Look how spiffy our house is looking these days:
With less than 5 days until the big move, we’ve learned that packing is no joke. But we’ve got our eye on the prize (our exciting new digs) so we’re trying to keep our spirits up, stay hydrated, and play some good music for dancing as we go (the dancing is for Clara- gotta keep the baby entertained or packing progress can screech to a halt). Oh and we got many of our “secondhand boxes” as we’re lovingly calling them by trolling craigslist and freecycle (and even driving to a local reader’s house when she offered some up to us on Facebook). But admittedly we did have to grab a few from Walmart when we ran out of pre-used ones. Oh well, at least they’re made from 100% recycled material and we can craigslist/freecycle them when we’re done so they’ll live on like Leo’s memory in Titanic. Sidenote: anyone else still have a grade school crush on Leo?
Our to-do list is pretty nuts, but so far we’ve managed to cross these things off:
- remove every single item from the wall and patch/paint every nail hole in the house (this was actually about 500 times easier than I expected- just remove all the nails at once, spackle everything at once, and then paint room by room. It’s a lot faster than doing those three things in each room before moving onto the next one since you’d be opening and closing the spackle and cleaning the putty knife about a million times).
- transfer all of our utilities so they start over at the new place on move-in day
- pack the entire bathroom (except for travel sized shampoo & conditioner, our toothbrushes, and the shower curtain)
- pack all of our frames, mirrors, books, ceramic animals, and 80% of the breakables (still need to do our dishware – yikes!)
- pack all of the clothes we won’t be using in the next 7 days (we created a little “vacation stash” of everything from clothes to baby supplies and toiletries that we’ll appreciate having on hand instead of needing to unpack a million boxes to find those necessities).
As for what’s still on the list, here’s what we’ve got on the agenda:
- pack the rest of the kitchen along with about 20% of the other rooms that still need to be done
- rake the yard so the new owners don’t think they’re moving into a giant leaf pile
- oversee the completion of a few random inspection items (some flue work is being done by a pro tomorrow)
- get our oil measured for closing (new buyers pay for the oil that’s left in the tank, isn’t that a nice fair way to do it?)
- wave goodbye to our tan slipcovered Pottery Barn sofa in the den (someone from craigslist is supposed to be picking it up at 4)
- clean the oven and the fridge (can’t really do this until right before we go)
- vacuum/sweep/scrub the house spotless before locking the door with a tear in my eye
Assuming all goes well, the new owners are supposed to be closing on our house on Monday morning and once those funds come through we can close on our new place on Monday afternoon. So for a few odd hours in the middle of the day we actually won’t be homeowners at all. Weird, right? This necessitates an airtight moving plan, which doesn’t exactly sound easy but we’re sure we’ll somehow get ‘er done. We’re planning to move all of our stuff into a giant U-Haul by Sunday night and are paying to keep the truck overnight so it’ll essentially become a huge storage locker on wheels until we can unpack it on Monday afternoon at the new house (where our alarm system will be getting installed at the same time). Should be interesting total chaos, especially since we’re used to a few trips back and forth when it comes to a big move like this. Thankfully we have John’s awesome family helping with the loading and unloading. Did you think we’d hire movers? Come on, we’re total cheap-os. Besides, we love a good DIY adventure. Here’s hoping it has a happy ending and none of my ceramic animal friends have to die for the cause…
Corinne says
Good luck on Monday!
You guys are seriously thoughtful, respectful sellers. The house I purchased was immaculate every time I looked at it, even when the sellers forgot that I was coming over with the home inspector and hadn’t “cleaned up” before we got there. On the day the house became mine, I stopped by after work (a full four days before the day I was supposed to take ownership on paper, since the sellers moved out early and dropped off their keys)….and OMG the place was a WRECK. The yard hadn’t been mowed, there were toys, clothes, and random kitchen stuff on the first and second floors, and there was even a training potty in the half-bath in the basement! Not to mention, leaves, dirt, and stains on the carpet, holes in the wall…ugh. You guys are awesome sellers!
Kara says
Looks like everything is well underway. I noticed you still had the curtain rod up in Clara’s room and I got to wondering…was there anything you sold with the house that took some pursuading? I just read a blog earlier about them having to leave a shelving unit, that she LOVED, to the new owners. Just curious!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kara,
We offered up things like all the curtains except for Clara’s (since they’re too sentimental to leave behind) and the built ins around the bed in the master along with the bed frame and all of our appliances, the three floating shelves in the dining nook, and the storage cabinetry in the basement along with all the light fixtures that are hardwired (as well as the plug-in sconces in the bedroom) except again for the aqua capiz chandy in Clara’s room. We definitely were happy to leave that stuff to get the asking price that we wanted (so we’re not torn up about leaving anything behind that we’d rather keep). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sharee A says
Soooooo glad it’s not me moving! In need of more boxes? Craigslist!!! A fellow craigslister passed on a ton of various sized (UHaul) boxes to us and, after our move, I passed them on to another family for their move as well. Happy packing.
seansmom says
Another great place to get boxes is to go to your local mall and go behind the stores and check their dumpsters. Thats what I did four years ago when we moved from the Chicago suburbs to northeast Iowa. You can usually find all the boxes you need and in any size you want. Most stores don’t mind as long as you’re neat about it. …And after we got moved in, I took all those boxes to our local recycling center. It was an easy cleanup!
Can’t wait to see what you’ll start on first in your new house!
Julie says
I’m really glad you’re changing things up a little by not doing the freebie thing. Not because I ever questioned you all, but instead I feel like I can relate a little better now . I had this misconception that you were able to have a beautiful home because you got most of your stuff for free rather than having to save for it and build a beautiful home over time. I know that’s not true, but it can feel that way through a blog.
I love what you all do, and love to be inspired by your craigslist/garage sale finds. Looking forward to watching you turn your new house into a home!
Megan S says
LOL Sherry at your last sentence! You are too much! Such an exciting experience for you guys. Heck *I* am excited for you all, cannot wait!
Beth says
Congrats and good luck with the move!! I can’t wait to see pictures of your new house!!
Britt says
How sad to see the house we’ve all grown to love packed into boxes! Within in the last decade, I have moved nine times (I’m a bit of a wanderer) so I can appreciate how much work it takes to box everything up. I agree with the past commenters – scrubbing the place clean and patching nail holes is a great way to increase your karma. Good luck with the move and I can’t wait to see the new place!
Erica says
Love how House of Pain “Jump Around” is now stuck in my head!!
Good Luck with the move guys!
Lauren says
You guys are really going above and beyond for the new owners! When we bought our house the previous owners left us new rolls of toilet paper/paper towels and a cute note wishing us well in our new house. The only thing I really wish they had done was patch holes in walls. They just took their stuff down and left all the nails for us to remove/patch. I can’t really complain because they did leave the rest of the house very clean….something I know doesn’t always happen!
Are you having someone watch Clara and Burger during the move?
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, both Burger and Clara will be well taken care of while we load and unload. Thank goodness for family and friends!
xo,
s
Michele says
Great videos on packing dishware and breakables: http://www.gentlegiant.com/Moving-Resources/Moving-and-Packing-Tips.aspx
We took a (free) in-person class on packing breakables from Gentle Giant before we moved many years ago and the same info is in the videos. After we practiced packing boxes with dishware, we threw them off the loading dock and none of them broke!
Dre says
Such thoughtful movers! I would’ve never thought of spackling holes or raking the yard before you leave (but I haven’t moved out of my first home yet either)! Is that standard?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Dre,
Some people do those things and some people don’t, but we figured we should follow the whole do unto others golden rule thing…
xo,
s
Christine says
Those packed-up pictures… sniff!! I’m a little sad…
Jennifer B. says
Moving tip someone gave me (I have no idea of the cost comparison): Rent a POD, fill it up with your stuff, have it dropped off at the new place, and unpack. I haven’t ever done this before, I’m just passing along info!
Anissa says
We are in the middle of packing for a move, and I had the best surprise-you’re-moving present EVER: we saved the boxes that our dishes came in. Packing our dishes was the easiest ever as I still had the cardboard dividers/boxes/etc.
So save your packaging when you buy new dishes! You WON’T regret it!
D says
awwww…YHL generation dos!
Jennifer says
Looks like my house, bc this reader IS moving to Richmond!! But first we have to pack up and stage and list right after Christmas!
Good luck with the move!!
Devon says
Suggestion? Don’t advertise that you’ll have a fully loaded U-Haul at your house overnight. (I know someone who had his entire truck stolen as he moved from Virginia to Texas.) And delete this comment.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Devon,
Thanks for the suggestion and not to worry! We’re actually parking the truck at a super secret location after it’s all packed up on Sunday night and staying with a friend, so it won’t be sitting around waiting to get snatched :)
xo,
s
becky says
Good luck with the move (just in case one of your white ceramic animals doesn’t survive, they did a post today over on re-nest featuring some cute ones)!
Annalea says
Keep up the good work, guys. And just remember, when you’re packing, that reaching the 80% packed point means you’ve got 80% to go. (Trust me on this one–we’ve moved nine times in 11 years.) Don’t be discouraged, just know you’ll hit that point. So, when you do, just get a big drink of something hydrating and a quick energy snack, and dive back in. :o)
Can’t wait to see your new place! (And sending lots of good vibes/happy packing thoughts your way.)
Funnelcloud Rachel says
Oh, this makes me sad! Especially seeing Clara’s nursery all packed up – it seems like you guys just finished that project!
Also – you guys are way too nice – patching nail holes and repainting? Raking leaves? Wow!
Amy says
I love that your ceramic animals basically have a category of their own!
Tara says
Good luck packing up! My husband and I close on our first house next week. We’ll be packing up and moving along with you. Here’s to moving over the holidays!
Serena says
Seriously impressed that you’re patching holes and painting! We’re on our second house and have helped countless friends and family members move – I’ve NEVER seen anyone patch nail holes, etc. (unless it was a rental). In fact, people usually leave the nails in the walls! When we sold our old house, we just gave the house a good vaccuum once all the furniture was out and scrubbed down the kitchen and bathrooms. I certainly didn’t leave behind a shower curtain or paper towels like other commenters did, and honestly, the thought never even crossed my mind.
Sara says
I had to giggle at your moving boxes. Did you use blue painters tape that you had on hand to close them up or do they make blue packing tape?
YoungHouseLove says
The blue painter’s tape is actually John’s idea. We used packing tape to close all the boxes, but stuck blue painter’s tape on the fragile ones so they can be easily identified by color. Here’s hoping we break fewer things thanks to that method…
xo,
s
Andrea says
It’s so crazy to see it all packed up! :) I hate moving! We’ve moved 4 times in 3 years! YUCK!
Best of luck on the rest of the week, and everything else with the move! Excited to see your new house!
Amanda says
Congratulations! It’ll be worth it soon! Woo too the Hoo! Can’t wait to see Nuevo Grande Casa Petersik!
Bria says
OMG your house is human!
Sarah@StyleandCentsability says
Aww, kinda sad seeing your first house all packed up. But so exciting for you guys. I have to say when we moved in the previous owner left the house spotless and it was the best thing ever. It makes a huge difference and is the last gesture of love to your house.
Nik says
Dish towels and oven mitts work really well for protecting dishes.
Delta says
I don’t think I have ever seen boxes taped shut with blue painter’s tape before! Too funny! Good luck to you!
Lisa says
I hope you have a big enough UHaul (I’m sure you do.) We thought we did and then almost thought we didn’t as we started to pack it up. Luckily, one of my husband’s friends is a master of moving and puzzles and packed that sucker so tight I still feel like I owe him big.
Random moving tips that probably won’t help you at this stage but may help some readers:
Newspaper. I had my co-workers saving their daily newspaper for a month for me. I used it to pack all my breakables and never spent a dime on bubblewrap or packing paper.
Keep an extra box unpacked for the loose items like old shoes my husband thought he had packed and had not. Even the most careful usually find something they forgot. Best case, you had an empty box. Worst case, you have somewhere to put the stray stuff.
Haley (Cardigan Junkie) says
Good luck with the rest of the packing! I managed to pack two sets of dishes and move them safely by wrapping them in our bath towels (a sign we have far too many) and thus save on bubble wrap and packing peanuts.
Also, it’s probably not an issue in VA in December, but be careful what you pack in a uHaul for over a day. Aerosal cans can get too hot and explode (and cause a fire, like at my apartment parking lot) and my parents had some items melt from the heat and pressure.
Kari says
As a veteran of seven cross country moves and assorted local moves, I feel your pain and anticipation. The thing I like about moving is that everything gets cleaned as it gets packed (we always use clean paper, so no newsprint stains to have to clean), so the new house set up starts really clean. I also really like packing and am pretty good at it(in all our moves, we have had only one dish break,,,and the hubster packed it, Not that I would gloat or anything). The thing I always notice is how the closer you get to actually being fully packed, the messier the house seems, since all the stuff that is left has no place to go and is just sitting, waiting (and as my husband says, taunting you).
Best of luck on the move–local moves are pretty easy and you will be very happy settling into the new digs (without having to find you way around, locate a new grocery store, doctor, dentist, etc.).
thehagmalife says
For your dishware: no need for bubblewrap. It’s expensive and not very green. Instead, buy boxes of plain newsprint paper from uhaul. Carefully wrap everything, pack lots of paper into the bottoms of each box and at the corners, and ensure that there isn’t room for things to shift around too much. Everything, and I mean everything, survived a cross-country move and a month in storage this way. Even the box that started off box-shaped and arrived as more of a ball – labeled “dishes.”
Nancy says
I would love if you did a post on how you organized your boxes because I’m sure you have a method to organize and inventory everything you packed so that you can unpack it easily and I want to know your secret! Happy Moving!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Nancy,
We’re planning a post about that if we ever have a moment to tackle it! But you can read back through the comments for some tidbits (like how we used blue painters tape to indicate if a box was fragile).
xo,
s
thehagmalife says
Oh – and I just saw your response about the blue painter’s tape and it reminded me of another trick we used. Anything sharp, fragile, or small was wrapped in brightly colored tissue paper (we had tons lying around from a wedding project), so that it would catch our attention and so that we would be extra careful. It was a Martha Stewart idea that I adapted. Good luck!
tammy says
Best blog photos EVER. Good for you guys, always keepin’ it real!
Krystle says
Good luck with the move!! We U-Hauled our stuff half way across the country, because we’re cheap to but I’ve also had some pretty bad experiences with movers so I’ll probably stay away from using movers!
Mike @HA says
I call it “packing chic.” This style is defined by the use of cardboard boxes, thickly textured piles, and bare walls. Trend setters.
Witty Wife says
In the past, I was able to score some free moving boxes by asking the local grocery store if they had any boxes they didn’t need anymore. Convenience stores work well, too.
It beats dealing with all of the emails and weird phone calls that go along with Craigslist!
Lindsey P. says
“…let me begin, I came to win, battle me that’s a sin!” LOL – one of my favorite songs to jam to in the car. :)
Jen says
I’m so excited for you guys. When we moved out of our first house, I LOVED the packing part (I started months in advance) and made different coloured labels for each different room. When it came time to unpack, however, I was not so in to it…
Anyway, grade school crush? My crush on Leo has grown up right along with me, so now it’s a high school teacher crush!
Liza says
Good luck with getting everything pakced up and ready to go!
If you still need boxes, liquor stores are a great place to get some sturdy FREE boxes!
jodi says
good luck!! i hope everything goes as smoothly as it can.
Alicia M says
So sad yet so exciting all at the same time!! You guys just took my emotions on a roller coaster ride! It’s nuts to see your house like this, but at the same time it’s all too real now. Will you be sharing pictures of your empty abode? Like a “one last goodbye”?
This place will be missed, but I look forward to seeing what you guys have in store for the new house… I’m certain there will be many more projects and memories to come!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! We do plan to snap those pics so you guys can all give our beloved house a proper internet goodbye!
xo,
s
Christy Davis says
Let me begin . . . oh honey, don’t ever ever buy boxes. Go to the door close to the eggs in the grocery store and stalk anyone coming in or out. There is usually a bell. They almost always have egg boxes that are a good size with handles cut out. Also call the grocery at shift change (around 10 usually) and ask the stock people to save you some boxes. I got more than enough boxes from them. You can also check with liquor stores if you aren’t worried about your new neighbors thinkin’ you are drunkerds. They have good size boxes too- not too big and then accidentally packed to heavy to move easily.
Good luck! Stick Clara in a sling and go for it.
emily says
You can also score some perfectly sized boxes at McDonalds. Sounds weird, but they do. I packed the majority of my stuff in those Mickey D. boxes. Free and green, as they were just going to be tossed.
Kaitlyn says
God love you, Youngsters! All the best in your move–thanks so much for sharing your first home with us! I am loving your journey and can’t wait for the next house!
Anita says
omg you guys are so nice to rake the leaves before you go! Whoever bought your house hit the jackpot!