Our homes are, according to rumours, our biggest investments and also our ‘castles’. It’s true that we invest large amounts of money in them and they’re also a huge emotional investment. Little wonder then that moving is considered to be one of the more stressful times in our lives. So how do you ‘manage’ a successful move? Planning ahead is one of the most important factors and here are some ideas on how to plan each step.
Pre-Move Planning
- Hold a garage or car boot sale; having a good clear out will make the whole process easier and cheaper. The proceeds may even fund the removal firm, in part at least.
- Make a list; some of us love lists, others hate them, but listing what needs to be packed and when will mean you limit the ‘headless chicken’ approach on moving day itself.
- Work out how many boxes for moving you’ll need and get these well in advance. They’ll normally come flat packed and can be stored easily. For strength use corrugated boxes and consider different sized boxes to make life easier.
- Have plenty of cushioning for delicate items; this can be old newspaper or bubble wrap for extra delicate items. If you have large boxes don’t overfill them and make them impossible to lift without a forklift.
- Contact your insurance provider and make sure your contents insurance covers the move.
Detailed Packing
- You’ll need a box full of essential stuff for the move day itself. This should include a range of things like tea, coffee, snacks and a kettle! Nappies and or/baby food should also be to hand if necessary.
- Consider an overnight back for all family members, with appropriate stuff (including favourite teddies) and any medication for individuals.
- Don’t do your laundry on the day before you move. Ensure all laundry is dry as it won’t come to any good being packed damp and left to go mouldy!
Organisational Methods
- Try to ensure there’s a reasonable amount of time between exchange and completion on your new home to give you time to pack.
- Work on one room at a time and plan your packing sensibly. Heavy items need to be in smaller boxes and large boxes can be filled with lighter possessions. Label everything and clearly mark fragile boxes.
- Try to keep boxes in relevant rooms. This means that despite the removal firm’s best efforts, things will come out of the box in some semblance of order!
- Have a take-out menu to hand for your new area; nobody should have to cook on moving day!
Although moving home is inevitably going to be stressful, planning ahead helps. Have plenty of boxes for moving to hand and pack carefully, in advance.