Moving house can be incredibly stressful. From the second you decide that you're moving house to the day you finish unpacking, it's a busy and strenuous process. But there are a few things that you can do to make moving house a little easier.
The first thing to do is to know what order to work in. It can be daunting, trying to determine where to start - so here are some suggestions.
As soon as you know that you're moving, you should start going through what you own. Most people are surprised by how much stuff they have, and it is always worth making sure you actually want to keep all of it before you hire a removal company to lug it around! After all, the fewer items you have to pack, the easier the job and the fewer boxes it'll take!
Tackle this job one room at a time, and try to look at each object. Consider whether you've used it in the last few weeks or months, or whether it's just been sat collecting dust. Once you've collected a series of items that you no longer want, you then need to figure out what to do with them. You could always take part in a car boot sale or a garage sale, which will not only help you to remove your items but also give you the chance to make money off of them, too!
Now that you've decluttered, you can then see just how much stuff you need to pack, and this will make finding enough boxes easier. You may want to make an inventory list for each room. This will allow you to determine whether that room needs large boxes, smaller boxes, bubble wrap, etc., and will help you figure out whether anything is missing once you arrive at your new home.
Your home is now ready to pack! So what next?
Make a checklist of all the packing jobs you have to do. List every room in your home, as well as every cupboard, storage space, and outdoor space. Be specific. Don't just write 'upstairs cupboard' if there are lots of them, try 'cupboard by bedroom', 'airing cupboard', or 'bathroom cupboard', instead. A full list will enable you to prioritise your packing properly.
Find out more: The Ultimate Moving Checklist For Homeowners
Packing supplies are essential. Without them, moving house is near impossible. All too often, people underestimate the importance of having all the right materials and instead simply find flimsy boxes and hope for the best.
To avoid damaging your items, you should always make sure you have the following packing materials:
Make sure you have the labels or a Sharpie, too. It is always important to make sure you can label boxes.
Check out: Moving House How To Pack
If you've still got a while before you're actually moving house, you can start packing the rooms you don't use so much first. Rooms like your spare room, the attic, and perhaps even the garden tools if it's winter!
Prioritising accordingly will get these tasks out of the way, and you can store the moving boxes in the room you've packed, making the process much more stress-free when moving day comes. You can leave the rooms you use daily until later, for example, the kitchen. However, if there is stuff in there you do not use (say kitchen appliances like the slow cooker or dining room decorations, elaborate china plates that are reserved for fancy meals) these can be packed before the rest of the room.
If you're unsure which order, or how far in advance to pack the different areas of your home, a good general guide is:
For the days directly before and after your move, you're going to need an essentials box or suitcase. This should be packed as if you were going on a week-long mini-break or camping trip. It should include things like clothes, towels, toiletries, any medication, bedding, basic kitchen gear such as kitchen roll, Tupperware, clingfilm, food, tea or coffee
When you are packing breakable items, you should make sure to use the correct packing materials. This means utilising blankets, bubble wrap, and other softening materials in order to ensure that nothing gets broken.
When you're packing fragile items, you should use small boxes to limit the amount of movement available. This will help to protect your items during the moving process.
Dig deeper: How To Pack Fragile Items
Use plastic bags in order to keep liquids from spilling out onto your other belongings. You can use carrier bags, zip-lock bags, or even trash bags to protect your liquids! This makes a world of difference when it comes to packing toiletries.
As soon as you have a moving day in mind, you can hire a house removal service like Bear Couriers & Removals. Many removal companies book up quite quickly, so getting in there early is always a good idea!
Hiring a removal team makes your day stress-free. You simply let them take your belongings into the van, turn up at the new property, and allow them to unload the boxes again. No fretting about breakable items, or wearing yourself out carrying heavy boxes around. By using removal experts, you save your energy for unpacking, decorating, and settling into your new home.
You might also find that removal companies may offer packing tips and packing materials; many even sell boxes (from small boxes to large boxes that you know you can rely on) and some will even have storage solution suggestions should you need them!
Packing is only a part of the moving process. You will also need to do a series of tedious administrative tasks in order to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Most of these can be done in the week or so leading up to the move, but it's important to make sure you do them all otherwise you might find that your electricity isn't connected, or you get hit with a hefty council tax bill!
Some of the things you should consider include:
These are small tasks, but they will make the moving process significantly easier for you and everyone you live with! Set yourself a goal of one task a day over the course of the weeks leading up to the move and tick them off as you go.
Ready to move? Contact us now and get a free, no-obligation quote. Our team is ready to assist you with all your moving needs.
