Moving to a new house is one of the most stressful activities we all have to go through, right beside standing in a queue at a Home Affairs office or trying to renew your license at the traffic department. Not only is the prospect of it exhausting, but any seasoned mover knows you still end up with dozens of unpacked boxes and post-marathon running levels of exhaustion after the move is over. Here are five tips to make the whole moving process easier to survive:
1. However, long you think it will take, double it
We all have unrealistic but optimistic ideas in our heads that the packing process won’t take all that long, and we can put it off another day or two. Come moving day, and suddenly you discover you are a secret hoarder, as you uncover items of clothing and appliances you’ve forgotten you owned. What seems like just a small bedroom with one closet suddenly becomes four or five big boxes of packing, making the whole process a lot more stressful and more time-consuming than you thought. To be safe, give yourself ample amounts of extra time to get it all done because there will almost always be more work you weren’t expecting.
2. Declutter
Weeks before you start packing, begin throwing away all the white elephants and unnecessary items you have in your home. The best rule of thumb is; if you haven’t used or worn it in the past six months, chances are you’re not going to in future, so get rid of it! Take on one room at a time and simplify your living space, so that you won’t be wading through hordes of random stuff on the day of packing.
3. Plan ahead
Life is manic busy, and we mostly deal with things as they happen, but if you want to avoid sprouting grey hairs overnight, take some time to plan your move. Get boxes well in advance, get lots of tape, stickers, markers, and bubble wrap. When packing, categorise your items and write down what’s inside each box by sticking a list of contents on each one.
4. Get your moving arrangements in order
If you’re planning on using a moving company, call around and get some quotes, then secure a booking date so that you know you won’t be left stranded on moving day. If you’re moving yourself or calling in the help of friends, make sure everyone has the date marked in their diaries so that you will have transport ready to go when you are.
5. Be prepared for the cleaning work
You can only give your home or apartment a proper cleaning once everything has been moved out of the rooms, so keep in mind that you’ll need a day or two after you’ve relocated all your things to get your old place looking shiny and new again. If you’re getting cleaners to help you with this, again, plan and book them well in advance. If you’re doing it yourself, get all your cleaning materials ready and, if you’re lucky, get your friends to help out with the touch-up and cleaning work.
Now you know what to look out for. The most important basic rule of thumb: plan ahead.
Good luck with your move.