03 Jul Why There is Such a Thing as Unloading Extra ‘Luggage’ Before Moving Out
How do you move out properly? One of the most bittersweet moments you’ll experience when moving out is how to take care and/or dispense of one’s former preferred or favorite items. These are the objects, mementos, goods, and even photographs of your assignee, but which will simply take too much space if included in the items to be packed and loaded. While one or two of them can be squeezed into a box, they can all add up take a toll in their budget. And nobody wants that.
Throwing them away would simply be too painful; it’s like betraying a memory or a past life (if you or the assignee believe in one). But if you don’t help your assignee do it before he moves to his new assignment or employment, you will find yourself (and him) unnecessarily burdened emotionally.
Do yourself and your assignee a favor. Guide him through the unloading ritual weeks before he moves out of his accommodations. Do the following:
- As advised by My Moving Reviews, you as the global mobility specialist have to provide the objective, dispassionate voice of reason to your assignee. Without pushing your own choices, ask him gently, “Which item he fears he might discard can be classified according to the following categories:
- Useful and relevant. He certainly has to bring those items with him
- Enjoyable but not useful. He might not want to part with the self-portrait that his staff gave to him as a Christmas gift
- Not useful but still likable, and has the least emotional connection: These could be outdated CDs, well-worn books, and holiday mugs that he can easily replace, despite the memories they awaken in him.
- It’s not useful but still likable that you have to encourage him to discard or dispense with, without destroying or throwing them away. This brings us to step three.
- As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another person’s treasure. Some of these old memorabilia or outgrown clothes might still fetch a decent sum from people who might actually want to buy them. Online sales platforms that facilitate the purchase and sale of secondhand or used items can make it painless as well as profitable for your assignee. Your assignee can actually start selling on these sites months before he leaves. Moving gives several options: eBay has been the go-to platform of most item owners who want to auction their goods to the highest bidder. These days, however, LetGo and Offerup definitely make buying and selling much easier, the way the mobile apps allow you to take photos and post your items quickly (as a seller) and get sellers to respond to you (as a buyer) because messaging is configured like you’re just texting.
Some relocators may suggest a moving sale. In your assignee’s case, it might be more advisable to do this as a private fun party for his colleagues and the other friends he made in his neighborhood the past years. That is, if he is not comfortable holding a garage sale, although it seems garage sales as we envision them are not as popular as it used to be when there are items to be found online.
If you and your assignee do decide to do the private auction or sale of your big items, coordinate with the housing authorities to get certain parts of the house in order. You can also ask their advice about possible zonal requirements, the effect of the weather on any continuous activity, or how to maximize spaces for the planned activity. Since California Corporate Housing has been known to customize corporate homes, so they can actually look like homes, you’ll go a long way in asking for their help, whether it’s about buying or selling items or even interior decorating.
- If your assignee is a foreigner, ask him if he can donate all these extra goodies to friends and colleagues he had gotten to know during his years of employment in the United States. Knowing that his item will be taken care of by someone he values and respects will ease his mind, and make the packing faster and more peaceful.
- Finally, donate to charity. As Updater points out, churches, non-profit organizations, shelters for the homeless and other charity organizations would be more than willing to take your second-hand but still usable clothes, furnitures, books, bags, and gadgets. Giving itself has its own reward. But if the donation merits your assignee certain tax deductions, that makes this deal even sweeter.