Moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do. It doesn’t matter whether you’re buying or renting, there’s nothing like a house move to send the blood pressure skyrocketing! However, you can make moving house less stressful with these tips.
What to Know Before You Move House
Moving to a new home can be an exciting and stressful time. There is so much to think about and do in the lead-up to your move that it is easy to forget important things.
There can also be lots of things that are up in the air until right at the last minute, especially if you are buying a house and complications keep happening further along the chain.
Make Moving House Less Stressful With These Tips
1. What To Do Before the Big Day
When you’re moving house, there are a number of things to consider before you decide to pack up and go.
You will need to think about your finances – the cost of moving, hiring a van, etc.
You’ll also need to think about your family situation – who will look after the kids on the day, who will be where and when.
It is important when planning a move that you know all of the steps in advance so that you can be fully prepared for the big day when it happens.
I have a friend who recently had her house move cancelled four times in ten days. It was so stressful when the date kept getting pushed back and it caused huge issues with the van hire and her work too.
Some aspects of the process are easier than others, with moving house being one of the most difficult tasks you could undertake in life.
2. Pack Like a Pro
Moving is a process that requires a lot of planning to be successful.
If you’re moving, don’t forget you’ll need these items:
– Moving Boxes
– Labels for your boxes
– Tape
– Pens or pencils
– Sharpies or markers for labelling boxes
– Calculator and measuring tape
Decluttering before you move is also a good idea as it means you’re not taking stuff with you that you don’t actually need or want anymore. It also means fewer boxes to get packed up and moved!
3. Make A List. A Big One
I’m a big fan of lists, they help keep track of everything I need to do day to day. You should start a list a few months before the planned move and then add things as you go.
You can also make lists specifically for the packing stage, moving day and all the things you’ll need to do once you move in.
The Post Office have a great moving checklist resource here.
4. Consider Whether You Should Hire a House Cleaning Service
If you’re worried about your house being clean enough before you leave then you might consider hiring a cleaning service. They could come in the days before you move to make sure everything is spick and span.
You might also want to consider a cleaning service for your new property if it’s not very clean. It could take some of the stress away from those initial days when you’re trying to unpack and get settled.
What To Do Once You’ve Moved In
There are lots of jobs that need doing when you move into a new place. This can sometimes be overwhelming, but you don’t need to do everything at once.
Make a list of the places where you need to change your address or inform companies that you’ve moved and work through it a few at a time, starting with the most important.
Remember to leave a forwarding address at your old place so the new owners or tenants can forward any mail.
While moving is super stressful while it’s happening, moving often means a bigger house, a better area or being closer to family, so try to focus on the positive result in that moment where everything feels too much.
Most of all, start enjoying your new property when you finally get there.
