If you've decided to downsize to a smaller home across town, you'll have some work to do before calling in the movers.
When moving companies give quotes, they base the estimates on your current belongings.
An estimator will typically show up at your house with a checklist on a clipboard, a pen, and a calculator.
Upon arrival, this individual will go from room to room in your house in order to see what's there so the company can plan for boxes, workers, and truck size.
These estimators will look in every nook and cranny including closets, drawers, and under your bed.
If you're planning to weed out the belongings from your four-bedroom house so they'll fit in your new two-bedroom townhouse on the other side of the city, you should do it before the estimator arrives.
Where to begin? It may be an overwhelming task to decide which room to begin with.
An easy way to do this is to just start and move through the house in a left to right cycle.
Enter the first room to the left of your front door.
Move around the room from left to right, sorting items into boxes you'll have labeled: to throw away, to give to charity, and to sell at a garage sale.
Leave the items you plan to transport to your new house because the movers will take care of them.
Just take it one room at a time for as many days as it takes.
When one box is full, tape it up and move it to the garage or back porch and continue the process by replacing it with an empty one.
When one room has been sorted, move to the next one in a clockwise fashion until it's all done.
Now that you have full, taped-up boxes on the back porch or in your garage, you can take items labeled "trash" to the dump.
You can put the charity items into the trunk of your car and drive them to Goodwill the next time you're out.
Decide upon the best day for a garage sale and place the advertisement.
What doesn't sell at the garage sale can be moved to the "throw away" pile or the trunk for a ride to the thrift store.
Once this process has been completed, you're ready to call the movers.
Sorting through belongings can be overwhelming if some self-care isn't done at the same time.
Having a friend or loved one help with the process is a great idea.
Scheduling manicures, massages, or dinners out at favorite restaurants can give you some things to look forward to at the end of these busy days of paring down and packing up.
If you take time to nurture yourself during this process, you'll be energetic and optimistic as you say goodbye to your old address and hello to your new one.
On move-in day, be sure to pack an extra box of goodies for that first night so you don't have to search for things.
In this care package to yourself, put in a few of your favorite things including your PJs, slippers, a towel with washcloth and soap, some bubble bath, and a bottle of champagne.
Congratulations! You did it.