Moving house is a big deal. You have probably spent hours debating whether you should do it, drawing up lists of pros and cons, before viewing a countless number of houses to find the perfect one for you and your family. That does not even begin to cover the time spent with lawyers and surveyors and mortgage advisors, making sure that the financial and legal side of it is all covered. Once you have that moving date ready, it is like a big sigh of relief. It has all been confirmed, and it is all really happening. However, it is also when the hard work really starts.
There are so many things to organize and sort out when moving home, and it is important to be on the ball at all times. If you are looking around at your home and thinking ‘where do I start?’, fear not, because here, we have put together some tips to help your house move go as smoothly and as trouble-free as possible. Ready? Let’s go!
Declutter
Before you start doing any packing, the first thing that you need to do is declutter. There is no point in taking all the stuff that you no longer need or want with you – it takes up extra space and is just something else to deal with at the other end. Hire a skip and spend a few days sorting out all of those cupboards, garages, and attics.
If you find it hard to let go of things, try applying the Kon Mari method: only keep if it is useful or if it brings you joy. If it is broken or unusable, throw it responsibly. If it is still in good condition and someone else can get some use out of it, take it to a charity shop or sell it on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist.
Start packing – carefully
Packing is the bit we all hate, but if you do it methodically, it can be quite straightforward. Before you start, make sure that you have everything that you need – boxes of all sizes, bubble wrap, or other materials to protect anything delicate, strong packing tape, scissors, and a marker pen.
Start off with the garage, attic or basement, and pack away anything that you definitely will not be using – perhaps seasonal items such as Christmas decorations. Label each box with a rough idea of the contents of what room they are going to go into in the new house so that your movers can take it straight there.
Work your way through the house, room by room, cupboard by cupboard, drawer by drawer, labeling every box, and bag carefully. Even if you think you have had a big declutter, if you come across anything unneeded, get rid at this point – you will thank yourself for it at the other end.
Do not forget to pack a ‘first night box.’ This should contain everything that you need to get through the first day and night in your new home. It may be things such as:
- Tea and coffee making equipment
- Change of clothes and nightclothes for everyone
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Medication
- Soap
- Toilet roll
- Hand towel for the bathroom
This box should be the very last thing to go onto the removal truck, or even come with you in your car so that you know exactly where it is. You may also want to keep out a selection of basic cleaning supplies in case your new house needs a quick once over.
Organize
There are so many things that you need to put into place and organize. First things first, you need to book the Top rated movers. Having one that you trust and has good reviews is essential – they are carrying some of your most precious belongings!
You also need to make sure that you call up and make sure that your utility providers are aware of your moving date so that they can stop billing you at your old address and turn it on at your new address. This also goes for any telephone lines and cable packages that you may have.
You also need to change the address on your driving license and arrange new doctors, dentists and let all of your insurance companies know. You may also want to consider signing up for a mail redirection service.
Be aware of the little things
So, now you have packed, you have let everyone know where you are going and arranged for things to be switched on and off on a particular date. Now it is time to give everything a once over and check that there is nothing that you have missed.
As you walk around your home on moving day, leave cupboard doors and drawers open. It means that you and other people in your house will spot anything that has been left behind.
The chances are, you have lost or got rid of the instruction manuals for furniture that you have disassembled for the move. Before you take it apart, take photos to remind you of how it goes back together.
On moving day
This is likely to be a long and tiring day, so make sure you get a good night’s sleep the night before and have a decent breakfast before you make a start. Book your removal van for early as possible so you can make the most of the day.
Your removers should know how to pack a truck efficiently, but if you are doing it yourself, pack the larger items of furniture such as sofas and beds last, so they can be first off the truck and straight into the appropriate room in the new house.
Above all, relax as much as possible. Things will go wrong at times; it’s inevitable, but dealing with them calmly will make the whole process a lot less stressful, and you can start to enjoy life in your new home.
