate the list and determine what you can and will do yourself and what needs to be outsourced (i.e. painting or handyman work)

• Get a calendar and map out your schedule.  For best results, use a year-at-a-glance type calendar where you can see the entire month.  Start with your target market date and work backwards.  For example, if your target market date is say the first Saturday of next month, that means you should have your home staged by the Thursday before, which means the housecleaner should come the Wednesday before, etc.  You keep moving backwards and attach a date to everything that needs to be completed and schedule appointments with the appropriate vendors accordingly.  This will do a couple of things for you.  It will help you see whether or not you’re being realistic about your time frame, whether or not it’s realistic for you to do all the work yourself, and it helps you stay on track to get everything done on time.

The important thing is to take it one step at a time and before you know it, you’re ready to show off your hard work, sell your house and do the happy dance all the way to your new home.

About the Author

Alice T. Chan is the Home Buyer Attraction Expert and creator of the Home Buyer Attraction System.  As a Professional Home Stager, Alice helps Real Estate Professionals and Home Sellers create irresistible, market ready homes that sell.  Her Do-It-Yourself Home Buyer Attraction System was created to empower home sellers to stage their own homes so they STAND OUT from the crowd and make buyers STOP and TAKE NOTICE!  For FREE tips and resources on how to get your home ready to sell, visit Alice at http://AliceTChan.com.  You can also find Alice on Twitter and Facebook or send her an email – info [at] alicetchan [dot] com.

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Last week, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Alice Chan on her radio program, Staged Home Lifestyle.  It was a very fun interview and I shared tips on how to organize a low stress move.  So, if any of you out there are planning on moving, this one’s definitely for you.  Click  the “play” button below to listen to the show.  Enjoy and if you have questions, please leave a comment!