Moving house is usually a little bit stressful. There’s always a huge to-do list, some things will inevitably go wrong, and emotions can run high.
You can’t plan for every eventuality and avoid stress completely. But there are some smart things you can do to make moving day run that little bit smoother and help the whole family transition into your new home.
So if you’re looking for some tips on how to make the big event a little easier on yourself, check out the list below for some useful ideas.
Start as early as possible
Moving house requires a lot of organization and it can be daunting. You may be tempted to leave your task-list to the last minute to save stretching the process out.
But no matter how much time you think you will need to get everything ready for the move, you are likely to need considerably more. So you will make your life a lot easier if you start early.
As soon as the move is confirmed, make a plan. Where are you going to start? What materials are you going to use? Who will you hire to help? Make sure everyone involved is prepped and ready and get to work as soon as you can.
Minimize your clutter
When packing up a home you’ve lived in for a while, you might be surprised by some of the belongings (and let’s face it – junk) that you’ve managed to collect. Do you really need to bring all this stuff with you? Probably not.
So first things first, donate or throw out anything that you don’t want (or need) in the new house. Start with the most cluttered areas – the loft, the garage, the basement – and be firm with yourself. Because you will be paying (in both in terms of time and money) for everything you pack up and put in the truck.
If you’ve got a lot of junk that you can’t donate or sell on, it’s sensible to hire a skip or dumpster as soon as you get to work. It can be expensive to get rid of certain materials and this way – all you have to do is get it all outside the house, into the dumpster, and ready to be taken away.
Once you’re rid of unwanted items, it’s time to get packing…
Organize like a pro
The trick to efficient packing (and unpacking) is planning and organization. There are a couple of key things to consider here.
First, write-up a room-by-room inventory of your items so you know exactly what you’re moving. Tick items off as you pack them and number your boxes in accordance with your inventory.
It is useful to label all of your boxes on each side. What room is this box destined for, what number is it on the inventory, and what (generally speaking) does it contain? This will make it quicker for you or your removal guys to get the boxes to the right spot.
Another top tip is to use colored tape for a quick visual queue as to which room the box is heading. Blue to the kitchen, red to bedroom 1, etc. And again – start early! This process always takes longer than you think it will.
Work with the professionals
You might have a reliable buddy with a truck who is more than happy to help on moving day.
But if you’re transporting anything more than a bedroom-full of furniture, you’ll save yourself a lot of stress by working with professional movers. And if you’re going to hire a team, go for the best: Most professional movers in Dallas.
It is recommended to research top professional moving companies, by checking their online moving quotes and comparing them. Pick one of them, whichever fits in your budget and suitable for you. The expertise of professional movers will make the whole process quicker, easier, and safer. It also means you won’t find yourself stuck in a stairwell with a wardrobe that looked a lot lighter twenty minutes ago.
Just be sure to meet with them early, let them know your plans, and do what you can to make their job easy.
Top tips for moving day
Once the big day arrives, everyone will be busy and distracted – this is when things tend to go wrong. So last but not least, here are a few quick ideas to help moving day work like clockwork:
- Hire a baby sitter (and a pet sitter!): kids and pets are very little help when it comes to moving house. But you can be sure they will get under someone’s feet, get up to mischief, or get lost. Book a sitter in advance.
- Pack an essentials bag: what are you going to need tonight, on your first night in an un-packed house? Pajamas, toothbrush, sleeping bag? Don’t get caught out.
- Keep Your Valuables Safe: important documents, IDs, keys, medication, laptops, jewelry – anything you want to keep an eye on, leave them with family or lock them somewhere safe. It’s so easy for things to get lost on moving day!
Leave a Reply