People are leaving cities at record rates after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. So many of us don’t want to crowd in areas with large densities of other people, instead looking to relocate to places with some more space.
Unfortunately, moving house can come with its selection of stresses. Not only do you need to worry about sourcing packing supplies and moving all of your boxes and crates, but you also need to deal with shifting everyone in your family.
When relocating, there are several tips to make the process smoother. For example, develop a plan to minimise the stress you’re under the week before your move. Additionally, you must prioritise certain items over others, perhaps even purging some of your belongings during the packing phase.
While there are several moving parts to moving houses, you can manage them all if you have a good process. Today, we’ll take you through some things you can do to better manage your stress levels – from bubble wrap, recycled cardboard boxes, moving house, and everything in between.
Get Your Packing Supplies & Moving Boxes Ready Early
The biggest mistake people make when relocating is leaving their packing to the last minute. You will be left scrambling to get enough packing paper and everything in moving boxes, and you’ll most likely lose track of what’s stored where, leave things behind, or perhaps even damaged goods. This process is never fun, but it is much less enjoyable when you leave it to the last minute.
A good solution is to invest in packing and unpacking services. The key is finding a company providing excellent service at a reasonable price – like ABC Removalists.
Experts offering these solutions take the time to pack all your belongings into boxes and utilise packing supplies, such as packing paper and packing tape. Sometimes, they’ll also help you deliver packages to and from storage facilities or determine how many boxes you’ll need overall.
They’ll also unpack your belongings for you after delivery. If you are willing to shell out a little extra money, you can set up your new house without having to do much work yourself!
However, there are a few things you need to do, even if you do hire packing and unpacking services. Notably, you need to provide instructions to the support you hire for the big day and direct them on how you want your things organised.
One of Our Key Tips: It is a good idea to go through your things beforehand to throw out any items you do not want to keep. Don’t leave this until packers are trying to put things into moving boxes and get things finalised.
Be Strategic With How Many Boxes You Need
Depending on the stage of your life, you’ll have differing amounts of boxes involved in your move. If you are relocating to a house, you likely have dozens of boxes to accommodate for several rooms. In that case, you need to be strategic in how you pack and the packing materials you use.
You can start by sorting and storing items you won’t immediately need when you finally do move. Keeping track of these items on a moving checklist will also help you organise this part of the process efficiently.
For example, if you are relocating in the summer, you can ensure your winter clothing is packed first. Additionally, they will be at the bottom of the pile, so you can unpack them last.
Next, you should use your large moving boxes to pack bulky items like blankets and large clothing. Save the smaller moving boxes for your more fragile items.
Another of Our Key Tips: If you only have larger ones to work with, put heavy items on the bottom – like a layer of books. From there, use a process of layering with pillows, blankets, and toys to centralise the weight. This makes them a lot easier to move around.
Keep A Special Box For Moving Day
Moving is stressful for several reasons, but it can be worse if you do not adequately prepare for what it will be like when you get all your moving boxes to the new house. It is unlikely you will unpack everything that day, so you will need access to specific items.
As such, pack a special ‘moving day box’ with all of your essential items. It should have your chargers, laptop, toiletries, and other day-to-day essentials, as well as anything you may need to keep them protected, such as bubble wrap. You should also include must-have clothes, toilet paper and soap in this box.
It also does not hurt to pack some snacks, especially if you have kids!
Familiarise Yourself With The New Neighbourhood
While you would have scouted the area before you moved, you might not know the neighbourhood on an intimate level yet. So, make sure you know where the local park is, what roads are safe for your kids to play on, and other notable things about your new area.
Drive around the neighbourhood a few days or weeks before the move so you know what to expect. You can also look around to see where grocery stores, coffee shops, and gyms are.
Know that you will not feel settled in your new home immediately, but knowing the neighbourhood can help significantly and make you feel more at ease.
Accept That Moving House is Emotional
Moving house is emotional, and one of the best things you can do is accept that. The whole process means more than just relocating your things and sleeping in a new place. It means you are moving away from what’s ‘familiar’ and maybe even from your friends, family, and acquaintances.
As a result, you will likely feel emotions like sadness, stress, and excitement – and that’s absolutely normal. Change is always difficult, so understanding the potential emotional and psychological effects of stress during your move is always important.
And remember, you’re never alone.
Key Takeaways
Moving house is stressful for everyone. You can’t eliminate stress completely, but you can definitely make it a whole lot easier.
Remember:
- Take the time to pack things in advance so you are not stressed the week of the move.
- Keep a special box with your essentials for the big day.
- Scour the neighbourhood beforehand.
- Finally, accept that moving is an emotional time, and don’t be afraid to be sad about leaving your old home behind.
