Moving house is stressful. I should know, I’ve moved house about 8 times in my lifetime. Which is strange to me be growing up I lived in the same house. My parents still live there now. I didn’t think I’d be the type of person that moved house a lot, but I guess that’s what happens in life when you go to university, live with friends and eventually settle. I don’t know why I thought I’d be able to buy a house at 21 and live there forever! I guess I had no concept of house prices. My parent’s house cost £2000 when they bought it about a million years ago. How nuts is that? 3-bed semi-detached for £2k. I wish!
Anyway, back to the point. Moving house is stressful, so here are some tips to make it a little less stressful!
Pack in advance.
Have a look around the room you are in. Most of the things aren’t actually things you need every day. Set aside a corner in a room in your house to stack up boxes and start packing things you don’t need. Games, clothes you don’t wear much, books, DVDs. Get it packed and ready to go in case you run out of time closer to the date.
Get a man in a van.
There are lots of companies out there that offer moving services, such as Bekins Moving Solutions. They help load and unload the van which makes the actual move quicker and less stressful.
Consider your current furniture.
Moving home opens up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to how you want to style and decorate your house. If you have lots of furniture already, it’s a good idea to consider what you are going to do with it before your moving day. If you don’t plan on keeping that wardrobe in the spare bedroom, it’s better to get rid of it before you move rather than waste the space in the van moving it about.
You could look up a buy furniture warehouse where you can sell it online or to a store and earn some money for your new home. You could also donate it to a charity or even upcycle it if it’s not the style you want in your new home. Pinterest is my go-to for anything creative, homely and DIY!
Have essentials easy to access.
When you’ve moved house, things don’t always go to timescales or plan. If you have just finished unloading everything and look at the clock to see it’s 8 pm, the thought of rummaging through boxes to find what you need might fill you with dread.
Have a bag or box of things that have everything you need for your first night:
- Bedding
- PJs
- Clean clothes
- Towels/toiletries
- Cup/wine glass
- Plate/knife and fork
- Medication
Then you can just chill out on your first evening in your new home!
Get to know the area.
If you’ve not already done your research, spend a bit of time on Google maps just to familiarise yourself with some of the things you might need to easily find. A local shop to grab some milk, local post office to collect any missed parcels and local parks if you have a dog.
Treat yourself!
Moving house is a stressful time so don’t forget to treat yourself and give yourself something to look forward to when you move in. This could be as big and small as you like. On the first night in our house, my boyfriend and I got a Chinese and opened an expensive bottle of whiskey it had been saving for a special occasion.
You treat could be anything, from an Anthony Expresso machine to a brand new set of wine glasses. As long as it’s something you can enjoy in your new home!
Having an easy access to essential is always important! Great tips. Last time I moved house I ended up in the hospital. It wasn’t directly related to the move, but I’m sure stress had its part in it. I read somewhere that moving house is one of the most stressful things we can do. So, your tips are more than welcome.