It’s all well and good trying to plan a move out, but there’s a lot of different factors to think about. Trying to keep everything in mind can be pretty hard, but can be made easier if you break everything down. What should you be doing before, during and after the move? If you organise your plan in such a way it’s a much more simple task. So, without any further hesitation, here’s what you should be thinking about at every turn;
Before the move
First things first, have a quick clear out, so you can thin out the clutter and make the packing process more manageable. Broken objects should be thrown away or recycled if possible, and items you’re not planning to use in the long term should either be donated or sold. Having a clear out isn’t just useful, but can also be therapeutic – by moving house you’re effectively thinning the clutter and starting your life anew. Because of this, you really shouldn’t be lugging some of that clutter with you.
After the clean up operation, you can begin the packing process. Make a note of the most important and valuable things in each room, before you start. That way you can tick them off once they’ve been packed, and you can have the added piece of mind that you’ve not left anything important. When actually starting to pack, only use the finest materials – like good sturdy moving boxes and heavy duty tape and bubble wrap, so everything can arrive at your new home in the same condition that you packed them in.
Plan the journey out. This obviously isn’t necessary on short distance moves, but pivotal if you’re moving cross country. Go to google maps and get the route printed off. Do a dry run if you have time and if it isn’t too far, so you can be sure that the directions are accurate.
During the move
Now, on the day of the move, there’s a few more important things to take care of. Don’t underestimate the benefits of packing for the journey. Even on short journeys it’s a good idea to bring a packed lunch for each member of the family, and for longer moves, blankets and pillows are essential, especially on night time moves and on cold days. Take a binder with all of your moving documents and keep that close to hand too, just in case you need it.
If you’re moving without the aid of a professional mover, take extra special care when loading everything. Heavier and larger items such as furniture and large appliances should be loaded first, and everything needs to be secured. Your rented van should come with elastic or cables so you can tie all of your boxes to the floor, or to a suitable roof rack. You don’t want everything sliding around and getting broken.
Once you arrive at your destination, only unpack the rooms that you need right away, you shouldn’t concern yourself with every little thing. The bedrooms and the kitchens are the most important, so you can have some food and rest after an exhausting move.
After the move
Now that you’ve arrived, its time to get yourself settled in. Go and get to know your surroundings, such as the entertainment centres, parks and convenience stores are located. Get to know the neighbours too, since they’ll be able to shed some light on where the best places in town are. The kids will need to know where local schools and colleges are, seeing as they’ll need to travel to and from them on a regular basis. If you have dogs and/or cats, don’t forget about them either, they too need to get used to their surroundings.
So, that’s everything broken down. Now you can move home with the piece of mind that everything can be organised, and instead of worrying and getting stressed, you can just enjoy the experience and your new surroundings.