Moving to a new house or apartment can be exciting and stressful at the same time. But with careful planning, organization, and preparation, the transition becomes much easier and less overwhelming. The moving day is only the climax of the whole process. Start your preparation well in advance to avoid the last-minute rush and cramming every activity from packing to travelling in just one day.
We’ve collected countless useful tips through our 50-year experience in the moving business and would like to share some of them with you. A stress-free move begins with preparing at least six weeks ahead of D-day. Here’s a laundry list of the essential things to do before moving day.
Book a Removalist
Once you’ve set a moving date, lock in a professional moving company before starting on any plans. It may seem like a bit of an overkill booking a removalist a month or two in advance, but it’s the only way to make sure that moving services are available on the marked date. Removal companies sometimes have full calendars for weeks. Also, booking a removalist is an early commitment that gives you a baseline schedule in which to prepare.
Together with a removalist, you can quickly calculate moving expenses such as hauling, packing, insurance, storage, and equipment hire costs in order to create an accurate budget for the entire operation. Don’t forget to shop around while comparing quotes and quality of services between movers before settling for a particular company.
Prepare Your New Home
Before moving, make sure that the new home suits your preferences in terms of basic accommodation and luxury. About a month before the move, transfer all your utility services including water, electricity, gas, garbage collection, internet, and cable to the new address. You should also notify your insurer, postal service, bank and other essential service providers about your planned move so they can make adjustments on time without causing you any inconveniences.
Double-check that the new home is clean and to your liking, and that everything is up and running to support your accustomed lifestyle. Adapting to a new house takes some getting used to; having services and utilities ready from the go gives you a head start and saves you a lot of time.
As you do this, you should also ready your old house for the move. Make arrangements to disconnect utilities and services before leaving. Also, inform the relevant or concerned people about your move – family and friends as well as the building’s manager or realtor.
Pack Like a Pro
Most people dread the inevitable and laborious tasks of packing and unpacking during a move. Poor organization is what makes both packing and unpacking a nightmare. There is more to packing than just boxing and wrapping things up – a certain finesse to the process.
First of all, don’t wait until the last day to start packing. It should be on your mind from day one. Begin by decluttering every room to avoid carrying any dead weight. Dispose of any old clothes, furniture, appliances, and junk that you won’t need in the new house. Then sort out your belongings to work out the packing priority. Pack the items you rarely use first, and those used every day last.
Also, think about unpacking, particularly where to pack what should come out first. So, make sure to box similar items together and label every box according to its contents. Organising and labelling boxes helps ease unpacking at the destination. Remember that some delicate items such as electronics, pottery, and glass need special packing and handling. Ask your mover about packing and care for valuables and fragile pieces.
Take Care of the Paperwork
As moving day approaches, make sure all the documents needed during the move are in order. The removalist should already have the right permits or at the very least assist you in acquiring them from the local authorities (in case permits are necessary). Also, ensure that the moving insurance cites the precise date and details. Prepare any receipts and identification documents needed along the way or at the destination. Having the right papers ahead of time helps avoid unnecessary delays during the time-critical moving day.
Conclusion
Having a successful move comes down to preparing weeks prior to the moving day. There are just so many things you have to do when moving that it’s impossible to wrap your head around in only a few days. Our checklist can help you organize and keep track of all these activities without missing a beat, guiding you through a relaxed moving experience.
