It started out as a routine trip. I went to put up a sold sign on one of my listings and congratulate the seller once more. She invited me in and we sat down and started to chat. Knowing a move was coming up, she had begun the task of sorting and packing. For her, this is a downsize move, so she is being ruthless.

Initially we chatted about some of the things she had found … some to discard and some to keep. Then she hands me a small stack of envelopes, all tied together. She tells me these are keepers. I glance down and see the blue-outlined envelope on top, something I haven’t seen in years. It is an old telegram envelope. She tells me this is the telegram her father received to announce her birth. The envelopes underneath the telegram are the letters her dad wrote to her mom during the first couple of weeks of her life. It was during World War II. Many families were separated. Her dad was unable to be there when she was born, but his letters were full of his excitement.

Moving is not all bad. In the midst of de-cluttering, we may come across things we have that give us a sense of who we are, and how we have become the person we are. If we don’t move and de-clutter, we can forget what we have and things stay buried in the basement. Moving can allow us to rediscover precious mementos.

Many of us fear moving. It can be an overwhelming task. And yet it can also be a time of rediscovery and a treasure hunt all in one. Sometimes being able to share these stories makes them even more special. Here are some tips on how to make the process easier.

1. The Donation Pile should include items you don’t think you can sell, but which may yet have some usefulness to someone else. Many societies, charities, universities and libraries are happy to take such “stuff”. Check out Compassionate Resource Warehouse at www.crwarehouse.ca. They will give you a long list of items they will take as donations, sometimes for shipment overseas. You may be surprised at the kinds of things they will take. So start by contacting them before you create your junk pile.
2. Create a Junk Pile. This is for items no one else could use.
3. The Family pile. These are items destined for other family members. At least you might ask them first, before consigning these items to a different pile.
4. The Sell Pile.  Sites such as Usedvictoria.com and Craig’s list are great ways to sell some of the things you don’t need or want anymore. However, these items should be worth the time it takes to place the ad and deal with potential buyers. Proceeds from the sale of these items can help cover your moving costs.
5. The Keep Pile. These are aside from the furniture and kitchen items you need. There are those things that you just want to keep with you for a variety of reasons. Family or friends may think you are crazy to keep them, but until you feel you are ready to let go, keep them with you.

My stop to put up that sold sign turned out to be much less routine than I’d anticipated. And for my client, the clearing of her home is turning out to be far less than routine. She rediscovered letters her mom had kept. Letters she’d then passed on to her. And she is keeping them still. They are in her keep pile. Her forever keep pile. For they show that even though her dad wasn’t there when she was born, she knows for sure how he felt about it.

Cheri Crause, CPCA, Residential REALTOR ®
Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
1933 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 1C8
Phone: 250-592-4422
email: ccrause@shaw.ca
website: www.victoriarealtyteam.ca

See all articles by Cheri Crause