Moving house can be exciting – setting up in a brand new place, where you can make fresh memories, what fun! But, it can also become quite boring when you have to think about decluttering, packing, and organizing the move.
Whether you are a first-time mover or are more familiar with moving, this is certain: the sooner you start, and the better you plan, the easier your move will be. We compiled a list of 10 moving hacks that will give you a stable start in preparation for moving day.
The first thing that you’ll want to do is create a moving checklist of all the things that need to be done before, during, and after your move. You should also compile a moving folder with contracts, receipts, and any other important documents you’ll need that will help you smooth out any issues that arise during the entire process.
Moving is as costly as it is involved. Take note of all the services you’ll need for your move, such as insurance, storage, travel expenses, and removalists, as well as other expenses like packing materials and utility connections for your new home. You’re going to want a clear picture of how much you’ll spend on the move. This can help you plan financially and reduce any shocks or delays when it’s time to pay for moving costs.
Moving is messy, and important documents that aren’t filed properly could easily get lost or damaged during your move. Make sure that you keep your passports, IDs, certificates, and any other document that are difficult to replace in a safe place. Having your essential paperwork in a folder will save you a lot of time and trouble trying to find them when there are a bunch of boxes in your way.
While you’re at it, you might also want to look into backing up your data. Anything can happen to goods in transit, including damage to computers with vital information. Make sure you back up your data to hard drives or cloud storage just in case.
Sure, you’re going to need to box up a bedroom and make sure all your prized possessions are packed safely, but moving isn’t only about your things. There is a lot of tedious administrative work that you’ll need to do as well.
To avoid dealing with a migraine and a mound of paperwork when you actually start moving, you’ll want to start canceling the subscriptions that you don’t need anymore which are linked to your current address. You should also make sure to transfer any other essential service providers such as your bank, utilities, and mail subscription to your new address.
Intensively declutter your home as soon as you can, this makes moving easier. When moving day comes, you’ll have less stuff to worry about, and you’d have gotten rid of all the junk already.
Most of the things that you own, you may not need anyway. Use the months or weeks before moving day to scrap, sell, or donate all the clothes, tools, appliances, and other things that you don’t use.
After sorting out what you’re keeping and what you’re kicking out, you can comfortably make a moving inventory. Make a full and detailed list of all the items you’re taking with you. For each item, note down their quantity, estimated value, distinctive features, destination room, and condition they are in. Your inventory will help you determine if you’ll need specialty movers, estimate insurance and removal costs, as well as help you keep track of your things.
For valuable items, you’ll want to get either appraisal statements or quality certificates, file their warranties, and take photos. If you’re using removalists, this is key for insurance purposes in case claims have to be made in the incidence of loss or damage.
Clear out your freezer and fridge as soon as possible. The weeks before your move is time to let go of all the frozen goodies you’d been keeping. As for your fridge, eat what you can, chuck what you can’t, and make sure you leave nothing behind.
You’ll want to let your fridge properly dry for a few days before moving to avoid the buildup of mold and foul smells – especially for a long-distance move. As your moving day approaches, try not to stock up the fridge and buy or prepare more immediately consumable groceries and meals.
Do you think moving is stressful? Your pets would agree. The hustle and bustle of a big move will agitate your pets, not to mention the adjustments they’ll have to make in a new environment when you’re settled in your new home.
It’s best to keep them out of the way during moving day and bring them back once you’ve settled. You can either arrange a pet sitter to take care of them during this time or drop them off at a kennel or cattery while you sort things out.
Create a clear plan for how you’re going to pack up. Make sure you don’t mix up items from different rooms in the same boxes, create a thorough and detailed labeling system so that things go into the right boxes, and you can easily unpack them when settling in.
You might also want to try setting up a packing station for a cleaner pack-up. Bring together all your packing supplies like boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers, stickers, bags, and anything else. Make a dedicated space in your home for packing, it could be your dining room table or some space in your living room, this way all your supplies are in one place, and you’ll know where to go when you need something. Use this space to label and tape boxes and set them aside, ready for moving, so they’re not in anyone’s way.
It’s always best to be prepared for any eventuality during a big move. For an easier first night in a new home, make sure you pack a bag of essentials – water, snacks, chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, and anything else you’ll need. To avoid extra spending on eating out during the first few days in your new home, you can set yourself up to prepare your own meals by setting aside some pots, plates, and a kettle.