Relocation HQ: November 2009

Moving involves a lot of work. There are utilities to disconnect at your old place and set up at your new one, changes of address to send, forms to complete and file, and packing.

Packing usually involves the most work and takes the most time in the entire moving process. This article describes how to hold a packing party to help get more packing done.

Background: What is a packing party?

A packing party is a social event where friends come together to wish someone well in their new home while helping with some of the basic packing chores.

The Steps

Here are the basic steps for holding a successful packing party:

1. Create the guest list.

2. Set the date.

3. Arrange for the food.

4. Send the invitations.

5. Plan the packing.

6. Prepare for the guests.

7. Manage the party

The Details

Packing Party Step 1: Create the guest list.

There are a few criteria you'll want to use in putting together your guest list:

· Your potential guests should know you well enough to care about your move.

· You need to be able to trust your potential guests with helping you pack.

· You should invite people you can rely on to actually show up.

· Don't invite anyone who is going to be resentful about packing or who can't enjoy the party.

Okay, now assuming there's anyone left on your list, move onto Step 2!

Packing Party Step 2: Set the date.

You want to schedule your packing party about 2 weeks prior to your moving day. That should give you enough time to prepare for the event while leaving enough time remaining to make up for any packing that doesn't get done.

Packing Party Step 3: Arrange for the food.

While I don't completely understand it, there is no denying the fact that food has miraculous powers to attract and motivate people. And now is one of those times to reward those who come to help you. If you're a great cook, break out your signature dishes. If you can't cook, try recruiting a friend who can help make the meal. If both of those fail, pizza and beer are usually good alternatives.

Remember, those coming to help deserve the good stuff!

Packing Party Step 4: Send the invitations.

I usually recommend a three wave system:

· Start with an email letting people know that written invitations are coming, but asking them to reserve the date. Be sure to mention the food and request a reply.

· The written invitation comes next. Yes, it's more trouble than email, but it makes a much bigger impression and serves a mark of respect for your guests.

· Lastly, follow up with a phone call.

Packing Party Step 5: Plan the packing.

There are a few guidelines for planning how guests can best help pack:

· To start, pick areas of your home you use less often, such as the garage or storage room.

· Bookshelves are examples of easy packing tasks to delegate.

· Pick which rooms you do NOT want packed, and make sure you have signs for those doors.

· If you want boxes labeled a certain way, have a sample box created for each room where guests will be packing.

· Don't plan to have the actual packing last longer than an hour so that guests get to enjoy the party aspect of the event.

Packing Party Step 6: Prepare for the guests.

Here are some ideas for getting ready for your guests' arrival:

· Be certain to have plenty of packing supplies on hand: boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, wide-tipped markers, scissors, and packing paper (blank newsprint).

· Have "stations" of food and drinks ready.

· Try to arrange for a music player for each packing room.

· Have assignments ready to go as guests enter.

Packing Party Step 7: Manage the party

Your most important tasks are to welcome guests, answer questions, and create as much fun as possible around the event. Make sure you're doing a little packing as well. Take plenty of pictures to send after the event.

Follow these steps and you should be off to a Farewell Packing Party success!

For more great, FREE moving articles, tips and advice, please visit our website, http://www.Movers-Edge.com. Three of our most popular articles are:

· Moving checklist: The Ultimate Moving Checklist

· Moving tips: 101 Best Moving Tips

· Getting Organized for Moving

· Finding Great Movers and Moving Companies

Good luck with your move!

Posted via web from moving-tips's posterous

Moving is stressful. In fact, the Employee Relations Council ranked moving as life's third most-stressful event (death and divorce were numbers one and two). So why is moving so stressful, and what's the best way to cope?

Sources of Moving Stress

While there are many reasons for moving stress, here are some of the biggest:

· Fear of the unknown

· Loss of control

· Loss of community

· Overwhelm

· Time pressures

The remainder of this article focuses on specific steps you can take to address these issues and reduce your overall stress level.

Moving Stress Source 1: Fear of the unknown.

You need to learn a lot about your new place, your new neighbors, your new schedule, etc. You may also be facing a change in jobs or family situations. All of these factors mean that many comfortable routines you were able to follow without thinking now involve lots of questions. Primitive centers of the brain respond to unknowns with fears.

Stress Buster 1

First, realize that this fear of the unknown is normal, and that most everyone goes through some version of it.

Second, there are several steps you can take to minimize the unknowns:

· Ask lots of questions of your realtor, apartment manager, moving company and everyone else associated with your transition.

· Take detailed notes from your conversations regarding your move and record them in a single notebook to keep information organized and easy to access.

· Plan time to explore your new neighborhood.

Moving Stress Source 2: Loss of control

Let's face it: seeing all your possessions go into boxes or furniture pads can be pretty upsetting. It requires you to turn over a lot of control, or perceived control, over to others.

Stress Buster 2

Unfortunately, part of the stress reduction process for loss of control is acceptance. Trying to "control" every last detail of a move is a recipe for stress overload. Instead, try to focus on a few basics that will have the biggest impact on your move's success:

· Verify your mover's credentials with the Better Business Bureau, the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Protect Your Move" website, MovingScam and Epinions.

· Focus on making sure all your boxes are fully cushioned, labeled and inventoried.

· Recruit only reliable people to help out.

Moving Stress Source 3: Loss of community

Moving can mean saying goodbye, at least temporarily, to neighbors, friends and family. It can feel quite lonely at times, and that can add to your anxiety.

Stress Buster 3

There are a few tricks for taking some of the loss of community out our move:

· Plan a "Farewell Packing Party" in which offer great food, reminiscing and lots of picture taking in exchange for help with a few boxes. :-)

· Create and follow a plan for keeping in contact, including dates by which you'll make phone calls or send email updates.

· Make sure you leave everyone with plenty of ways to contact you, including street address, phone numbers and email addresses.

· Take lots of pictures before the big day.

· When practical, schedule an "Open House" at your new place before you leave, including sending invitations and directions.

Moving Stress Source 4: Overwhelm

One of the most common sources of stress during moving is just general sense of being overwhelmed. This has more to do with the number of tasks you need to accomplish than the nature of the tasks themselves. It's marked by feelings of not knowing where to begin or jumping from task to task without completing any of them.

Stress Buster 4

Here is the best plan I know for defeating the sense of overwhelm:

· Start with a complete moving checklist (there are several good ones available for free download).

· Break the project down into smaller and smaller chunks until you have tasks assigned for each day from now until the move.

· Focus on the tasks for each day instead of stressing over the entire list.

· Place a big, red check mark next to each task accomplished, and give yourself credit for everything you've accomplished so far.

Moving Stress Source 5: Time pressures

Once you're moving day is set, there is some understandable time pressure involved with your move. And you don't want to feel rushed at the very end of the process.

Stress Buster 5

First, it's important to realize that some of the stress you're feeling is legitimate, and perhaps a little motivating to be ready on moving day. To keep yourself on track, I recommend this plan:

· Read and follow the steps in Stress Buster 4 above regarding "Overwhelm." This should put you in good shape for knowing what tasks need to be accomplished and how to lay them out day-by-day.

· Cram in the beginning, not the end- if you are laying out your tasks on a calendar, schedule large blocks of time in the beginning to get the biggest "pains" out of the way well in advance.

· Keep one or two "emergency" blocks of time in your schedule toward the end for handling the unexpected.

· Delegate some of your tasks to family members or willing friends so you don't have to do it all yourself.

· Do something every day on your task list.

While some level of moving stress is to be expected, these guidelines should eliminate a great deal of it.

Please visit our website for more, FREE moving tips, moving advice and articles on your upcoming relocation. Two of our most popular articles are:

· Moving checklist: The Ultimate Moving Checklist, filled with a carefully planned, 4-week guide on all the details you need to take care of for your move.

· Moving tips: 101 Best Moving Tips, gathered and ranked from scores of moving handbooks, websites and articles.

You may also want to visit our blogroll of top moving blogs:

· Movers-Edge Blog on Xanga

· How to Move HQ Blog on WordPress

· Movers-Edge Blog on WordPress

· Move To Blog on WordPress

· Moving Advice HQ Blog on WordPress

· Moving Checklist HQ Blog on WordPress

· Moving HQ Blog on Wordpress

· Moving Tip of the Day Blog on WordPress

· Moving Tips HQ Blog on WordPress

· Moving To HQ Blog on WordPress