Pack it or move it? Some items need to be given away

One of my friends has a rule about never moving an unused item twice. Be it a book, plate or old basketball jersey he swore one day to wear again on the court, if it went unused in his old apartment it would not be packed and moved to his new residence.

I thought about the no-move-twice rule the other day when I got a note from SpareFoot.com, a company that aggregates available local storage space so consumers don’t have to call every facility in the area to find room for their extra stuff. The company noted that May and June were two of the busiest moving months of the year.

“In fact, the day after Memorial Day is the busiest moving day of the entire year,” said John Egan, SpareFoot.com spokesman.

Really? I thought families didn’t move until school got out in June.

“A lot of families do wait until late June,” Egan said. “But not all of them are leaving their schools and they choose to move right after Memorial Day. For whatever reason, that’s the day that gets more moving activity than any other day.”

When I tossed my friend’s no-move-twice rule into Egan’s court, he replied that more people would be better served by using that guideline.

“You would be surprised at the number of times people pack stuff they haven’t seen in years,” Egan said. “Sometimes, they don’t even open the box. I’ve been known to tell people to give it away if they haven’t used it in a year.”

Egan then passed along SpareFoot’s five biggest mistakes consumers make when packing and moving:

1. Hiring a shady mover.

We’ve all heard horror stories about moving scams, and perhaps maybe you’ve been the victim of a moving scam yourself. You can steer clear of a less-than-upstanding mover by doing your homework. The Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, your state transportation regulator and the U.S. Department of Transportation – and even your relatives, friends, neighbors and colleagues – are all good sources of information about whether a moving company is on the up-and-up. Doing some homework online can save you a lot of heartache on moving day.

If you’ve done your research and still aren’t confident in the movers you’ve come across, you always can go the DIY route – just be sure you’re up for the task.

2. No solid cost estimate

If you hire a mover, you should be able to have someone from that company come to your home or apartment for an in-home moving estimate. If a moving company won’t do an in-home estimate, you should think about shopping around for another mover.

Don’t rely on just one quote from one mover. Contact several movers for quotes. If you really like one mover over another but your favorite company is a little pricey, try negotiating for a lower price. Always make sure to get a moving estimate in writing.

3. Packing too much stuff.

Do you really need those old boxes of baby clothes that you haven’t laid eyes on since your six-year-old was in diapers? Before you move, you need to asses your belongings. Think about giving them away to family, friends or a local family who might need what you have. Hold a garage sale to clear out some of the clutter.

4. Failing to schedule your move well in advance.

During the summer months, good moving companies become extremely busy. Rather than waiting till the last minute, make sure your move is scheduled weeks – or, better yet, months – in advance. You don’t want to be scrambling to find a mover the day before you’re supposed to head out. Moving already is stressful enough without adding that frustration.

5. Actually packing ahead of time.

You’ll find very few people who’ll say that packing is fun. You can lessen the load by beginning to pack well before the movers show up at your door. Start with stuff that you won’t need right away. For instance, if you’re moving in the summer, pack up your winter clothes so that they’re out of the way.

If you get down to the wire and need help with packing, enlist friends, neighbors, relatives or colleagues to lend a hand. Make sure you’ve got plenty of food and beverages as a “thank you” for your volunteer helpers.

Tom Kelly’s new novel “Cold Crossover” is now available in print at bookstores everywhere and in both print and Ebook form from a variety of digital outlets. Follow real estate agent and former basketball coach Ernie Creekmore as investigates the disappearance of his star player on a late-night boat. Check out the national reviews and put “Cold Crossover” on your list.