Ellicott City Realtor Catonsville Realtor

I helped a friend move yesterday, and it reminded me of an old George Carlin bit about Stuff (here's your warning: if you didn't know, George Carlin's comedy material is not G Rated, or PG Rated, or probably even PG-13 Rated):

Helping my friend move also reminded me that it's easy to underestimate all of your Stuff.  Here is my list of things to keep in mind when you are moving: 

1. If you estimate that you need 2 weeks to move your Stuff, you really need 4.
2. If you estimate you need 10 boxes for all of your Stuff, you really need 20.
3. If you think it will take 1 trip in 1 small pickup truck to move all of your Stuff, go to Uhaul and rent the biggest truck that they offer.  Then plan to spend all day making trips back and forth moving your Stuff.

The method that I use for packing is the method I recommend for you:  Keep Your Stuff or Discard Your Stuff.  Now, Discard Your Stuff might mean having a yard sale (before you move, not after), giving the items to charity (before you move, not after), or throwing the Stuff away.  This is true for all of your Stuff, including:

• Kid Stuff - keep one or two of your kids' artwork/craft/handprints/junk that are special and the rest of the Stuff can go.
• Childhood Memories Stuff - no, you don't really need to keep your first retainer or your High School Prom dress/program/favor/Stuff.
• Partner / Spouse's Stuff (in the case of a breakup) - why would you even want that Stuff?
• Multiples of any particular Stuff - no, you are not going to need 3 rakes.  Even if you are moving to a forest in a home without a roof, one rake will probably be ok.
• Latest and Greatest Stuff - That 132 pound 40" 3 foot by 3 foot flat front TV may have been the greatest thing on the market in 1992, but chances are you can live without it now.

If you'd like actual moving advice in addition to the sarcasm provided above, I have a helpful Moving Checklist.