So, you’ve found the home you want to move into, you’ve signed all the paperwork, and you’ve even started planning your at-home office space.
Between that moment and setting up your new home is the moment many people dread, and rightfully so: the move itself. Moving home is messy, causing confusion about which box to put which item into. When you look back at the house you’ve left, it can evoke a wave of emotion, too.
Many people who are relocating pack all their items into bags and boxes, hoping for the best when they arrive at their new home. Of course, there are some simple ways you can prep for moving home, which will ease the stress in both properties.
A Month Before The Move- Gather and Sort
OK, so this sounds like a lot to do, but when it comes to the day before the movers arrive to relocate you to Swindon, or Montpelier in Bristol you will be glad you started prepping for your move a month before.
This is the time to start collecting cardboard boxes and tape. Lots of tape! Aim to head to supermarkets, and restaurants or even post on forums online that you are looking for moving boxes, and start to build up your stock. The average home move for a three-bedroom home uses eighty to one hundred boxes. If you have a car, and you are driving items over before the main move, you can unpack the boxes and re-use them.
Next, you need to go through your home and start packing. Aim for things like ornaments, books, and even cables. You should also start sorting through your belongings to determine which ones you want to keep and which ones you want to donate to charity.
A Month to Two Weeks Before the Move- Book Movers
As before, even if you have a car, it is unlikely that you are going to be able to move from one home to another without spending a fortune on petrol. Thus, around the same time you begin packing your non-essential items, you should start looking online and hire a moving company.
Many websites allow you to choose how many people you will need to help you move, the size of the van, the date, and the time. You can also select how many trips you may need to take. Note that hiring moving vans usually requires a deposit, which is often 5 to 10 percent of the final moving cost. Once you’ve got them booked, you can relax and put the date of the move firmly on the calendar.
A Week Before The Move- Pack and Transfer Utilities
It is easy to forget the basics when packing up your home, such as updating your doctor’s surgery, dentist, and optician. If you aren’t moving too far, then no problem. However, for long-distance moves, you should research and try to get signed up with new healthcare providers as soon as possible.
You will also need to transfer your utilities to your new address. Most of the time, this can be done online, but in other cases, you may need to call the company. This will prevent bills from being charged to your name at the old address.
Now is also the time to start packing everyday items, such as clothes, dismantling furniture, and figuring out how to move any pets that you may have. If you have a garden, you should also consider how you are going to relocate your plants.
The Night Before The Move- Sleep Well
The night before the move, your house will be full of boxes and may feel a bit, well, hollow. For some people, this can be extremely emotive, or anxiety-inducing. Take some time for yourself, if you can, and if you want to, take some photos of your old home.
As stressful as this process is, at this stage, it is nearly over, and soon, you will be in your new home starting a new chapter in your life. Try and go to bed at the normal time the night before. Set out a broom, a mop and some cleaning supplies before you go to bed. It will make sense tomorrow!
The Day of the Move- Clean After
The moving van arrives, and there is chaos in your home as items are taken out. Don’t panic! With the help of packers for moving and the help of a few friends, this process can be completed in an hour, for homes with three bedrooms or less.
Once all the furniture is out, and the moving van is on its way to your new home, take a moment to clean up the mess. Moving furniture causes a lot of dust, fluff and dirt to come to the surface and, if you are renting your home, you don’t want to leave the property in a messy state.
Good luck in your new home!
