Moving out of your long-term home when you’ve been there for 10 years or more is a daunting task. No matter the reason, pulling up roots and moving, even just across town, can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Decades worth of stuff, memories you can’t shake, and decoupling your identity from your home all take effort, and not everyone is up to the challenge.
Add to these factors the volatility in the housing market, skyrocketing mortgage rates, and you have a market set for stagnation. People who would’ve already moved out of their starter homes are staying put. Locked-in rates keep interest rates lower than the 6.5-ish% they’ve been at over the last several years.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that rates have almost doubled since 2020. And, unless you’re a tech billionaire, salaries aren’t increasing at the same rate. The average home price has risen by around $100,000, and the average mortgage payment has nearly doubled.
Homeowners who purchased prior to 2022 benefit from lower prices and interest rates, so it’s hard to convince them that moving now makes sense.
But now it’s time to move. You’ve got a new job, retirement, or just need a change of scenery. You’ve prepared your friends and family, closed your long-running tab at the local dive bar, and scoped out your new home.
What keeps you up at night isn’t the change. It’s the question of “How do I start packing when I’ve lived in my home for 20 years?”
With over 30 years of experience, Little Guys Movers is here for you. Our practical approach to moving after you’ve been in the same place for what feels like a lifetime makes it easier.
Let’s make this transition together!
The Practical Challenges of a Long-Tenured Move
For many Millennials and Gen Zers, the idea of staying in one home for more than ten years seems like a dream. However, the average American spends around 11.8 years in one home, give or take.
A decade or more is plenty of time to spread out and fill every space with accumulated stuff. Longer than that? You’re looking at a lifetime of furniture, dishes, books, and boxes. That overwhelming feeling in the pit of your stomach? That’s totally normal!
Volume
A typical move, say from an apartment to a home or from a smaller starter home to something larger, is fairly simple. Pack the boxes, move the furniture, realize you don’t have enough furniture to fill the space…go shopping!
But after ten or more years in one home, there are different logistical considerations. Storage spaces around your home that would normally be a temporary stopover become permanent. Boxes with keepsakes you’ll “get to eventually” gather dust, clothes you haven’t worn in five years take up space, and that dish set seems to have doubled in size.
To avoid the volume problem, begin your downsizing process before getting a moving estimate. Go through each room in your home, pull things out of closets and cabinets, and assess where you stand.
Decide what you’ll keep, what you’ll donate, and what you probably should’ve gotten rid of years ago. Look for local charities that take household goods and make the most of your donations.
Planning gives you space to host a garage sale and make some extra cash before you move. And don’t underestimate the power of Facebook Marketplace in boosting your efforts. Post larger or specialty items locally for pickup during your sale. You’d be surprised how quickly those barstools will go!
Unknown Inventory
Moving into your new home back in 2015 was an exciting moment. IKEA furniture that you’d already assembled and disassembled several times made the move. A lamp you got on Craigslist that barely made it sits in your living room. The piano you got for free and hardly play is sitting in the corner.
When you’ve been in your home for a decade or longer, you may not even remember what you have. Moving after 10 years in the same space means taking a direct approach to decluttering.
Going through your home, room by room, is the best way to ensure you know what’s going to make the move. IKEA furniture you bought in college? Probably not. Piano? You just might start playing again…
High-value Items
Antiques, fine art, custom furniture pieces, pianos, and safes all require special planning by your mover. If they’re not aware that you have a 600-pound gun safe, that’s not an insignificant addition to your moving list.
Your mover should offer a virtual or in-person walkthrough of your home to get a better idea of what you’re moving. On the day, they’ll do another one to make sure that what’s on the list is actually what’s going on the truck.
The Timeline Problem
You decide the time is right, list your home, and go under contract on your new place. Closing is in two weeks, but you haven’t started packing yet. You’re still trying to figure out which boxes will hold your record collection when the moving truck pulls up.
Nightmare scenario? You bet.
Planning makes all the difference when you’re moving your long-term residence. Years of accumulation don’t sort themselves out in a week. For the best experience, we recommend taking a more methodical approach.
Sell, donate, or toss the things you’re not moving before you call your movers to do an estimate. A walkthrough after you’ve culled your home means you’ll get a more accurate idea of how much your move will cost.
The Emotional Reality Nobody Talks About
Leaving your home after a decade or more surfaces emotions you may not expect. Maybe you raised your children here, got married here, or hosted gatherings of friends at the kitchen table. These memories pop up while you’re going through your belongings, and it’s worth sitting with them before going on.
Object grief is something we don’t talk about very often. That table that fit 10 people for late-night dinners might not work in your new space. Deciding what to do with it means deciding whether the memories themselves are enough and where the table should go next.
Give yourself space to feel the emotions this process bubbles up, and then move forward. Your memories go with you, but the objects themselves don’t have to.
How to Make This Move Easier
Ready to tackle your big move? Start with a room where you have the least emotional attachment.
Don’t spend a lot of time in the garage? Start there! Eat takeout most of the time? The kitchen is calling!
Once you’ve accomplished one zone, move on to the next and let the momentum carry you through. In each space, practice the three-box method: one to keep, one to donate, and one to decide later. Make quick decisions in this stage, as lingering too long will slow you down and could stall your progress.
If you have time, we recommend taking out the clutter at least once a week. Plan a stop off at your donation location of choice to clear out space. There are plenty of folks out there who can help you with this process. Senior move specialists, estate sale specialists, donation orgs that pick up, or a junk removal service for the big items you can’t handle on your own.
When you book with Little Guys Movers, make sure to give us the full story so we can approach your move the right way. Moves have different meanings for families, and when we understand the why, it helps set the right tone for our crews.
Ready to Move? We've Got You Covered.
Whether you're ready to book or just have questions, we're here to help.
What Little Guys Does Differently on Long-Tenured Moves
Little Guys Movers is dedicated to doing right by our customers. When you book with us, you can count on white-glove service, professional movers, and a premium moving experience.
When you initiate a conversation with us, you can expect clear communication about the what, when, where, and why of your move. Our estimators can do a lot with a virtual walkthrough, but for a complex move, we’ll frequently do an on-site assessment to see what we’re working with.
We offer a range of moving services to meet your specific needs. They include:
- Packing and unpacking
- Load and unload only
- Storage coordination
- Unwanted item removal
Regardless of your situation, the same crew that begins the process carries through to the end. You’ll know what to expect, who’s going to show up, and what to expect, with clear communication throughout the process.
FAQ
How do I start packing when I’ve lived somewhere for 15+ years? Start with the least-used spaces first. Declutter ruthlessly along the way and create a staging zone for your packing headquarters. Pack room by room and use high-quality moving materials so you don’t have to repack. Keep a “first night” box handy for things you’ll need on the first night in your new space.
What should I get rid of before a big move? Start with expired food, medication, and toiletries. Then, move on to clothes that don’t fit, worn-out items, and things you haven’t touched in a year or more. After that, cheap or damaged furniture, things that won’t fit in your new space, and duplicate items. Finally, get rid of takeout containers, broken dishes, gadget manuals, and old technology you no longer use. Books are tricky. Donate where you can, and only keep those with the most sentimental value.
How long does it take to move out of a home you’ve lived in for a long time? We recommend allowing at least 6 weeks to complete the process. In a pinch, you can do it in as few as three, but that’s adding stress to your life you don’t need.
How do I handle sentimental items during a move? Sentimental and priceless are two different things. Digitize sentimental things like letters, photographs, and documents that are replaceable. Priceless items you should transport in your own vehicle where possible, or communicate with your movers explicitly about how much value these items hold to you.
What do movers do with furniture that might not survive a move? Most movers will refuse to transport unsafe or structurally unsound furniture. If they will, you’ll probably need to sign a waiver releasing them of responsibility if damage does occur. Best to donate or discard where possible and replace when you’re in the new space.
Little Guys Movers takes the stress out of moving from your long-term home
We know how challenging it can be to leave a long-term home behind. Let our team help you navigate this transition so you can focus on the excitement of a new beginning!
Ready to Move? We've Got You Covered.
Whether you're ready to book or just have questions, we're here to help.