We’re moving on Monday {as in TOMORROW} so you can just about imagine what our house looks like right now.
Well, if you can’t imagine, here are a few visuals!
This is, BY FAR, the most cluttered our house has ever been…and I’m OK with that!
I knew things were going to be “cluttery”, I knew I wouldn’t be able to decorate for Christmas, and I knew that moving in December would be cold!
But I also KNEW that I wouldn’t care!
We’re moving to our dream house and that’s WAY more important than a little bit of clutter, inconvenience, or cold weather!
And while we are certainly taking A LOT of stuff with us…we are also leave several important things behind to assure the new home owners have a “simple, organized transition” into THEIR new home.
Here’s what we’re leaving behind:
- a clean house (I’m coming back next week to clean up)
- all appliances — even the newer ones
- all light fixtures (except the chandelier in our guest bedroom — but I replaced it with a standard light)
- all blinds, curtains, and curtain rods (except the set of curtains in our bedroom — I made them!)
- a folder with all the manuals, warranties, and instructions for the appliances
- a folder with the records for all construction projects and renovations we did on the home
- a plastic bag with the tags from plants we planted around the yard (just in case they need to know!)
- a folder with any other paperwork for our home and property
- all exterior & interior paint — labeled by room and/or location
- all the cabinets, peg board, shelving, and workbench in our shed — sniff!
- a bunch of yard tools and equipment we won’t need
- all keys and garage door openers
- all phone numbers for utility companies so they can switch them over to their names
- a fun bouquet of flowers to welcome the new homeowners!
I know how stressful and crazy it was when we purchased our first home (a month before our wedding and a week before my college graduation!) So I wanted to do everything I could to help these first-time home buyers make an easy transition.
Hopefully they will appreciate my organization!!
Christine (iDreamofClean) says
I just clicked over and saw that you’re moving!! Congratulations! You’re leaving such valuable resources for the new owners. We’ll be moving next month so I’ve begun to think about how I can make it easier on the new owners…but, this list blows mine away! I’m bookmarking this post so I can leave the new homeowners in even better shape! Thanks so much for posting this!
Andrea says
Thanks Christine!
Yes, we are so excited to be in our new house now…and even though it was a bit of work to get all those resources together for the new homeowners, I know it’s worth it. We only wish the previous owners of our house had done the same for us.
Good luck with your move too!
Janie says
Thanks Andrea, I can do 15 mins a day… 🙂
Lona says
What a gift to the buyers, to have all these necessary things left behind, in order.
And, um, I didn’t see any clutter in them there photos, hun…
Janie says
Wow you are so thoughtful and sweet ,I have been enjoying your blog so much.I really hope one day I can become organized…. 🙂
Andrea says
Thanks Janie — I’m so glad you’ve found helpful information here at Simple Organized Living!
And you can be organized too. Take 15 minutes TODAY and do something to clean, organize, de-clutter, or simplify your life…then do it again tomorrow! Before you know it, you’ll have created an organized habit!
Good Luck!