Congratulations! You’re in good company. Millions of Americans have moved since the start of the pandemic—around one in five (!!) according to a July 2020 Pew Research Study.
Moving is exciting yet undeniably disruptive to your routine, no matter how well-executed the move. Many people rate moving more stressful than divorce! Professional organizers can play an important role in minimizing this stress and helping you make a smooth transition.
We’re NOT movers, so what exactly is our role?
For local moves, we always conduct an on-site consultation to determine the scope of the project. For clients moving from out of the area, we set a video call, ideally before their items are packed. It’s very helpful to see your belongings to assess and plan.
Here are some of the key ways SK Organizing serves clients who are moving:
Pre-listing: If you are selling the house while living there (as opposed to moving out first), you will want to declutter and depersonalize to maximize the appeal of your home to prospective buyers. We’ll help you put away family photos and minimize the “stuff” on horizontal surfaces (countertops, desks, tables, floors) even at the expense of your cabinet space. Boxes often go into the closets, the garage or short term storage. We’re glad to coordinate with your Realtor regarding what needs to be out of sight.
Pre-move edit: It’s tremendously costly and inefficient to pack, move, unpack, and organize things that you no longer want or need. We’ll review your items together and advise on sell/ donate/ discard options for whatever isn’t coming with you. We have close working relationships with auction houses, consignment stores, charities, and junk haulers to facilitate this process.
Pre-move sort: If you are sending things to multiple destinations (i.e. split between storage and your new home, or split between family members), we will employ a color-coded post-it system, label everything, and physically group the smaller items according to where they are going.
Move management: We work closely with several moving and storage companies and can check availability, gather estimates, assist with booking, secure parking permits for the moving truck, coordinate with buildings and gated complexes (collecting COIs, ensuring moving rules are followed), as well as supervise movers during packing, loading and unloading (especially if the client cannot be present). The moving contract and payment is always between the client and the mover directly.
Vendor management: We have an extensive network of service providers to help with moving-related needs like deep cleaning, art and TV installation, rug and upholstery cleaning, debris removal, new furniture assembly and other tasks. We can provide referrals or book services for days when we will be organizing on-site. We do not up-charge any outside services.
Unpacking & organizing: There’s no need to live with boxes for weeks or months! We efficiently unbox and/or put away your belongings, optimizing the space for your lifestyle. We can also source organizing products like bins and drawer inserts as needed.
Not every client needs every service, of course. You might just want us to set up the new kitchen. Maybe you’re moving long distance, and only need help editing and sorting. Or maybe you’re juggling full-time responsibilities or can’t be in town and need us to execute the entire move. Each circumstance is unique and it’s a privilege to support our clients through the process.
Let us know how we can help make your upcoming move a success!
