Well, to be honest, it depends…if he packs up all of his belongings in containers AND you have space available in your garage, basement or attic then the answer is relatively easy and you simply need to store it until it’s time to head back to school; however, if you don’t have the storage room or if he randomly tosses it all in his car in garbage bags or worse yet, no containers at all, then rest assured all that stuff will end up somewhere in your home scattered or piled about.

Pre-plan

The best way to avoid the onslaught of stuff coming into the home is to approach the problem before it happens and have a discussion with your college student before they pack up to come home. If you have re-purposed their room then make sure they know ahead of time to avoid the shock and disappointment, and then work with them to devise a plan for their belongings when they come home. When it comes to packing up any space a little pre-planning goes a long way. First decide what space your student will occupy when he returns home. Next discuss how to store any items that won’t fit in the provided space—see below for storage options. You may even want to limit your student to a certain number of suitcases or boxes that will be allowed in the space for the summer. This will help them learn to plan better in the future and help you control the clutter coming into the home. Finally, talk to them about how they plan to pack—see below for packing tips. Limiting them to 2 suitcases and 3 boxes is not the same as 8 garbage bags full of stuff, so be clear about your expectations to avoid any misunderstandings and hard feelings.

How to Pack for a Move

The most efficient way to pack for a move is to sort all items into categories. For example they would gather all their pens, pencils and markers together in one category and all their notebooks, pads and Post It Notes in a separate category. The same process would apply to all the rest of their belongings. The process allows them to quickly see if they have an over abundance in any category so they can easily decide what to keep, toss or donate. Once they have everything sorted, categorized and purged they can begin the process of packing.

I recommend packing the smaller items in banker’s boxes. They are large enough to fit a fair amount of items and small enough so they aren’t too heavy when fully packed. In addition they are reasonably priced, have handles and are easy to label. You can even go green by purchasing used banker’s boxes at Box It. If water or moisture damage is a concern then use plastic totes. I suggest using clear, medium sized totes so the items inside are easily identifiable and the container is not too large to carry when fully packed. Larger, oddly shaped items like bean bag chairs can be stored in large contractor garbage bags to protect items from dirt and water damage.

If your student is living across country and has more than a car load of items to tote home, then it might more prudent to look into renting an offsite storage unit for the summer. This way he can simply pack a couple of bags and drive or fly home for the summer. There are some great options available, such as CollegeBoxes or DoortoDoor that cater to college students and even deliver the boxes to their dorm and pick them up after they are packed.

If a storage unit is not in the budget and junior has too many items to lug home you can consider donating or using Freecycle to downsize any unnecessary or unwanted items before loading up the car for home. The best way to load a car for the greatest use of space is to load the larger inflexible items first, followed by smaller inflexible items, then items that can be squeezed in the odd sized empty spaces. Clothing can be packed into any suitcases you have or if the suitcases take up too much room you can layer the suitcases one inside the other and use garbage bags to pack your clothes. This way you can squeeze the clothes into all the unused spaces left in your car.

The post How to Manage Your College Students Summer Clutter appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

If this sounds familiar then now is the time to consider how you would really like to use and enjoy that space.  First thing you’ll want to do is remove the clutter and completely clear the space.  Now you have a clean pallet and the possibilities are endless; here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Exercise Room:  If you enjoy exercise, but not necessarily going to the gym, then an exercise room may be the perfect solution.  Focus on the activities that you truly enjoy and purchase only the equipment you know you will use.  For example, do not purchase that top of the line treadmill if you hate stationary aerobic equipment.  People often purchase exercise equipment because they feel they should do a certain activity; then end up using the equipment as a clothing rack because they don’t enjoy the activity.

Media Room: Create a media room with comfy chairs, big screen TV and refreshment center.

Entertainment Room: This could be a bar with a pool table and dart board or an area for a poker table or portable card tables.

Crafter or Hobby Room: Add long tables with roll out drawers, peg boards and lots of cubbies to create a customized space for all of your crafts.

Office: If you have always wanted to start your own business this may be your golden opportunity. Add a desk, a couple of book cases, a file cabinet and you have the beginnings of a great work space.

Meditation or Reading Room: Maybe you’re looking for a place to quiet your mind and have some time to reflect and read. Find a comfy chair, good lighting, and maybe a plant or two and try to keep the number of items in the room to a minimum for the most soothing effect.

Guest Room:  Many people like to have space for family and guests to visit without sending them to a local hotel or blowing up an air mattress. Create a spa like space with reading materials, fluffy towels, baskets with personal toiletries and brochures of the local sites.

Closet Room: This is my personal favorite!  Turn that space into a room sized closet complete with dressing table, island, shoe wall and built in jewelry organizer. It just doesn’t get any better.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks – Our Time, Inc

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Six Weeks Prior to Move 

• Review your relocation allowance from your employer. Verify the expenses they will cover and which are your responsibility.
• Hire a mover and get 3 quotes from licensed companies.

Five Weeks Prior to Move

• Conduct a room-by-room survey to determine what to keep, sell or donate.
• Photograph or videotape valuable items and save for insurance purposes.
• Plan a yard sale, call your local charity or make other arrangements to dispose of items you will not be shipping.
• Start a file to keep all your moving documents in one location.  Tip: An accordion file works well because it’s contained, light weight and has lots of pockets for various information.

Four Weeks Prior to Move

• Gather moving materials.  Boxes, tape, tape dispensers, box cutters, etc.
• Call your local garage to schedule an appointment for routine maintenance. Check with your mover about car moving specifics if you are planning on shipping your car.
• Take pets to the veterinarian for shots and inoculations. ID and rabies tags should be securely attached to your pet’s collar.  Make arrangements at the kennel, if necessary to board your pet.
• Make a list of everyone to notify regarding your move such as: family, friends, insurance company, utility companies, doctors, accountant, bank, lien holders, credit card accounts, service providers, etc.
• Book your flights if you are flying to your new destination.
• Make arrangements for hotel or temporary living accommodations, rental car, etc.
• Cancel magazine and newspaper subscriptions and club memberships.
• Contact the Chamber of Commerce at your destination city for a welcome package.  Get acquainted with your new city!

Three Weeks Prior to Move

• Clean out your closets, garage, tool shed, attic, etc.
• Start packing infrequently used items. You can number boxes and keep a master inventory.
• Complete change of addresses forms and return to the post office or complete forms online. Forms are available at US Post Office website.
• Obtain necessary medical and dental records, school records, legal and financial documents and backup copies of computer files.
• Notify utility services. Request that utilities, phone and Internet be shut off the day after you the move and installed in the new home the day before before arrival.
• Hire a cleaning company to clean both the old and new spaces.
• Plan meals to use up perishable and frozen items.

Two Weeks Prior to Move

• Transfer prescriptions and ask for medical referrals. Be sure to have and adequate supply of medicine on hand.
• Check with insurance company to transfer coverage to your new home.
• If driving, have your car cleaned and serviced for the trip.  Prepare to have auto registration transferred.
• Call locksmith and arrange to have locks changed in new home.

One Week Prior to Move

• Reconfirm your travel and hotel accommodations at your new destination.
• Arrange child care services and pet care for pack date/s if necessary.
• Arrange parking permits and reserve elevator if necessary.
• Dispose of house plants – give them to friends and family or donate to a hospital or nursing home.
• Arrange for trash to be picked up after you leave.
• Dispose of flammable and explosive items. Typical items classified as dangerous goods that can not be transported are: bleach products, paint, gas cylinders, cleaning fluids, aerosols, gas and kerosene.
• Drain fuel from lawn mower and other machinery.  Drain all water hoses.
• Provide information sheet to movers with old and new addresses, directions and cell phone numbers.
• Create a last out and first in box of necessities. Bedding, towels, toiletries, toilet paper, basic tools, cleaning supplies, medications, snacks and a camera to document anything that was broken during the move.

One Day Prior to Move

• Finish packing any personal items you wish to take with you and set aside suitcases and sufficient clothing for at least 1 week.
• Disconnect TV, stereo and computer components. Pack all connection cords in clearly marked carton.
• Assemble all airline tickets, currency, credit cards, jewelry, medical records, school records, personal information, documents pertaining to your new home, cell phones and laptop computers. Be sure to keep separate so the packers do not pack in your shipment.
• Defrost and clean freezer and refrigerator. Discard any remaining food items.

Moving Day

• Plan your day so that you will be at your residence while the movers are there. Be available to direct the crew and answer any questions. Point out any items that require special handling or that you will want unloaded first at destination.
• Perform a “walk through” with the crew leader to make sure all items have been packed that are intended to be moved. Check the attic, basement, shed, closets, garage, drawers and cupboards.
• Give keys to real estate agent.
• Meet movers at the new home. Check items off inventory list as they are unloaded.
• Inspect for damages. Photograph relevant items before signing the release/bill of lading.
• Test faucets, toilets, utilities, phones, smoke detectors and security systems. Turn on water heater.
• Unpack.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks – Our Time, Inc

The post How to Organize Your Move appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

• Sort through your spring and summer clothing. This is a great way to clear the clutter. Be sure to wash the clothes before you box them up for your favorite charity
• Pull out your fall and winter items and put them away as you organize your closet
• Change the bedding to get ready for the cool months ahead. Wash and store the light weight bedding and pull out the heavy linens
• Pull out the humidifier to help put moisture back into the dry environment during the colder months. This will actually help make the room feel warmer
• Change the direction of your ceiling fans to move clockwise. Doing so creates an upward draft that pushes the warm down from the ceiling and redistributes it throughout the room
• Clean radiators and vents before the cold weather starts
• Have your fireplace inspected and cleaned if necessary to ensure it’s in good working order

Outside List:

• Cut down dead annuals and compost what you remove
• Cut back the perennials for the next season
• Get your leaf blowers and rakes ready to roll before the leaves start to come down
• Clean out gutters and downspout so the water doesn’t back up and cause damage to your home
• Start planting your spring bulbs
• Begin to stock up on firewood
• Make sure you have a few bags of salt or sand on hand for those unexpected snow storms
• Spray your shovels with WD40 to help the snow slide right off when you are shoveling
• Clean outdoor furniture before storing away for the winter

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