Most of us need to move houses at least a few times in our lives. It’s often both an exciting and stressful time. Exciting, because a move can mean you are getting a fresh start, and stressful, because there’s so much to do.
Moving house isn’t easy, but there are a few things you can do to make it easier. By organizing, planning, and using some other helpful tips, your next move will hopefully go as smoothly as possible. So, if you want to learn how to achieve this, keep reading.
Find the right house
Moving is never going to be easy if you don’t know where you’re moving to, or if you don’t like the place you will be living in. If you find the right house for you, moving will already be easier, because you’ll be excited and motivated to get started on things.
If you don’t have a house in mind yet, don’t even begin to think about the moving process, because you’ll be stressing yourself out for nothing. Look at houses first. These houses for sale in Alabama might give you an idea of what could work for you.
Make a to-do list
No matter how many times you’ve moved, you’re guaranteed to forget something. It’s understandable; moving is stressful, and it can be hard to remember everything. That’s where a to-do list comes in handy.
Make a list of everything you need to do before, during, and after the move. As time goes by, you’re sure to think of more things, so your list will likely continuously grow. If you want to go the extra mile, you can even set up a timeframe and schedule to be more precise about when certain tasks need to be done.
Work on your packing skills
When it comes to packing boxes, there’s a delicate balance. You want to use as few boxes as possible, but at the same time, you don’t want to pack your boxes in a way that’s too heavy. It’s a good idea to pack light items like clothes in big boxes, and heavier items like dishes in smaller boxes.
You also shouldn’t leave packing until the last minute. As soon as you know for certain that you will be moving, start packing away the essentials. Stop procrastinating – the sooner you get started, the easier it will be closer to the move.
Hire movers
Many people opt to do their move entirely alone, without the help of professionals. While it is true that this will work out cheaper, it will also take a lot of time, and you’re more likely to experience breakages or damage to your items.
If you can afford it, you should hire movers. Yes, it might be an extra expense, but it’s sure to lift some weight off your shoulders and allow you to focus on other things.
Pack an overnight bag
You’re going to be tired the first day of the move. The last thing you’re going to want to do is rummage through boxes in search of your clothes and toiletries. But, trust us, you’re going to want to shower and get into some clean clothes. That’s why an overnight bag is a good idea. Simply pack it with everything you’ll need for the first night and the next morning.
Pretend you’re going on an overnight trip and pack according. If you need help with that, click here. You can also pack a small box with a few essential dishes and coffee to make it easier when you wake up.
Give yourself enough time
In theory, moving seems to be a pretty quick task. You pack, you move, you unpack. But anyone who’s ever moved will know that it always takes longer than expected, so you need to give yourself enough time.
As mentioned, you should start packing early on, instead of waiting until a week before the move. You should also give yourself time to get settled into your new house. If it’s a big move, you may even want to consider sleeping in a hotel for a night or two.
Declutter
We all know that we have too many items that we never use and that we should probably get rid of. But we often don’t have the time.
Luckily, you can kill two birds with one stone. As you’re packing, ask yourself whether you really need and use a particular item. If there’s something that offers no purpose or joy, you should get rid of it.
Donate it if possible, otherwise, throw it away. The fewer items you move with, the easier your move will be. Plus, purging your house will give you the freedom to fill your new house with items you actually like.
Label boxes
It might be tempting to grab the nearest objects and chuck them in a box, but you’ll be saving yourself a lot of trouble if you go room by room and pack all similar items in the same box. For example, all of your books can be packed in one box.
Next up, you should label the boxes. You can label them by room, content, or both. Some people also number their boxes, starting at one. They then unpack from the highest numbered box and end at one. This is helpful because we tend to pack the things we use most in the last box, so by starting to unpack there and working backwards, you’ll be unpacking the necessities first.
Ask for leave
If you want to drive your stress levels up, you should try to move while still working. Trust us, it’s not a good idea. Firstly, it’s always best if you’re there to oversee the move. Secondly, if you work all day and get home late, you’ll have just a few hours to unpack, and you’ll also be very tired. Besides, you probably won’t be able to focus much while you work anyway. Ask your boss for leave well in advance – it’s never a good idea to ask for leave at the last minute.