How to Move House Stress-Free

Moving house can be stressful for anyone. We all wish there was an easier way to do it, right? Or at least some kind of breakdown of what to do.

 

Well, this could be it…

 

Whether it’s your first move or you’re an experienced house mover. If you’re looking for a stress-free move, you’re in the right place. Helping you save money and make moving that much easier.

The Big Steps for the Big Move

At a loss for where to start?

First of all…

Understand Moving House is NOT Actually Stressful

A lot of the stress that people associate with moving can actually be from nothing to do with moving at all. Not having a clear plan can leave you feeling that everything is happening at once. I find that this often goes away with the use of a step by step plan. As a student, every year I’m faced with the daunting task of moving between cities. It’s hard for anyone, so I’ve created a handy plan to make moving a breeze.

 

So, without further ado…

How to Move Without Your Head Exploding.

#1 Sort your items

Before you begin packing, it’s a good idea to sort through your items. Separate what you will keep and the items you no longer want or have room for.

We recommend doing this room by room, this will keep you on top of things and make your items easier to manage.

Doing this well ahead of time will save you a lot of stress come moving day.

 

Following this, you may be wondering…

 

What do I do with leftover items?

Selling

If your items are in good condition, you can try and get some money back by selling them. This could be through eBay or a car boot sale.

Donating to Charity Shops

If you can’t sell your items, a better alternative could be donating them. This is a good way to make a positive impact on the community and keep your items from becoming waste.

If there are things you can’t avoid throwing out, check to see if they are recyclable before binning them.

 

#2 Packing and Prepping

Packing your items is one of the most important parts of the move. And it’s definitely the most time-consuming. When it comes to packing, we’re all in the same boat.

Here are a few tips to make it easier for yourself…

• Separate valuables and breakables

It is best to separate your valuables and breakables from everything else. Do this before placing things in boxes. This will make it easier to keep track of to prevent them from getting lost. It will also mean that you have specific boxes that you can label to handle with care

• Boxes

There are a few tips I find especially useful for being efficient when you pack boxes.

Create a label system – I find it very useful to label boxes as you pack items. This could be to show the room they belong to or what items they contain. This lets you keep track of your items and that you won’t end up leaving anything behind.

Don’t overpack – Overpacking boxes can make them heavy and awkward to carry.

This can also make items hard to get back out again, which can cause damage.

Conserve space – Reduce the number of boxes and space your items take up by stacking them inside of each other. This could be by putting smaller kitchenware such as cutlery into tupperware. or you can keep your cutlery from going missing by tying it together with an elastic band or string.

Cushioning your items – Pack softer materials between smashable things such as plates and dining-ware. Try using a greener alternative such as newspapers or old t-shirts.

Make sure you buy packing materials ahead of time. This saves you from scrambling to find them last-minute. To save you the search, we have boxes and other resources available onsite.

 

Storing larger items

If you’re needing to store or move furniture, there are a few preparations to ensure they stay free from damage.

Covers and protectors – Condensation, dust and dirt can damage furniture. The last thing you want when you move into your home is dirty furniture.

To save you having to deep clean, you can use protectors, which cover your items.  These are available for anything from mattresses to sofas.

 

#3 Removal & transport

As well as packing and storing your things you also need to consider how to transport your items. You can move your items yourself with your own vehicle or van hire. Or we can arrange for removal services to pick up and transport your items for you. For both home removals and moving from storage.

Make things go quicker by having a removal team…

Whether friends and family or a team from a moving company. Having a group of people to help can make your move go smoother. I always find that having a friendly face can make a task feel a lot more enjoyable.

 

#4 Moving items Out of Storage

Envision your space – Consider what you want to go into your new home, and where it will fit. You could want to move all your items, or some but not all, or you could want a completely new furniture set!

This means there may be some items you may end up not wanting. Even if you’ve sorted beforehand.

 

Why is storage a good idea for a move?

I know what you’re thinking. ‘What’s the point in moving my stuff into storage if I’m going to move it out again’.

It’s an unnecessary extra journey, right? Wrong.

 

Okay, so it might not be a crucial part of everyone’s move. But storage can actually help make moving homes easier in many ways.

Moving house is one of the most cited reasons for using storage. (Statistics provided by the SSA Annual Report).

 

So, why is storage useful?

• Move at a pace that suits you

Trying to move everything in your old house to your new all in one go can be stressful. By placing the bulk of your items in a storage unit you can move things into your new home without the rush.

• Protects your items

All the moving back and forth can often mean that dirt gets trapped into your house and get on your belongings. Moving a large number of items can also increase the likelihood of them getting damaged. Storage reduces this risk by keeping your items protected whilst you move them at a pace you can manage.

• If you’re unsure of what to keep

Storage can be useful for holding items that you’re not sure about keeping. This is especially useful if you’re downsizing as it can keep extra items from cluttering your home.

Some Last Little Bits…

Moving with pets

There are lots of helpful resources online when it comes to moving with pets. We can’t offer specialist advice on moving house with a pet, but there are lots of helpful resources online. We find The Blue Cross’ pet advice useful, as well as Complete Removals’ step by step guide.

Moving house should be as comfortable as possible – for everyone involved.

 

Don’t Forget: Make People Aware.

Don’t forget to notify important parties of your move and change of address. This includes banks and insurance companies. As well as medical practices such as your GP and Dentist.

 

Last but not least, don’t forget to tell your friends & family!