Ways To Make Moving House Easier

Moving house can easily become an organisational nightmare. Even if you and your family are just relocating within the same neighbourhood, there is always a long list of things to be organised at both the old and new place. Make your own life easier by having a clear plan for the lead up to moving and then the day itself; this will help you keep stress levels to a minimum and get you into your fantastic new property more quickly. Then you can finally relax.

1.Organising Before You Even Move

In the leadup to moving it’s helpful to make a list of what you need to organise. If you have moved house many times in the past you will know that scrambling around at the last minute is not only tricky but can lead to mistakes being made. You can keep your notes organised in a folder on your computer, or in a dedicated file. Your moving file could contain some of the following things:

• Your research on professional movers

• Notes to yourself of things to remember

• A moving timeline, with dates for finalising different items

• The master list of your boxes/items

• Contact details (utility companies, real estate agent etc)

2. Choosing A Moving Company

Choosing a moving company is a big decision. Employing a licensed company offers a more simplified, insured process than dragging in friends or family to help. Particularly if you’re moving a full house worth of belongings and furniture! Many people like to get recommendations from friends and family when choosing a company. Make sure you ask for more than one moving quote, and consider what services and guaranteed are included. Movers from the company should sight your home to produce the most accurate quote. Do your research and find out what is included: will the movers wrap the furniture to protect it from scratching? How many people will work on the job and how long will it take? Does the company charge extra for overtime?

3. Renting A Storage Facility

In some cases, selling, buying and moving house also means renting a storage facility for a short time. If there is a large gap between selling and buying, some families settle in a temporary house while they look for their dream place. Staging a home for sale can also mean removing some larger items to declutter and present the home in its best light. Consider if these factors apply to your home, or ask your real estate agent for advice.

4. Packing By Room

When the moving date is set, you can keep your packing strategy organised by focussing on one room at a time. Packing the items in each room separately will make things easier to find at the other end too. Working on each room individually also allows you to set smaller goals and avoid getting overwhelmed. Make sure you label the boxes and keep a note of them. If any items you pack are particularly sentimental or fragile, it’s best to note this on the box or consider moving it separately.

5. Do You Need to Downsize?

If you’re going to be moving into a smaller space, figuring out what to keep and what to get rid of can be a massive headache. One approach to this is to first list your must-have items, for example a favourite couch, and commit to bringing these things with you. Measure the new place to check that your existing furniture will fit. Downsizing includes both big furniture items and smaller things, so you might want to ‘purge before you pack’. Moving can be very expensive, so the less you have to move, the better in the long run.

6. Moving Day Kit

Our favourite moving tip is to prepare a moving day kit. Organise a bunch of things you use every day and pop them into a box to keep separate on moving day. This will save you rummaging through boxes on that first night or morning looking for toilet paper or toothpaste before everything is unpacked. Think ahead to what you will need within easy reach. Pack some toiletries, clothes, coffee, trash bags, paper towel and cleaning products. This will make the first few nights a bit smoother.

7. Allow Extra Time

Despite doing your best to organise a flawless moving plan, there is always the possibility of a hiccup with the moving company, inclement weather or something else. Allowing extra time lets you prepare for inevitable mishaps and minimises future stress. Aim to have the majority of your belongings packed a few days before the movers arrive, and enlist the help of friends and family where you can.

8. Master Packing List/Inventory

When packing up your belongings, write a master packing list and keep it in your moving file. Number each box as you pack it and make a note on your list. Some people prefer not to list the contents of the box on the outside, particularly if it contains valuables. You can write a note of what’s in the box on your master list instead. That way you’ll know when you arrive at the new place which numbered boxes will need to be unpacked in particular rooms, and you’ll waste less time searching for things later.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: The opinions and advice expressed on this site are for reference purpose only. The users should make all the necessary checks about their feasibility before implementing them. This site does not warrant any accuracy of information and does not make any claims in this regard.