Somebody once said that moving house can be one of the most stressful experiences you can find. This is hard to imagine if you just think how excited you normally are when you think of the prospect of decorating your new living and sleeping space. It is even hard to fall asleep at night because of all the excitement! But as you come closer to the actual move, you suddenly end up with a lot of important things that still needs to be done before you can enjoy your first night in your new pad. I think that this is probably where a lot of the said stress originates from. Only with careful planning and some careful goal setting will you be able to avoid any stress and unnecessary unpleasant experiences. Here are some tips on planning and executing your big move: Get proper boxes, not too big though, as you might end up having to carry them by yourself. Lots of smaller boxes make more sense (also in the loading process) than only a few gigantic boxes. Start packing weeks before the big move. Throw away or sell stuff that you did not use during the last year. Also mark and seal the boxes properly. Take down and bubble wrap your paintings and other decorations. Do not wait too long before starting this process, as starting in good time gives you the opportunity to patch up some ugly nail marks on the walls. Wash your extra linen before packing them, this way you will have fresh stock when you arrive at your new place. When you pack your medicine cabinet, check expiry dates on pills, tablets and syrups and send them down the toilet if expired. Buy paper plates and use as few as possible other cutlery the last few days before the move, that way you can pack the bulk of your kitchen stuff together and clean the cupboards on time. Arrange and confirm with the moving company way ahead of time. You might also want to shop around and get quotations from smaller local contractors. You might also consider renting a truck or trailer and do the move yourself, that might safe you a few bucks that will come in handy once you get to all those expenses you did not anticipate (such as pre-paid electricity and so forth). Just make sure about insurance matters. Talking about insurance, make sure that you notify them in writing about the change of address. Make sure you arrange where to drop your old keys and where and when to get the new set. Remember to inform your newspaper delivery boy and other services of the move. Tell your old neighbours where who can find you, don’t forget to greet them when the time come. Leave a few blankets and sleeping bags unpacked and take all your clothes (even hangers and all) and wrap them in one of these, this will shorten the time you pack and unpack tremendously. When your old house is empty, walk through it and make sure that it is as neat as possible. If you have sold it, make sure that everything specified as included in the sale has not been packed accidently. This can happen very easy, especially with swimming pool accessories. Mow the lawn a day or two before the move and leave paint cans in the garage in case the new owners want to use the very same colours. Plan your route carefully, both to save time and to deal with as little traffic as possible as your sight might be restricted by too many boxes. Load in such a way that you will unload the stuff you want to go into the house first, first from the truck and take it directly to their designated positions. Start with the furniture in the furthest rooms first, this will ensure that there is nothing in your way when walking backwards with something heavy in your hands. The quicker you can place something on its position, the more time you will safe. For safety, dispose of all boxes – especially ones with electronic device names printed on them as soon as possible. Do not leave them in the garage or on the pavement, it is an invitation to be robbed. If you do not use professional movers, make sure that you know who you are paying to help you move. Break the ice and make an effort to meet your neighbours the moment you see them. Once in, do not start changing the layout of the garden or the house straight away, stay for a while, there might be reasons for the previous owner using the plants or layout the way that he/she did. Yes, moving is stressful, but it is also a new beginning and a lot of promise, embrace it and take a lot of before and after pictures. |