If you’ve recently confirmed that you’re moving home then congratulations! Moving to a house is a daunting but satisfying experience, especially if you’re upgrading your home to something new or if it’s the very first home you’ve purchased.
However, when it comes to moving home, there are far too many factors and complications involved to make it a one-person job. In fact, you’re probably going to have to rely on your friends and family members at some point to give you a hand. You might even consider hiring a mover to assist with everything.
So here are a couple of tips to help you stay organized when you’re moving home so that it doesn’t become a nightmare.
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Decide on the date that you’re going to move
If possible, decide on the date that you’re going to hand over the keys and say goodbye to your existing home. This is something that can be extremely simple if your landlord or the property buyer is easy to work with, but can also be a complete pain if they’re uncooperative or hard to reach.
However, if you don’t settle on a date then it’s going to complicate things later in the future. As such, this should generally be the very first step you take.
Get in touch with movers as soon as you can
While you can certainly move home with friends and family members helping, we’d actually suggest that you just rely on a professional. Hiring local movers isn’t as expensive as you might think and they usually arrive with a huge truck or van that will help you move all of your stuff.
They’ll also provide you with advice and assistance to make the move a lot smoother especially if they’re a reputable company.
Of course, if you have plenty of connections and your friends and family members are willing to, you could do it yourself. However, having a professional guide you will make things a lot easier.
Start cutting down on clutter
You should also start decluttering your home in preparation for your move. Get rid of anything that you don’t need, start packing things away in boxes and keep all of your stuff organized with labels. This will make things a lot easier when it comes to moving day because you’ll know exactly where your stuff is and what boxes they’re in.
You can even make a bit of money by selling off anything that you don’t need. If you’ve built up a lot of clutter in the past then this is a great way to make the move pay for itself if you’re hiring a professional.
Have a plan for fragile or delicate items
Fragile items can be difficult to move because the truck or van will be constantly in motion and vibrating. You want to pay attention to your mover when it comes to fragile items so that you know how to pack them and keep the risk of them being damaged as low as possible. If you’re concerned about damage, then some movers offer insurance to give you peace of mind.
While packing fragile items like glass is fairly simple and well-documented, it’s important to have a plan for larger items that you want to keep in one piece during a move. This can include antique furniture, a large piano, or even something like a television if you don’t have the box or packaging materials it originally came in.
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Compile a list of numbers for services that you’ll need to cancel or move
Put together a list of numbers that you’ll need to call in order to cancel or move services. This can include your internet connection, utilities, and even your bank if you still receive paper statements. You might occasionally miss something so it’s always a good idea to write these down in a notebook to keep track of them.
Put together a calendar for moving
One of the best ways to stay organized during a move is to have a moving calendar. This basically involves listing all of the things that you need to do on specific days and the large objectives that you need to accomplish. For example, the first day of your moving journey could involve packing away your study and entertainment stuff. The second day could involve packing away clothes, and the third day might involve phoning various services to cancel utilities.
This is a great way to keep track of all the things you need to do for your move and will help you stay as organized as possible.
Decide if you’ll need to take some time off work
If you need to take some time off work for your move then it’s best to let your employer know as soon as possible. It can be difficult to decide exactly how much time you’ll need to move and settle into your new place, but we suggest adding an extra day if possible so that you have time to relax and get acclimated to your new place after unpacking.
We suggest using your moving calendar to help you decide exactly how much time it’s going to take for you to move so you can get an accurate estimate of how many days you need to take off.
Let your friends and family members know about the move (if you want to)
Lastly, let your friends and family members know that you've moved if you want them to know. We understand that some people like to move in secret and only let their friends and family members know at the last minute, so it’s completely up to you when you decide to break the news.
However, your friends and family members might want to come for a housewarming party, so it’s always a nice idea to contact them in advance so they can schedule some time off for the big day. You can also let your friends and family members know about your move if you’re looking to ask them for help.
