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10 Tips for Making Moving House Less Stressful

Written by Posted On Thursday, 03 August 2017 03:30
10 Tips for Making Moving House Less Stressful

It’s generally accepted that moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do, and with all the logistics, organisational requirements, heavy lifting, paperwork, phonecalls and emotions involved, it’s easy to see why. But moving house doesn’t need to be quite as painful an experience as it often is, as with a little bit of prior planning and preparation you can take remove some of the stress and make the whole process as smooth as possible. So to help you with your next move, here are 10 tips for taking the pain out of moving:

  1. 1. Start early

Most of the time you will have a good 1-2 months to start planning and organising your move, and the earlier you start the smoother the process is likely to be. Avoid leaving things to the last minute - as tempting as it can be – and start with making a list of everything that needs to be done, from packing to dealing with service providers.

  1. 2. Think about logistics

There are numerous logistical considerations to moving house (particularly on the day itself), but thinking about these early can make things much easier to deal with. How many trips are you likely to make on the day? Who is going to be there? How are you getting between locations? Is your transport big enough for the larger items? Are you using a moving company? Where is everyone going to be on moving day? The more you think about these questions the better equipped you’ll be to deal with any unforeseen issues on the day, and the less likely you are to run into problems.

  1. 3. Think about transport and equipment

Although external moving companies are generally a good idea, many people opt to do the move themselves. This is perfectly doable, but you need to think a little more carefully about how you’re actually going to move everything. Is your chosen vehicle big enough to fit everything in one go? Or will you need to make several trips? How easy will it be to move items in and out of the vehicle? Do you need sack trolleys or similar items? You also need to think about the very biggest items in your home, and ensure your choice of moving vehicle will actually accommodate them, otherwise you could be left with a major problem come moving day.You may also need to think about whether or not you can actually drive your vehicle of choice on your current license, or whether you need a specific license for it. 

  1. 4. Think about purging

Moving house can be an excellent opportunity to evaluate your belongings, and perhaps cut down on some of the things you don’t need or use. This could be as simple as just shredding paperwork and throwing out old clothes or random items, or it could mean major trips to the dump or even selling stuff online. The more you can get rid of before you move, the easier it will be to pack (and unpack the other end) and move everything. Not only that, but cutting down on clutter and getting rid of a few things can be a surprisingly enjoyable and cathartic experience.

  1. 5. Keep external providers in the loop

There are numerous external companies you could use to help you move, from van rental companies to warehouse consultants, from moving firms to logistics specialists. Whoever you’re deciding to use, it’s important to keep them updated and informed about what you need. The more information they have, the better they are able to provide resources, vehicles, staff and equipment to meet your needs efficiently. For example, if you’re using a storage or warehousing company, let them know exactly what you need storing and for how long. Or if you’re hiring a moving company, ensure they know as much about what needs moving as possible, as they can then ensure they have the time, staff and equipment to deal with the job properly. Similarly, if you need items to be easily retrievable, such as prescription glasses, medication or paperwork, ensure they're clearly marked and your moving company knows that you'll need access to them quickly once they arrive at the new property. 

  1. 6. Buy your packing materials early on

Packing an entire home’s worth of belongings is no simple task, and it will inevitably require a lot of different materials. From boxes and packing tape to marker pens and bubble wrap, you’re going to need a lot of it and you don’t want to get to moving day to find you’re missing something. Get it in bulk (as it will be more cost effective) and as early as you can to ensure you’re organised and efficient when moving day arrives.

  1. 7. Label everything

Right from the beginning of the packing process, you should ensure you’re labelling everything you pack, including the items in every box, which room they’re for and whether or not they’re fragile. This will make it easier to organise and move, will make unpacking much more straight-forward and will ensure transportation is safe and efficient. It’s particularly important to note fragile items, so that you (or your moving company) knows to handle them with care, and not to put them under other heavy boxes.

  1. 8. Put together a moving day ‘kit’

It’s extremely common to find that you need something on the day of the move (or in the following days) only to find you’ve packed it and you’re not sure where it is. To avoid this, put together a small bag of essentials to see you through the day itself and the next few days afterwards. This might include things like toiletries, phone chargers, laptop, change of clothes, toilet paper, light bulbs, cleaning supplies, etc.

  1. 9. Protect your valuables

It might sound obvious, but you should put special care towards protecting anything that’s fragile or breakable. This might be as simple as wrapping plates in newspaper and bubble wrap, or using a specialist company to transport particularly valuable items such as expensive musical instruments, art or even classic cars.

  1. 10. Deal with services early on

Moving house comes with the inevitable headache of dealing with service providers, including gas, water, electricity, television, phone and internet. Ensure you let them know you’re moving and that the providers at the new property know you’ll be taking over the house. It’s also a good idea to get the essentials set up and working at your new house before you arrive, so you don’t have to deal with them on the day you move in. 

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David Johntson

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