Valerie Greenberg, lifestyle expert, provides some tips if you are planning a move this summer.
First-time apartment. Unless your apartment is brand new, you’re not the first person to live there. While most buildings clean before new tenants move in, it’s always wise to thoroughly clean your apartment before moving in your belongings. Take advantage of your ability to clean rooms when they are totally empty and clean hard to reach spots such as removing cobwebs from ceilings and dust from the tops of ceiling fans.
Downsizing. While packing up your belongings, have an organization system ready. Designate a certain color for items you don’t need or want, and use a different color for each room in your new place. And be sure to create a floor plan showing where each large piece of furniture should be placed and take measurements in advance to ensure they fit. This way you’ll know what to keep and what to throw.
Digitize old home movies and photos. Get old photos and home movies digitized before your move. Not only will it mean fewer boxes to pack, but digitized images last longer than film.
Save on utilities. A move is a great time to save on utilities. You might want to skip cable and opt for satellite television or cut your landline in your new home.
Moving into a dorm. Campus move-in days are the most chaotic because there are hundreds of students moving in at the same time. If you’re moving into a dorm at the University of Hartford or Yale, schedule move-in times with your roommates so you aren’t in each other’s way and your dorm room isn’t even more cramped than it already will be.
For more information or tips, visit www.ValerieGreenberg.com.