Whether domestic or commercial, relocating to a new site or home can be very stressful. This is often a daunting undertaking; involving packing, transporting and unpacking without damaging or losing anything. There are so many factors to consider and logistics to take care of that sometimes it is difficult to know where to start.
Here is a handy guide to moving without losing your mind:
Get Your Utilities Connected & Pre-Clean the House
Before you move, make sure you’ve sorted out electricity, water and Wi-Fi at your new house. There’s nothing worse than sitting in a cold, dark house with no water or internet. Its also a good idea to give the house a good going over to ensure you move into a clean, fresh environment. If there is time, start planning any DIY project you would want to undertake so that you can hit the ground running after the move.
Prepack What You Can
A week before moving day, start packing away items that are not urgently needed. Spare beddings, kitchen items you won’t need that week, out-of-season clothes and such can safely be packed and labelled in advance. This will help you plan the rest of the packing and ease the process.
Pack a Moving Day Survival Kit
When you get to your new home, you will probably want to avoid rummaging about in boxes looking for something you need immediately. It’s a good idea to pack some essential items separately so you can get at them quickly. These could include a kettle, mugs, tea/coffee, and a bottle of wine, some groceries, toiletries and essential paperwork. You may also want to pack towels and shower gel because you will probably want to freshen with a quick shower when you get there.
If you’re going on a long road journey, it is also a good idea to pack a picnic basket or some snacks for when the munchies happen.
Engage a Professional
For the actual moving, the best thing you can do is to engage a professional moving company to do the heavy work. This will save you the physical and mental anguish that accompanies moving. They will also help you unpack and get settled in. All this comes at a discount and on days and at times most convenient to you. This will relieve you of the hassle of handling everything yourself. Capable of both domestic and commercial moves, the company also handles international moves.
Label Profusely
Whether you’re doing your own packing or not, go crazy with the labelling. Clearly write out exactly where the box/item should go in the new house and list the contents. You’ll be thankful later not to have to rummage around in different boxes trying to find an item you need immediately.
Take the Opportunity to Declutter
You don’t want the burden of packing and moving unwanted stuff or furniture. Dispose of clutter and sell or donate unwanted furniture. This means you’ll have to start getting organised at least six weeks before the move.
Kids and Pets
Explain to young kids who cannot really help out with the move exactly what is going to happen and why. Turn it into an adventure for them. Alternatively, shop kids out to relatives for the day, so you know they’re safe and out of the way. Finding a pet-sitter near your destination is a good idea, especially when your pet is young. Spot’s playful and frisky nature could fray your nerves on moving day. Older kids can help with the packing, carrying and unpacking. Assign specific tasks and responsibility to individuals to avoid confusion and discourage aimless lounging.
Change Your Address
Don’t forget to change your mailing address on your calling cards, email signatures and inform all correspondents such as doctor, bank, employer, close friends and dentist. Having your mail forwarded for a few weeks is a good idea, until you get round to changing everything.
If you’re not moving very far, say just across the city, change your home address on your car and phone GPS units; you don’t want to find yourself arriving at your empty old address the next time you’re going home from work on an exhausting day! Its been known to happen; you’ll be faced with the unenviable task of getting back across the city!
Unpack With a Plan
Approach the unpacking logically. There’s nothing worse than spending time arranging books on shelves, utensils in drawers or tools in the garage only to stumble exhausted into the bedroom to find you forgot to build the bed! In fact, the bed(s) should be the first things built.
Congratulate Yourself
Pop open a bottle of wine or brew a mug of herbal tea and toast yourself on a successful and uneventful move. Have a good long bath or shower to ease the aches and pains, and then enjoy a good night’s sleep and try not to fret about getting everything unpacked. If anything, unpacking should take some days, depending on how much you’ve got.
When all is said and done, moving house or office need not be a stressful, maddening process where you lose it. With adequate planning, attention to detail and professional help, it can turn into an adventure into new horizons for you and your family.
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