words Alexa Wang
If you’re about to move house, you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. Excitement at the prospect of starting afresh in a new home, and trepidation at the thought of all the work involved in packing up your belongings and making the move.
But don’t worry – there are plenty of things you can do to make the process of moving house go as smoothly as possible. With a bit of advance planning and some organisation, you can minimise the stress and make sure everything goes off without a hitch.
Here are our top tips for moving house:
Hire a van
One of the first things you’ll need to do when you’re moving house is hire a van. If you’re only moving a few items, you might be able to get away with using your own car, but if you have a lot of belongings, or large pieces of furniture, you’ll need to rent a van.
When hiring a van, make sure to get one that’s big enough to fit everything you need to move. You also need to consider getting van insurance from somewhere like one sure insurance just in case of any accidents during the move.
Getting professional home and office movers to do the job might also be a good idea. Firstly, they have the right equipment to move your stuff safely and efficiently. Secondly, you can be assured that everything will be transported safely if accidents do happen.
Pack early
One of the best ways to make moving house less stressful is to start packing early. This way, you won’t have to do everything at the last minute, and you’ll have time to pack properly.
Start by packing up any items you don’t use on a daily basis, such as out-of-season clothes, books, and knick-knacks. You can also pack up non-essentials such as curtains and rugs, with enough time to give them a good clean before moving day.
Get rid of things you don’t need
When you’re packing for a move, it’s a good opportunity to get rid of anything you don’t need or want anymore. If you haven’t used something in the past year, chances are you won’t miss it. So, donate it to charity or have a garage sale. This will lighten your load and make packing cheaper and easier.
Pack an essentials box
When you’re getting ready to move, pack an essentials box with everything you’ll need for the first few days in your new home. Include items such as toiletries, clothes, bedding, towels, and a kettle. This way, you won’t have to rummage through boxes looking for things you need. Nothing is worse than going to the toilet at the end of the day only to find that you’ve completely lost the loo roll!
Write a checklist
One of the best ways to stay organised during a move is to make a checklist of everything you need to do. Write down all the tasks you need to complete, such as packing, arranging utilities, and changing your address. This will help you keep track of everything and make sure nothing is forgotten, which is easily done, especially if you have kids…
Arrange utilities in advance
One of the tasks you’ll need to do before moving house is arrange for your utilities to be disconnected at your old home and connected at your new one. This can take a few days, so it’s best to do it in advance. Make sure to also notify your energy provider of your move date so they can send you a final bill. The last thing you want is to be charged for utilities in a house you no longer live in!
Update you address
Once you’ve moved into your new home, don’t forget to update your address with the relevant organisations. This includes your bank, doctor, and the electoral roll. You should also notify any companies that send you bills or statements so that they can update your records. Additionally, don’t forget to have your letters forwarded to your new address. You can do this online or by filling out a form at your local post office. This will ensure that you don’t miss any important bills or parcels.
Wrapping up
Whilst moving house can be a stressful experience, the tips above should help things go more smoothly. By packing early, getting rid of anything you don’t need, and making a moving checklist, amongst other things, you can help reduce the stress of moving house. So don’t delay, start packing today!
