Don’t let moving become a stressful experience with these top tips.
For some the thought of moving fills them excitement but also stress. The prospect of securing your dream home or finally reaching onto the property ladder can be outweighed with the thought of packing up all your belongings and physically moving.
Whether you are fortunate enough to invest in professional movers or not, there are a few simple things to make your move as effortless as possible.
1. Spring clean.
There is no better time than now to have a spring clean and declutter. Take time to carefully go through each of your rooms to decide whether you still need that item. If you haven’t worn a pair of trousers for six months, it is unlikely that you will wear them again anytime soon. Don’t do this at the last minute as you may find yourself being too ruthless and regretting it later down the line. Be realistic and remember that it is better to have a clear out before you move rather than move everything and then realise at the other end that you don’t need it.
2. Get organised.
It doesn’t matter if you are moving 500 metres or 5,000 kilometres, it is important to be prepared in order to move in an organised fashion. Ensure you have strong and sturdy cardboard moving boxes in a variety of sizes, durable packing tape, the correct packing material for each item and a pen to mark each box so you know which room to place the box at the other end. If you have a particularly valuable item, then consider getting bespoke packaging made for it.
3. Pack with care.
Just because there is space in the box does not mean that it should be filled to the top. Do this and you risk not being able to lift the box. Put the heaviest items at the bottom of the box, fill any spaces with paper and don’t forget to create a cushion at the bottom. Wrap each item separately paying even more attention to anything that could break. Acid free paper is preferred as newspaper can leave a residue behind.
4. Moving International.
A move to another country is a big one. There is a lot to organise so it pays to do your research beforehand. Think about whether there are any items that you can get in your place of residence that are not worth moving. On the flip side, are there any items which you may not be able to get where you are moving to and you can’t live without? Use the Internet to seek advice from people already residing in this country to help you make your decision. Additionally, avoid an unnecessary customs fees by checking if there are any restrictions on bringing items into that country such as types of wood.
