Before You Move, Clear Out The Clutter
One of the biggest hassles of moving to a new apartment is
packing, and unpacking-- your belongings. While it's tempting to
just throw everything in any box, packing isn't that
straight-forward. Breakables and odd-sized items need to be
protected, boxes need to be light enough to lift and carry and
items that are housed in various rooms need to travel together.
One terrific way to make packing and unpacking much easier (and
save money on your moving costs) is to clean house and clear out
the clutter before you even begin to pack. There's simply no
reason to go on storing things you'll really never use,
especially when you're investing the time and money to move
those things to your new home.
Disposal options are many and include giving things to family,
friends and neighbors, donating things to charitable
organizations and selling things at a yard or garage sale. The
garage sale is a popular choice because it brings in some extra
cash for any unanticipated moving expenses.
Place an classified ad announcing the garage sale in your local
newspaper, open your event early in the morning and be prepared
to sell your belongings for much less than you paid for them.
People will buy just about anything at a yard sale, but they
usually expect a hefty discount on stuff that's been used. The
items for sale should be cleaned, reasonably priced (use small
round stickers) and attractively displayed.
If you want to price things right and get the most money for
your stuff, visit a few other sales in your neighborhood before
you hold your own. Ask the people holding the sale how they
determined their prices and how well various categories of goods
(e.g., books, clothing, toys) are selling. Then price your own
items accordingly.
If you want to dispose of expensive electronic gear, sporting
equipment or recent-year designer clothing, consider offering
the items at a consignment store. These stores have become more
up-scale in recent years and they offer a neat way to sell your
more valuable but used belongings at a fair price. Check the
telephone directory for consignment shops in your area.
Other tips and reminders:
# Get receipts for your donations, so you can take an income tax
deduction.
# Take all hazardous wastes (e.g., motor oil, leftover paint,
spent batteries) to the designated drop-off area in your
community.
# Don't stock up on groceries or personal care items right
before you move. Instead, use up your canned goods, frozen foods
and spare boxes of tissues, so you won't have to move them to
your new home. Then restock after you've moved and unpacked.
# Many professional movers don't handle open liquor bottles, so
you'll have to give those away to your neighbors, transport them
yourself (be mindful of vehicle code rules on this one) or have
a party.
# If you really can't bear to part with your unused belongings,
consider a storage facility. Be sure to ask about access hours,
key control, lighting, climate control and security at the
storage site.