Moving house can be an incredibly stressful experience. To combat the negative feelings associated with moving house, you need to put in planning, effort, and organization months before the move. Here are some ways to make moving house stress-free.
1. Pack everything before
Packing everything before your move will mean that you don’t have to worry about packing anything on the day of moving. Decide exactly what furniture and appliances you want to take with you well in advance. It is also a good idea to empty all cabinets and cupboards, then wipe down all surfaces thoroughly. This way, the new homeowner won’t need to do any cleaning before they can use their new home. In addition, try selling as much as possible of your unwanted belongings — make it easy for yourself by getting rid of things early. Removing unnecessary clutter from your life means you can focus more on packing absolutely everything up neatly and carefully without being distracted by other items around the house.
2. Consider moving companies
Moving by yourself can be incredibly stressful. It involves a lot of heavy lifting and planning. Without the right equipment, it can also be a very dangerous endeavor, especially with large appliances such as washing machines and ovens. A good idea is to hire and look for moving companies nearby to handle most of the work for you. Companies will have all the right equipment to carefully pack up your home from top to bottom, reducing the risk of injury or damage to your belongings. They’ll also help you transport furniture and appliances that may not necessarily fit into a rental van or truck.
3. Arrange a removals’ van early on in the process
Getting everything packed up is one thing — but getting it moved is another. Arranging a van early on will make the move a lot easier. A good idea is to call rental companies and ask for quotes or get at least three written quotations from different companies. Get a quote for a large van, a medium van, and a small van, so you can choose the right size depending on what you need to transport. Also, don’t forget that if you have friends or family who are willing to help out on the day of the move, they could also use their cars to cart your belongings around.
4. Reduce stress by keeping things organized
With all the packing and organizing going on, it’s inevitable that some stuff might get misplaced in the mix! It makes sense to keep everything as organized as possible while moving house. Firstly, label everything in the house and in boxes, with clear and simple instructions for how to unpack at the other end. Secondly, keep all items in separate piles: one pile is for things that need to go into storage, another pile is for things that need to be thrown out or donated and a third pile is for things that will go straight into the new home. This moving day will run a lot smoother since you can get rid of all unnecessary clutter quickly and focus on getting essentials from one place to another without delay.
5. Plan ahead for furniture assembly/repair work
Before moving house, it’s important to plan out any repair or assembly work that might be needed once you’re settled into the new property — otherwise, your moving day might take a turn for the worst! If you have to put furniture together, don’t do it on the day of moving. It’s better to leave that part until later because you’ll just be exhausted and stressed by having too much work to do all at once. Furthermore, if anything needs repairing, it’s best to get ahead of time so that your first few days in your new home aren’t spent fixing broken appliances.
6. Keeping children calm during move-day can be challenging
Moving house with kids is challenging enough without having to worry about keeping them calm and happy throughout the process. A good idea is to set up playdates beforehand, so they know exactly what their plans are for that specific day — even if the plans change at the last minute! If you’re going to be staying with friends or family, then make a special ‘moving day’ bedroom that’s all set up and ready for when you arrive. Also, prepare a large bag full of toys and activities for them to do on moving day, so their focus is kept inside the house even though there might be lots of activity going on outside.
7. Keeping pets calm during move-day can also be challenging
If you have pets, don’t forget that they too will find it difficult to adjust to their new surroundings while surrounded by chaos and noise from humans and machines working around them. Create a safe space for your pet by packing some food and water bowls along with their favorite toys and bedding, and place them in a quiet spot inside the house where they can get some peace and quiet while everyone else is busy around them.
Is it possible to stay relaxed during the move?
Absolutely! All it takes are some simple tricks to help reduce the amount of stress that comes with moving house. When you’re organized, prepared, and have a long-term plan in place, it makes the moving day much more manageable. Make sure you know all the dos and don’ts of moving house by reading up on this list, and you won’t have a problem.
Can you ask friends and family for help when moving?
Yes, it’s a smart idea to ask friends and family for help when you’re moving house because this way there will be less labor involved in the process and everyone can benefit from the socializing. Whether they come to help pack or arrive on moving day itself to take boxes and furniture off your hands, it will make things much easier if you’ve got some extra pairs of hands around when you need them most.
While a lot of people dread the actual process itself, there are many things that can be done in advance to make life much easier come moving day, so try to take advantage of any opportunities that come up. If you’re organized, well-prepared, and willing to accept help from friends and family, then there will be no reason why moving house should ever be stressful.
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