Logic says with the end in mind, of course. Last week I started strategizing every aspect of the move that I could think of, so it will go as smoothly and easily as possible.
Step 1: Compile a list of to-do's. Or - in my case - stop chasing my tail and start writing stuff down.
Step 2: Set a final deadline. Ideally, we'd like to be moved into our new home no later than May 8 - just over two weeks after we close. That may sound like a lot of time, but trust me - there's a lot of stuff to move.
Step 3: Prioritize all those to-do's and give each of them a date. It's a good thing Microsoft Excel is my friend. I've compiled a rather lengthy (okay massive) list of detailed things to remember and do to get us moved in and living in our new abode. And that list doesn't even begin to touch the bulk of the stuff stored in the attic or shed. Egads. There is definitely a garage/yard sale in our future.
Step 4: Reconnaissance. I poked around the garage during the home inspection and unearthed leftover tiles from the master bathroom. In the box. Move over Charlie Sheen, I'm winning now. That half-full box of tiles will make it much easier to plan the shower re-do.
It looks like this now but our plans include something a little snazzier, so we got some bids. The contractor we chose to install the tile looked at the pics and quickly figured out he did the original tile work in the house. Anybody wanna hum "It's a Small World" with me?)He's lined up to start the last week of April - perfect timing, so my next to-do is to see if we can locate the same (or similar) tile and have this project ready to start on time.
I also found labeled paint cans in the garage. Bless the former owner's hearts - their thoughtfulness made another project infinitely easier, too. To paint the master bedroom I just need to match the bathroom color, which is a taupe-y, greige color.
(Sidenote: it took me a while to figure out "greige" is a legitimate word, meaning mixture of grey/gray and beige. To all the designers tossing "greige" around, do you really think it is easier to pronounce and/or spell than taupe? Or less subjective? Taupe is defined as brownish-gray, and greige is defined as grayish-brown. Hmmmm.)
Whatever you call it, I like the bathroom color and it is similar to the color in our bedroom now. So why reinvent the wheel by agonizing over dozens of oh-so-similar paint colors to choose the "perfect" color, which is ultimately going to be almost identical to this one?
And to keep things simple, the second bedroom is getting treated to this color, too. The bonus room will probably also be painted the same hue. Swimmer girl's bedroom is going to share color with the dining room, which is going from brick red to milk chocolate brown. (The bedroom will also get a jolt of raspberry, either on a wall or the dormer nook...not sure which yet.)
Painting those five rooms is the only DIY project to tackle before we can move in. (Remember, one of my goals was to buy a house that needed virtually no renovation work. This home delivered perfectly on that requirement.) The only other to-do's to get done before moving are getting the carpets stretched and cleaned, both of which I'm leaving up to the professionals.
Step 5: While we wait. Next week I'll go through closets, culling out things to sell, give away or throw away, and readying the other contents to be moved, then emptying bookcases and cabinets.
Any tips or pointers? I could use them! When it gets really quiet, I hear a clock, quickly ticking down the final days and hours until the moving frenzy begins.
Happy strategizing,
