How to be a Prime Mover

Usually the last things out of the old house are the first things you need in the new house; this means moving house should be easy, right?
Wrong!


Chaos reigns on moving day because most of us are more worried about the 'moving-out' side of it and devote our energy to leaving the old home sparkling for the new owners.

We do this, even though most of us have to return to work almost as soon as we are moved in, and we know that the more efficient the move is, the better it is for us.

However, wanting the old home to be clean and sparkling for the new owners usually takes precedence over planning our own easy move-in. There is also a time limit on the moving-out time so we tend to leave our own end of it - in the new home - until last.

This means that often the last things out of the house are cleaning cloths and bottles of spray cleaners! While these are also needed in the new home, they are only a small part of our needs.

To this end get three large boxes in your kitchen or your living room and mark them :First Night, First Morning and Last Box Out. These boxes do not have to be organized into categories like the other moving boxes, they will be organized into 'time zones'!

For instance, 'Last Box Out' is self-explanatory and it will be organized only in that it holds the last bits that you could not do without in your old home and will not be able to do without in your new home.

It will hold your last minute clean-up items, but it may also have your land phone, electric kettle, a couple of mugs, coffee/cream/sugar, your handbag, baby's juice, rubber gloves, keys, diapers, telephone book, baby's favorite toy - in fact anything that is still left in your old home because you are using it right up to the last minute and can't do without it.

What about the First Morning box? This takes a little more thought than just tossing all your items into a box as you back out of the front door! As soon as you get out of bed on moving day, you must look at everything that passes through your hands and think, 'do I need this again before tomorrow morning?'.

We know that breakfast is not a big deal - it can be bought as a takeaway, but even organizing that will take up precious time. So breakfast cereal in the box as well as other morning items - this may include hair dryers, or hair tongs, make up and cosmetics. You must also put in a change of clothes for everyone to dress ready for work or school. Some morning items will be packed in the First Night Box.

This will include things like slippers, cat food and cat plate, Junior's favorite blanket, toothpaste, toothbrushes, the bedtime reading book, the lunch boxes for the next day and snacks. In the morning of moving day, it is advisable to strip the beds and toss all the bedding into a black plastic sack along with the First Night Box. If you are really organized enough to launder them - okay; but if not keep all the linen for sleeping in the new house on the first night.

So long as the three boxes are always handy, open and labeled, you will have no trouble tossing things into the correct box. The secret is in what you do with the boxes.

When you finally arrive - exhausted - into your new home, do not unpack the boxes! Leave them labeled, open and handy in the kitchen so that you know where everything is when you need it in a hurry.