4/5/11

Knee-deep in packing boxes & paper!

Hey everyone.  Hope your Tuesday is going well.  I did start the packing process yesterday & thought I would have time to post about it, but that didn't happen.  Apparently my body doesn't move as quickly through this process as mind thinks it should.  I know a bunch of you are noddin' your heads right now & chucklin'.  Me, too!  Part of what took some time was looking for some kind of template that I could download to keep a log of box contents.  Well, I didn't find anything like that, so I had to create my own.

The very first thing I did, & should have done a long time ago, was go room-by-room & take digital photos of everything -- furniture, art, accessories, contents of drawers, cupboards & closets.  I then burned this to a CD, labeled along with the date.  I feel so good that I finally took care of that.

Next, you know me, I have to have things organized, so I made up this sheet for recording the contents of each box.  I just made a bunch of copies, punched holes & put them in a narrow 3-ring binder that I already had.  I also put the CD Home Inventory in the front inside pocket of this binder.  This shall be my "Moving Bible" for lack of a better name.

You'll see a close-up a bit later, but there is a place to record what room in the new house each box will go, along with a place for the box #, a list of content categories (you'll see some of those later) & plenty of space to record the actual contents.  Over-kill, maybe, I don't know.  This is just how my "pea-picker" works.


These are my supplies.  This is my wrapping station in the sunroom closet & it is a great place to work!  


Of course you have to have one of these beasties & plenty of refills.  Don't get the refills at Sam's Club; they are $6 more there than at Lowes'.  Can you believe that?


A supply of these comes in handy for holding batteries & small light bulbs that need to be removed from items before packing.  Plus they are great for any small parts that need to be packed with but separate from certain things.  I also had a Black Perma Marker.


We are watching Craig's List for boxes, but for now, Home Depot & Lowes' are great for boxes & they are cheaper than the moving companies.  Beside, we have a Lowes' about 1 mile away, so we can get them as we need them.  The paper is from our local newspaper -- the end rolls of unprinted newsprint.  Super-cheap & The Man fixed up a contraption in the garage & cut them all into manageable pieces.


This is where I had determined I would start, since this is probably one of the more daunting spaces.  There is so much glass, pottery & oddball sizes.



I wrapped candles in plastic grocery bags before packing into boxes just so there is no color transfer if they get warm on the truck.  Also in case there is any melting -- this is AZ you know!


This is a close-up of the top of one of my sheets.  Right now the Room # is blank until I have a chance to get back over to the new house.  When we make the move, I will label each room with a 
corresponding # -- probably a large sheet taped to each door.


Each box has its corresponding #.  I'm also going to make some stickers that say "FRAGILE" & put them on probably every box.  I'm hoping that will make the movers more careful.  Whata' think?  The boxes will also get a Room #.


Well, this was the plan in my mind & it actually worked well.  All of the contents of this closet were packed into boxes & the boxes went back on the shelves.  I love when a plan comes together!


I'm so glad I have this closet with the built-in counter.  It is proving to be the best place & most comfortable for wrappin' & packin'!  I promise not to bore you with every single box I pack, but thought this might just be helpful to someone in my similar situation who hasn't had to do this in awhile.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by & please come again soon.  I'll try to have something a bit more interesting next time.  Okay?
CAS

I'm linking to the following:


20 comments:

  1. Great, great plan!! We've moved so many times. I wish I had known to number the boxes and keep a list of all the contents! that will really help you out after the move. Thanks for becoming a follower, following you back.

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  2. Well...I did ..something like that..but certainly half as good as yours. The moving company gave me lists to fill out..which I did.
    However...how wonderful it would have been to have a list with EVERYTHING on it that was in any given box. GREAT idea.

    I am hoping this comment comes up with the correct blog name on it.
    :) What a MESS that was.
    I moved two years ago...and I am hoping that is the last move of my life. Wishful thinking? Probably.

    I hope everything goes well on your move. It certainly sounds like you have things totally and completely under control.

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  3. Good luck with your move. I know how stressful a move can be!

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  4. Awesome organizing Cas! I still swear when I win the lottery and move I will pay all your expenses and much cash to have you come and help me move and decorate the new mansion! All I have to do now i start buying tickets. Seriously, I am into the minimalist mode right now and packing away a lot of things not necessary to have out but necessary to keep so this gives me great ideas for labeling boxes and contents.

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  5. Wow...what a job! It is more time consuming up front, but I think you will be please in the end.
    I've never made a paper list, I mark on each box what room it came from and what is in each box.
    Then I stand in the doorway of the new house and direct which room to put them in.
    Your systems seems smoother! Happy packing! Love how the boxes look on the shelf! lol Thanks for linking up to my Organizing Mission link party.

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  6. Sounds like a great plan!! You're so organized!!

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  7. Thank you so much for sharing! Even though my move is 6+ months out, and the military will pack and move us, I've decided to start packing up my craft room one box at a time now. There are so many things in there that I won't need until after I move and I don't want them touching my 'toys!'

    I love your tracking system and may borrow it.

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  8. Oh my miss CAS!!! what a job you have ahead...thanks for you lovely comments...so glad you liked what I did...if I lived closer, I'd help you pack!!!...haha...you will be fine...you are SO organized!!!...xo, Mariaelena

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  9. Wow, look at you - so organized! I'm so glad you left me a note @ Welcome to Heardmont. I'm enjoying reading all about your moving process. :)

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  10. thanks for linking this up to our blog party!

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  11. Hi Cas,
    I am slow getting over but I finally made it! I scrolled down thru to figure out what you were up to. Good luck with the move, they are always quite the ordeal!
    And I see your moving to Gilbert. My son and dil live in Phoenix so I get out there at least twice a year. Take Care and I am glad you came by my blog.
    Cindy

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  12. you are BRILLIANT! So organized!!!
    I am following you :)

    I would LOVE to have you link up to my PARTY! WHASSUP WEDNESDAY!!

    And I have a party button you can grab and put on your blog so your friends can come too:)




    *ENTER LINKY PAR-TAY Here! *

    xoxokara

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  13. I love this post. Mainly because I'm just as crazy with moving. We've moved close to 20 times, with three being out of state moves. We've gotten fairly good at it. I put the info right on the box - Room it goes in and contents. I like this method, too, as long as someone is there to look stuff up and direct it all. I just love how organized you are! Not enough people are when moving!

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  14. That's SUCH an awesome idea. I bet, when you get there, you'll be as pleased as punch with yourself, even though it's a lot of work now. I always think that the faster you can unpack, the faster you settle in...and this is a PERFECT way to make that happen!

    Sarahx

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  15. Oh man that looks like a lot of work! I'm sure it will be well worth it in your new home! Hope your move goes great! :)

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  16. Good luck with your move. I hope we never have to move again!

    Not sure if you have a FreeCycle.org group near you, but that is where I got most of our boxes (then I turned around and sold the good ones on Craig's List after the move - Shhhh!)

    Also, I like your inventory system. That would be good to keep in a safe place if heaven forbid you had to figure out a claim for your house contents.

    Thanks for the comment on my blog this evening. So, you thinking about painting doors in your new place or this one?

    Brittany
    http://www.prettyhandygirl.com

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  17. And I still swear by my old apple and pear boxes from the grocery store. However some moving companies want specific boxes, sizes, shapes, etc. When I move it is always me and whoever I can bribe.
    This is a great post for me right now. I am moving everything from one bedroom upstairs so I can start over and build a room I enjoy. Knowing where things are or what's in which box should save me time and frustration.
    You do know that no matter how well you plan and keep track, there will be something that misplaces itself.

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Carol