Moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do. Thankfully, there are ways of eliminating any hassle and making the process simpler. If you’re preparing to move, bear these handy tips in mind.
Get organized
If you’ve got a moving date, start planning as early as possible. Leaving everything to the last minute is never a good idea, especially when moving home. Draw up a list of everything you need to do in the coming weeks and work through it.
Start packing in advance. If you’re not hiring a removals firm, you’ll need time to pack up your possessions and label boxes.
Book time off work to give yourself time to get sorted before you move. The last thing you want is to be stressing out about getting everything done.
Packing tips
When it comes to packing, there are various options. You can hire a firm to do it all for you. You can go it alone. Or you can call favors from friends and family. Packing is time-consuming. You always end up having much more stuff than you first thought.
If you’re doing the packing, start with items you know you won’t need before you move. If it’s the depths of winter, you won’t be needing shorts and swimwear and vice versa. Make sure you label your boxes clearly. Anything fragile should be handled carefully. Mark each box with the room name. This will save you time at the other end. As your moving date gets closer, you can continue to pack things you no longer need.
When you’re going through your possessions, it’s a good idea to get rid of anything you don’t want. Moving house is an ideal time to declutter and have a wardrobe cleanse. Make a pile for a charity shop if you have clothes, DVDs or books you don’t want to keep.
Before you hand over the keys
Before you leave, it’s a good idea to hire professional cleaners to give your house or flat a thorough clean. Nobody wants to move into a dirty home, and you may lose your deposit if you leave a rental untidy. Look into apartment cleaning services in your local area. Once you’ve moved your boxes out, the cleaners can come in and ensure the property is sparkling. This will save you time when you’ve probably got lots of other things on your to-do list.
It’s always a good idea to pack an overnight bag for the first couple of days in your new home. This means that you don’t have to tackle the pile of boxes as soon as you set foot in your new place. Take pajamas, a change of clothes, underwear and toiletries. You may also wish to do a quick food shop so that you have teabags, coffee, bread and milk to hand.
The moving process
When you’re moving, the easiest thing to do is hire a removals firm. You can choose a comprehensive service, which includes everything. Or, simply hire somebody to move your furniture and boxes from A to B. If you’re looking to save money or you don’t have much stuff, you could hire a van. It may also be worth asking around to see if friends and family are on hand to help you load and unload. Take care when lifting heavy items. You may need to use a trolley.
Unpacking and getting settled in your new home
If you’ve taken time off work, it’s wise to tackle unpacking as soon as you’ve recovered from the move. Start with essentials like kitchen paraphernalia and clothing. Take each box to its intended location and put everything away. Fold down the boxes and store them in the attic or return them to the removals firm.
Once you’ve unpacked everything, you can think about making your new house or apartment a home. You may want to do some DIY or decorating, so look out for ideas online and in magazines. Take a trip to a home store and buy some accessories to create a homely atmosphere. Lamps, vases, cushions and throws are a good place to start.
If you’re moving, you may be dreading the thought of spending hours packing and moving heavy boxes. Moving house is not top of most people’s favorite things to do. But it does mean that exciting times are ahead. If you follow these steps, you’ll find that moving isn’t all that bad. Get organized, ask for help and save yourself time on arduous tasks, like cleaning. Try and get sorted in your new home as quickly as possible. You’ll be happy and settled before you know it.
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