Ad. Moving home is considered one of the most stressful events in life but it doesn’t have to be. The more organized you are for your move, the less can go wrong. However, planning a move can take months so it does depend on how much time you’ve left yourself.
Whether you’re moving home for the first time or you’re a veteran, everyone can use some tips that can make the process easier. Take a look at these simple steps for making your house move as pleasant as it can be.
Give Notice
If you’re living in a renting apartment or house, you’ll need to give your landlord notice. It’s important to check how much notice your landlord requires before you move. This can vary widely among landlords, ranging from one week to three months.
Work out what you owe to your landlord when you give notice so your landlord can confirm your remaining balance. If you’re moving across the country or moving to a different country, you’ll also need to give notice at your job.
Check your notice time with your employer so give yourself enough time to work your notice and have some spare time for how busy you’ll be before your move.
Start to Declutter
Sorting through your possessions to pack away can be one of the most overwhelming parts of moving home. It’s often much better to do it in stages and you can start by decluttering. Go through each room at a time and pull everything out of drawers, cupboards, or other storage spots.
Go through it all and throw away anything you don’t want anymore. Unless it’s essential documentation or something sentimental, the rule of thumb should always be if you haven’t seen it in the last six months, you don’t need it. The more you can get rid of, the easier it will be to pack up when it’s time to go.
Consider Storage
When you go through your home, you may come across items that are too good to throw away but you can’t take with you. For instance, large items like dining room tables, beds, wardrobes, and more could be put into storage for a later date. Whether you get them to your new home or you sell them to someone else, storage always comes in handy.
Children and Animals
They say never work with children and animals for a good reason. Having said that, as long as your children and pets have what they need for your move, they needn’t be a problem. Make sure you apply for a new school for your children and register your pets with a new vet.
Moving can be emotionally difficult for children, especially if they leave friends and family behind. It’s important to discuss the move with your children and keep them involved in the process. Reassure them that all will be okay.
For your pets, you should have the right moving equipment so you can safely transfer them from one home to the other. Take familiar toys and blankets and make pit stops along the way if you need to.
Update Important Details
Before you change properties, people will need to know where to find you. It’s essential that you update these details. For instance, your bank, your doctor, and your dentist should all have your updated address as soon as it’s available.
It’s also important to update your home insurance details as soon as you can. Get cover for your home and contents before you move in so you’re covered should anything happen within your first few days of living there.
Plan Your Route
It’s easy to become so busy with the preparation that you forget to plan for moving day. Getting as much ready for moving day as possible will ensure you aren’t stressed on the day all this preparation has led to. If you’re unfamiliar with the route to your new home, you need to make a plan.
Many people have relied on SatNav only for it to let them down when they most need it. If technology fails you, you still need to know where you’re going. If you’re using a moving company, make sure they use the same route as you so you’re not arriving hours apart.
If you’re driving a long distance to your new home, it’s also worth getting your car checked before the journey. The last thing you need is for your car to break down when you’re moving home.
Pack Up
At least two weeks in advance, you should make a start on your packing. Start with things you know you can live without for that fortnight. For instance, you can pack up some of the clothes from your wardrobe, books, games, and ornaments.
As you come closer to moving day, start packing more. Label each box by room so the movers know where to put the boxes when they arrive at your new property. 48 hours before you leave, empty your fridge and freezer so it can defrost well before the move.
You should also pack a box to take in the car with you. This box should be full of essentials you’ll need when you arrive at your new home. This might include things like toiletries, food, change of clothes, and bedding so you can have a decent sleep on your first night.
If you have children and pets, you may also want to pack boxes for them. These may include toys, snacks, entertainment, and a night light for the children and food, bowls, leads, and blankets for your pets.
Prep Your Boxes
It can help if your boxes are moved downstairs the night before your move. Put as many boxes in the room closest to the front door as you can. The easier it is to access your boxes, the quicker it will be for the movers to load their vans.
If you can’t fit all the boxes in one room, have some people on hand to help you move boxes from one area to another. Instead of having people coming in and out, set up a line and pass the boxes down the line so no-one gets in anyone else’s way.
Call on Your Village
They say it takes a village to raise a child but it also takes a village to move home. If you can get help from family and friends, it will make the job much easier. If you’ve got young children, it may be best to ask someone to watch them while you do the moving and unpacking.
If you’ve got friends willing to help you unpack and put everything in its place, it will all be done quicker and you can start to settle in. If they’re able to, ask a few people to make some meals you can eat while you’re sorting things out.
It can take a while to get things up and running so you may not be able to cook for a few days. Once things are unpacked, remember to give your friends and family your new address.
Last Walkthrough
Before you head off on your new adventure, you’ll need to do a walkthrough of our old home. Check you haven’t left anything behind and check all the power points are switched off. Make sure to do meter readings if you need to and send them to your energy company so you’re paying the correct bill.
If the property has been your home for a while, you may want to spend some time saying goodbye. It can help you and your family to move on by leaving a gift for the new owners in the hope that they have as good a time in that house as you did.
Double Check
There are certain things you should double check before you set off. For example, you’ll need your phone to be charged ready for the move. Make sure that the boxes you intend to take in your car are clearly marked and separated from others.
Double check your route and confirm estimated arrival times with your moving company. If you’re traveling with young children, do one last toilet break before you go.
Relax
If you’ve done everything you can to be prepared for your house move, all you can do now is relax. Everything else is out of your hands. Take some time with your family and enjoy eachothers company before moving day arrives.
Eat out at your favorite local restaurant and head back home for the last time. Getting a good night’s rest is essential. Go to bed early and get as much sleep as you can so everyone is refreshed for the morning.
Don’t Panic
Lastly, don’t panic if anything goes wrong. House moves very rarely run perfectly but most things that tend to go wrong can be easily rectified. Try and enjoy the adventure of moving so you can look back on fond memories.
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