Too Much Stuff

It looks like the housing market is finally cooling off somewhat here in the Pacific Northwest which means move season is just about over. From March through September, I was slammed with move management projects. Some clients were moving away from the Northwest to destinations as far away as The East Coast and even further (Europe, Japan) and others were moving across town. Some had already moved into their new home and called me when they realized they just couldn’t face unpacking one more box. Some called me to help them pack. And some needed me to help them unpack the boxes they’d never opened since their move several years ago.

One thing they all had in common – they all had WAY Too Much Stuff and the responsibility of managing it all had completely overwhelmed them. The process was different for everyone. One client went hog wild and just started giving or throwing everything away. She had downsized from a house to a 2 bedroom condominium and space was now at a premium. She called it her “everything must go sale”. She had a great attitude and worked very hard - and when we finished our work together she’d created a cozy, attractive nest for herself surrounded by just the things she really loved and valued.

For another client, the stress of going through everything prior to her move to a smaller home was just too burdensome and she ended up taking everything with her. She emailed me recently that she was now even more depressed, surrounded by boxes she has no room to unpack and she still has to go through it all – except on the other end.

Most people don’t realize how much they’ve accumulated over the years until it’s time to move. Then the realization hits as they stand knee deep in boxes and their faces glaze over in bewilderment. Where did all this stuff come from?

It’s often difficult to convince clients to go through their belongings with a critical eye before they make their move plans. Moving is stressful enough and nobody wants the added burden of going through everything they own and making yet another and another decision on what stays and what goes. So some handle it with the “everything must go” approach while others favor the “I’ll figure it out later” method – and there’s everything in between.

That’s what makes my job fun – like Forrest Gump’s view on life – “you never know what you’re going to get.”