Spring is one of the most popular times to move house, and it means a fresh start and new opportunities. However, it can also feel overwhelming at times and is often cited as one of the most stressful life events. If you are moving, or planning to move, this Spring, then here are our top tips for making your move as stress-free as possible.
- Book your removals firm early
Because most people try and move at the weekends or during school holidays to give them extra time for the move, these dates often get booked up way in advance with removals firms. Obtain personal recommendations or read online reviews to ensure you are picking a reputable firm, and then make your booking as early as you can.
- Declutter in advance
Decluttering before your move is going to save you time, stress and money when it comes to moving! Sort through your belongings and if there is anything you no longer need or use, then either donate it to charity, recycle or discard. Doing this in advance of your move, means when it comes to packing for your move, you can be sure you are only taking items you use with you, and it will mean a smaller van and less removals hours required for the move. If there are items that you know you won’t require on a regular basis, but need to keep, then we have a range of self-storage units which are perfect for storing items safely and securing, giving you access to them, when needed, and freeing up space in your new home.
- Start packing early
Packing always takes longer than people think, so once you have decluttered, then start thinking about packing, beginning with the rooms and items you use the least. Boxing items from spare bedrooms or dining rooms won’t disrupt your day-to-day life, but will allow you to get as much done in advance as you can. When you are labelling boxes, don’t just give them a generic label like ‘kitchen’, identify what items are in each box so you don’t have to open five boxes marked kitchen trying to find the one with the kettle and mugs in!
Finally, don’t overpack boxes. Whilst it is tempting to fill them up, try and use smaller boxes for heavy items and large boxes for lighter items. Don’t forget we sell a range of packaging materials to help with your house move.
- Think about what you can’t move
There are some items which removal firms may not be able to move, such as ones which include hazardous materials, like tins of paint, chemicals or petrol-fuelled tools. Check with your removals firm in advance what restrictions they have on items, and then make alternative plans for these. It could mean donating tins of paint to charity or ensuring any petrol-fuelled tools such as lawnmowers are emptied and cleaned before being transported.
- Deal with paperwork
Store all important documents, such as passports, house deeds, wills and insurance papers in one box and if you will be driving to your new property in your own vehicle, keep these with you. It is also a good idea to make electronic copies of documents by scanning, or similar, and saving them electronically.
- Organise utilities
If you are staying with the same utilities’ providers in your new home, then let them have all your new details in advance, then on moving day all you need to do is take meter readings at both properties – it is also a good idea to take photos of these final readings so they are documented.
It is often beneficial to set up the Royal Mail redirection service to ensure all your post is forwarded from your previous address to your new one for a certain amount of time. This gives you more time to update any addresses and allows for any that you may have forgotten – you won’t be the first person to have an Amazon delivery go to your old address!
- Pack a moving day survival kit
Nobody wants to be rummaging through umpteen boxes when you have moved into your new home trying to find essentials for that first day and night, so pack a box with necessary items which you transport with you. This can include things such as kettle, mugs, teabags, basic toiletries and mobile phone chargers, whatever you deem as essential!
Moving house can be innately stressful, but we hope these tips give you some ideas to help alleviate the stress. Contact us today if we can help with self-storage for any upcoming house moves you have.
