Moving to a Smaller Home? Tips to Help You Downsize Effectively!
Where do you start? How do you pick what belongings should stay and which ones should go? Downsizing can be stressful in so many ways; since we build a life full of memories around our belongings.
Below are some tips to help you get started on letting go of some memorable items or just simply junk!Make a list of all the items you love and can't live without. By keeping what's on your want list, you won't be upset about the things you can't keep.
Start organizing your belongings at least a couple months before the move and throw out what you can. Take some time each day or week, to go through closets; such as coat closets or filing cabinets. (Paper can be the worst, it stacks up and is huge for clutter), so recycle as much as you can.
Start with rooms next. When you begin, start by looking at items that are kept in rooms that are not used often. Most items under the bed or at the back of the closet buried are most likely things you rarely use. If you haven’t used an item for a couple of years, get rid of it – you probably won’t miss it. As well, get a feel for the size of your new rooms by comparing rooms in your present home. For instance, compare your living room to your new living room and visualize what furniture will fit comfortably in your new home, if you have too much furniture now.
Analyze areas with items of less sentimental value. For example, the kitchen; over time kitchen ware can really accumulate and 50 coffee mugs or 10 mixing bowls for instance, is just not needed, so these things will be easy to get rid of. If you're downsizing from a house to an apartment/ condo, target the garage and storage space. Things like the lawn mower, shovels, etc - you won't need them.
Make piles and don’t just throw away everything. Sell, donate, give away, recycle, etc. You can sell some of your items; have a garage sale and make back some money for your things. You can donate your items to goodwill or shelters, these items will come in good use. Give away items that you want to maybe keep in the family to a close family member or friend who may need these things and will cherish the item as much as you did. Recycle whatever possible you can. For example, you may have an old T.V. no one wants, so recycle this item where electronics are recycled and feel good knowing you’re helping the environment too.
Get rid of items immediately. The faster you get rid of these things the better! If you keep these items around you’ll be more reluctant to get rid of them.
*Another helpful tip is to get someone like a friend to help. An neutral person who cares about you will be able to help you determine better what things you should let go and really don’t need any more when it’s hard letting go.
These tips can make the downsizing process easier so you can get through the process successfully – and with as little stress as possible.
posted by Flexible Move @ Wednesday, March 30, 2011 10:36 AM
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Dangerous Items to Pack or Unsafe to Transport; Hazardous Materials such as Explosives, Corrosives, Flammables, and more…
Moving day is approaching and you are getting prepared to pack your belongings. Before you begin, it is important to know if what you’re packing and bringing along for the move is dangerous to transport in your do-it-yourself container or just simply illegal.
Some materials require special handling when packing or caution to avoid an accident. But anything flammable, explosive or corrosive is very dangerous to transport, and can be illegal. On the other hand, you may not be aware of which materials are prohibited.
The following is a list of items that you should be cautious with overall, but should never transport:
Explosives: Ammunition including, bullets, shotgun shells, etc.; fireworks; detonators; blasting caps, etc. (these things can be illegal)
Corrosives: oven cleaner; toilet cleaners; liquid plumber; drain cleaner; household cleaners; lye; acids (sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric muriatic); car, boat, motorcycle batteries; motor oils, etc.
Flammables: matches; fuel tablets; barbecue starter pellets; hay or straw; wood chips; gas; cleaning fluid; lighter fluids; paint; paint thinners; barbecue starter; glues; resins; kerosene; sterno; naphtha; acetone; alcohol; lamp oil, etc.
Gases: any gases under pressure or liquefied; propane; quick start; oxygen; acetylene; helium; household or industrial fuel; aerosols of any kind; hair spray; antiperspirant; paint cleaner; butane lighters; propane tanks, etc.
Oxidizers: any kind of bleach; disinfectants; organic peroxides; fertilizers of any kind; swimming pool chemicals; hair bleach; chlorine in any form; chemistry sets, etc.
Liquids: wine, beer, preserves, etc.
Poisons: pesticides; herbicides; cygon; fumigants; wood preservatives; creosote; photographic chemicals, etc.
*You should not be moving gasoline, acid or ammunition under any circumstances!
If you do not have any goods mentioned on the list, but have some items and are not sure if they are hazardous or illegal to move, then the safest thing is to read the label of the item you intend to pack OR contact a professional like your local recycling center and see what advice they give you (this is a good place that can tell you where to best dispose of hazardous materials as well)!
Labels: hazardous goods, moving
posted by Flexible Move @ Wednesday, March 23, 2011 2:09 PM
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*NEW* Flexible Move You Tube Video (in HD)! Do-it-Yourself Container Moving Process
Check out our new You Tube video on the process of how Flexible Move container moving is done!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxjChbCJnFsLabels: container, flexible move, moving, video, you tube
posted by Flexible Move @ Friday, March 11, 2011 10:58 AM
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Where do you start? How do you pick what belongings should stay and which ones should go? Downsizing can be stressful in so many ways; since we build a life full of memories around our belongings. 
