Good planning is the key to success when it comes to moving house. The more time you have to prepare, the easier it will be. Packing, switching essential services, leaving your current house presentable and getting your new home ready for move-in will all take time.
As you prepare for your move, you’ll have to decide whether to move your possessions yourself or hire removalists to do it for you.
Give yourself enough time to get everything done. Moving house is stressful even in the best of situations, so don’t cause yourself undue frustration by leaving anything until the last minute.
Here are some tips, tricks and hacks for a well-executed relocation:
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Make a Master List
Making a master list of everything that needs to be done before moving day will help you to feel in control of the situation. After you’ve created a master list, you can add additional items as you remember them or add details to the main points of your list.Get a notebook with pockets and use it to store your master list and all documents related to the move. You can use the notebook to jot down names, phone numbers and other move-related details.The notebook will keep your relocation information safe, easily accessible and all in one place. You can modify or update the plan if new information becomes available.
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Have a Garage or Yard Sale
When moving house, you are likely to encounter a fair amount of clutter that you’ve accumulated throughout your stay. There’s no reason to move random items that you never use. On the other hand, you don’t want to throw away perfectly good things, either.The solution is to host a yard sale, and sell everything on the cheap. Garage sales can net you a tidy sum which you can spend on snatch-and-grab before and after the move.
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Organise Your Packing
Resist the urge to pack your things in a pell-mell manner just to get the job out of the way. Although it will speed up the packing process considerably, it can make the unpacking process a nightmare. Instead, make a master list. Use the sections below for inspiration:
Infrequently Used Items
The first things to pack are those you don’t use very often. Holiday decorations, collectibles, off-season sports gear and most items stored in the attic, garage or basement can be packed up and ready to go well before the actual move takes place.
Specialty Items
Next, pack up specialty kitchenware and rarely used small appliances. That includes fine china and silver, the fondue pot, the spring form baking pan, the sausage grinder and anything else that you can temporarily live without.
Decorative Items
Home decor can be boxed up early. Your house might look bare without it, but you’ll be glad later that you got it done early. You can also pack small area rugs and extra towels, sheets and blankets. Any item that’s not essential for daily living should be bundled up now.
Entertainment Items
Pack games and toys that you can temporarily live without. Movies, puzzles and board games that you use infrequently can all be packaged ahead of time.
Electronic Gear
Electronic devices should be secured in boxes with lots of padding to keep them safe during transport. Keep one TV if you can’t live without it, and use your phone and tablet for routine internet access.
Personal Items
Box up clothing and nonessential toiletries. Leave out only what you need. On moving day, you can put your essentials in a special box to unpack first at your new location.
Kitchen Gear
Kitchenware can be packaged up the week of your move. If possible, eat snatch-and-grab for the last few days. Keep some bread, fruit, chips and peanut butter handy, and use paper plates and plastic utensils.
Fresh and Frozen Food
If you want to avoid moving all your frozen and refrigerated food, make a plan to eat up your supply before you depart. However, take enough to make a few meals in your new home.
Takeout can get tiresome after a week, and you won’t have to deal with grocery shopping for another few days.
Essential Items and Pet Gear
On the day of your removal, box up essential toiletries, remaining toys and pet supplies. Each box should be clearly labeled. Have your removalists place boxes in the rooms where their contents will be used.
When everything is packed and ready to go, perform a final walk-through and inspection to ensure that nothing is left behind and that the dwelling is completely vacated.
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Transfer Essential Services
Cable TV, electricity, gas, water and trash removal services should all be terminated at your present address and transferred to your new location. You can schedule the switch as soon as you know your removal date. When you arrive at your new destination, all of your services will be up and running.
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Prepare Your New Home
Schedule a visit to your new home one week before your move-in date to ensure that things are as they should be. You might need to clean the house or even perform repairs prior to moving in. It’s also a good idea to decide whether you want to purchase new furniture to better suit your new location. If so, you can schedule the delivery a day or two before your moving date. Finally, keep in mind that moving house is not something you have to face alone. Giraffe Removals can do all the heavy lifting for you, get a free instant quote today.
