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How to Make Moving Home Easier – Part 1
Have a stress-free moving experience with these useful tips from Gemma Bray. Stay tuned for part two!
Moving to a new house can be an exciting time but it can also be stressful!
To help things run as smoothly as possible, I have compiled a list of top tips to help make moving home much more manageable.
Most of us will only move home a handful of times, so when that time rolls around it can seem like a daunting task. I put my head together and pooled my knowledge with other TeamTOMM members to share our need to know moving tips. Some of them are genius!
In this article we are going to focus on what you can do in the run up to moving day. Be sure to look out for part-two which will have you covered for what to do on when the big day arrives.
Tip 1: Start packing as soon as possible
Start packing as soon as possible. You will have more stuff than you realise, and it always takes longer than you think. It is far better to do smaller amounts regularly than have a big push over a shorter period. Your stress levels will be down whilst your motivation levels remain high.
Tip 2: Tackle the most cluttered spaces first
If you are stuck for a place to start, then begin with the garage/shed or loft. These are usually the places that hold the most clutter and most of the items will probably not be in regular use, so it makes sense to start here.
Tip 3: Declutter now!
Declutter now! And be ruthless as you pack. If you pack absolutely everything that you own, then you will transfer the clutter to your new home. Not only is this a waste of time but also a huge waste of space. Make sure that plan time to take things to the rubbish dump/recycling centre or list on selling sites.
Tip 4: Take it 1 room at a time
When it is time to tackle the individual rooms in your home, make sure you take it one room at a time. Prevent the process from becoming overwhelming by starting with everything that is not used regularly (e.g. photo frames and decorative items). If it helps, visualise packing up your home as a pyramid with the top being things that are generally used annually (i.e. Christmas decorations). Start with these and work your way down. The bottom of the pyramid will be items you use daily (your kettle, for example). There’s a method to this madness; cups of tea are essential to keep your spirits up on moving day!
Tip 5: Don't overpack
Do not make the mistake of overpacking your boxes; this will make them too heavy and impossible to move. It is much better to use small and medium sized boxes that can be lifted and transported easily rather than opting for fewer, larger boxes
Tip 6: Colour code your boxes
As you pack your boxes make sure you only fill them with items for that particular room. Use a colour coded system. Colour code your boxes per room. This way it is much easier to see where a particular box belongs by glancing at the colour of the stickers. When you arrive at your destination, put a sticker with the matching colour on the doors of the rooms.
Tip 7: Don't empty all of the drawers
Don’t fall into the trap of emptying all of the drawers. Declutter each draw, take the drawer out of the frame and transport them as they are. This will save a lot of time!
Tip 8: Don't pack items from different rooms together
If you have box that is half empty but have finished packing that room, do not then take that box and start to fill it with items from a different room. Seal the box and start a fresh box for a new room, otherwise you will be left with boxes containing items from lots of different rooms and you will lose track of things.
Tip 9: Don't store clothes in black bin liners
Don’t store clothes in black bin liners, it is too easy for someone to mistake these as rubbish and throw them away. When packing up the contents of your wardrobes try and use wardrobe boxes, these will allow you to keep everything on hangers.
Tip 10: Store loose screws in a small plastic bag
When dismantling furniture put the nails and screws in a small plastic bag and tape this to the unit. It is also a good idea to take photos as you dismantle anything complicated, this will make it much easier to put together again.
Tip 11: Cover your mattresses
Make sure that all your mattresses are covered to stop them getting dirty in transit. Two old fitted sheets on either side of the mattress are a great way to do this.
Tip 12: Pack an essentials box
When you are about to leave your old house for the final time, make sure that you take an ‘essentials’ box with you in the car for the stuff that you will need straight away. This can include: toilet rolls, phone chargers, lightbulbs, cleaning products, your kettle, tea bags, milk, teaspoons, soap, dishcloth and tea towel.
Tip 13: Take meter readings
As your very last job, take your meter readings. It is also a good idea to take a photo of them with your phone too (in case of any queries).
