Relocating to New Zealand is a great chance to clear out your possessions and discard or rehome what is no longer needed. Many of our clients are also finding that bringing everything they own is simply not an option due to the escalating shipping costs and significant delays caused by COVID-related supply chain disruption. Deciding where to start can be daunting, so, we have asked Tracy Kelly, Mobile Relocation’ Advisor in Queenstown and also Co-Founder at Good Edit, for some hands-on tips and tricks on how to prioritise and stay organised to bring just what you need and nothing more.
Whether you are moving across the ocean or next door I have the same philosophy: Less is the new more…
Everything we have in our home we should have for a reason. Does the item serve us or crowd us, add to our lives or complicate it? Moving gives us the ultimate opportunity to ask this of every item in our home before it is boxed up.
Before you move, you need to ask these following questions…
Do I need it?
Do I need more than one potato peeler, 7 pairs of tongs and these little skewer things I actually don’t know how to use?
Will I need 2 dozen sheets sets and 36 towels in my new home? The general rule is you only need one spare set of linens per bed and two spare towels per person residing in your home.
We tend to keep things “just in case” but your home should be a living space not a storage space so truly think about what you actually need for your daily life.
Do I use it?
Just because an item is useful it does not mean it is used. Generally you can tell by the dust accumulated when the last time an item was put into service.
It’s ok to admit to yourself that you are never going to make homemade pasta, and ditch that machine you bought on a whim 10 years ago….
Use this move as a reflection of who you are now, and the life you want to live.
Do I love it?
In the great words of Marie Kondo “Does it spark joy?”
We tend to hold on to items out of obligation because it was a gift or guilt because we spent money on it.
Your home should be a reflection of you, so you should love every item in your home. A gift’s purpose is the joy of giving, not till death do we part. You received the benefit of the gesture and thoughtfulness the gift provided, but if you don’t love it you don’t have to keep it. Same goes for items we purchase. Our tastes change, our lives change so it’s ok not to love an item anymore. It served its purpose, you can now let it go.
Packing up and moving is stressful but designating time to sort through all your items, room by room, will give you the clarity and control to efficiently move your household.
It will be worth the effort when you unload that shipping container, or unpack those boxes, and find only the things you need and love. You’ll be making a fresh start, and setting off with lightness and calm to embrace your new environment.
To find out more about Tracy and her work, visit www.goodedit.co.nz.
Mobile Relocation delivers resettlement and relocation programmes for businesses employing offshore talent. Our goal is to get your expat and migrant talent up and running in NZ as quickly as possible - reducing their time to effectiveness in their new role, and enabling them to deliver their skills and expertise to your the benefit of your business.
Bridget is a New Zealander who has lived and worked as a diplomat in Singapore and India. After experiencing all facets of the relocation experience, she founded Mobile to work with private individuals moving to NZ and leading local and international businesses bringing in offshore talent. bridget@mobile-relocation.com
Ready to move to New Zealand? Get our FREE Move to NZ Checklist here.