Moving is both a thrilling and a terrifying experience. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be to do, even if you’ve done it before. We’ve compiled this helpful checklist to make sure you’re prepared for everything. The most essential thing to keep in mind is that relocating isn’t something you frequently do, so relax and take it all in.
Follow a plan
It’s crucial to spread out the packing chores over a period of time so nothing is left until the last minute on moving day. The delivery of packaging materials, inspections, and the like may necessitate rescheduling your activities. Experts recommend getting the ball rolling on packing and organizing at least a month before the actual move, especially if you need to ship your TV securely.
This will allow you to notify your banks, as well as any relevant schools or employers, of your impending move. As the moving day approaches, you’ll be able to pack your belongings in an orderly fashion, beginning with the least important items and working your way up to the essentials. Relax for a moment and plan your trip in writing before you pack. In the midst of this challenge, this can provide some much-needed distance and clarity.
Declutter before anything else
If downsizing your belongings will help you settle into your new home more quickly and easily, taking the time to go through them and do an honest purge will save you a lot of packing effort. Start by making a list of everything you need to clean. Get started on the mess you believe will be the simplest to solve.
Do one room at a time, no matter what. Jumping from one room to another before cleaning up the previous will just create more chaos. Set recyclables apart from the rest of the trash. These days, it’s possible to recycle over 60% of typical garbage.
Plastics, metals, textiles, batteries, and other electronic devices are all included. Don’t throw them away with the rest of your garbage. Here are five things to keep in mind while clearing out your clutter:
- Big stuff goes first – work your way down to the smallest items.
- You should get rid of anything you haven’t used or worn in a year.
- You should eliminate one of your duplicates if it is an item you use only infrequently.
- Create a “Keep” box, a “Donate” box, and a “Throw Away” box and set them all out on the floor. Everything in the room needs to be placed in a box.
- Don’t hoard insignificant objects because of sentimentality. It’s not the same thing to save a signed baseball bat from your college days instead of a damaged figurine you got at a fair 10 years ago.
Don’t overfill your boxes
At first glance, filling boxes to capacity may appear like a fantastic method to cut costs. However, doing so increases the likelihood of package loss and property damage.
When packing boxes, ensure your cargo doesn’t take up more than two-thirds of the space available. Be careful not to overload large cardboard boxes with heavy items since this could cause the bottom to tear.
To prevent spills, place products in their original containers inside a plastic bag before placing them in your boxes or suitcases.
Pack by rooms
It’s not a good idea to put things from various rooms in the same box. Packing one room at a time helps keep things ordered. You can keep track of the items you have downloaded by using this. Unpacking will be a breeze once you reach your new home. Get started with the areas you use the least, such as storage spaces, unused offices, and seldom-accessed kitchen cabinets. To minimise the amount of disruption to your daily routine, work on less frequently used sections first.
Colour coding and labels
This complements the aforementioned strategy for storing items. Make sure to keep track of what goes into each box. The next step is to name the box and assign numbers to each item inside. If you want to take things a step further, you could even give each room its own colour. If you help the movers out by doing this, unloading your stuff will go much more quickly and easily. They will be able to finish the task quickly and efficiently if you just tell them which hue goes in which room.
Use special wardrobe boxes and roll clothes
Rolling your clothes saves time because you don’t have to figure out the best way to fold each item. Additionally, the clothes will take up less room and be less prone to wrinkles if they are folded this way.
Purchasing wardrobe boxes to store suits, waistcoats, etc., is a wise decision. Use this box to transport delicate clothing still on the hanger.
Consider if storage is needed
It may not be feasible to bring everything you own with you at once if you are moving a long distance. Not knowing your location could put you in a sticky situation if you need more time to unload the van. It’s a good idea to store some belongings and have the rest sent to your new home once you’ve unpacked and become settled. Instead of lugging your excess belongings across the country with you, pack them up and store them in a container.
The remaining items can be delivered after you have settled into your new home and unpacked. Everything will go off without a hitch and without any problems if you do it this way. Both the storage facility and the moving company can guarantee the safety of your possessions because they are insured.
Pick out a special first box
It can be frightening to move into a new place and find it empty. Especially if the place wasn’t cleaned beforehand. Since nothing is yet familiar, the property may seem rather lifeless and devoid of character. Pack one special box with your most treasured possessions, such as a painting, a collage of photos from your most recent trip with pals, some fairy lights, or understated decorations. They will make your new place feel more like a home on the very first day.
Tips your movers
Tipping your man and van workers is not regulated to the extent that there is a minimum required by law in the UK. We are cognizant of the fact that not everyone is in a position to do so, particularly in light of the fact that moving is a costly endeavour. On moving day, some customers want to show their appreciation by feeding and watering the movers. Some people pay them a little tip at the end of the service. However, this is typically determined by the family’s or individual’s financial situation.
Final words
House moving is never fun, so being prepared is essential. Packing is a significant time sink in the relocation process. Moving requires careful packing, and this is especially true for long-distance relocations. If you follow our easy advice, you can pack in less time, with less stress, and without worrying about losing anything.
