This is the time of year when many people are thinking about a spring or summer move. If you are in that camp, here are three tasks that, if you start now, will reduce stress as move day approaches and save you money.
As a senior move management company, the Bridge Forward team has worked with hundreds of clients as they prepare to move. Many times clients panic because they are ready to put their home on the market but are faced with what to do about all the stuff they’ve collected over the years. Although getting ready to move can be overwhelming, a few steps taken early in the process will pay big dividends in the end.
1. Sort and organize paperwork. Make three boxes: One for shredding, one for recycling and one for filing. Go through all the paperwork in your house – including what’s in the filing cabinets – and sort according to the three categories. With a few important exceptions, most paperwork can be shredded or recycled. Here’s what Consumer Reports says about saving documents: https://www.consumerreports.org/money/taxes/how-long-to-keep-tax-documents-a5302825423/
2. Sort and organize photos and memorabilia. This is the time to go through those many envelopes of photos. Toss duplicates, poor quality pictures and photos of people and places you no longer recognize. Buy some acid-free photo storage boxes from a craft store or on Amazon and organize your photos in them according to time period. If you have framed photos that you will not display in your new home, take those pictures out of the frame, file the photos and donate the frames to a family member or charitable organization.
3. Dispose of hazardous waste materials. If you have a collection of old paint cans, the empty ones can be thrown in the trash. Kitty litter can be used to dry up paint in the others and then they also can be thrown away. Also, be on the lookout for hazardous waste disposal, electronics recycling and free shredding events in your community. Many organizations hold these events in spring and early summer. They are the most cost effective and environmentally friendly way to dispose of items that should not be put in the trash.
If you need help, a senior move management company, such as A Bridge Forward, has the resources and know-how to guide you through the process.