Anyone who has ever undertaken a house move will agree it’s one of the most challenging life events, both mentally and physically. Although most would agree that moving is stressful, there are ways to minimise stress so that you can actually enjoy moving onto the next chapter of your life!
So here are our top tips to help make the transition to your new home as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
There are many outgoings to consider when moving house. It’s easy to lose track of how much money you’re spending when you’re busy piling your life into boxes! To avoid overspending, it’s essential to budget your expenditure to ensure that you can cover all of the important costs. It may be worth using a ‘moving cost calculator’ in advance of your move. This will help you work out an estimate of how much your move will cost so that you can keep organised and budget accordingly.
Sometimes a move sneaks up on us, forcing us to move last minute, which generally leaves everyone involved feeling overwhelmed and stressed.
Giving yourself plenty of time to get organised before the big move is the key to reducing stress. If you plan far enough in advance you can ensure that you designate a sufficient amount of time to complete each item on your task list. It will also allow you enough time to collect all of the necessary materials needed for your move. If you can plan ahead, try to allow yourself at least 8-12 weeks. This should be enough time conquer each task calmly and efficiently.
To stay organised during your move, make a list of all the task you need to do. Then divide them into weeks, so that you allow yourself enough days to complete everything on that week’s list. If you’re unsure where to start, click here to download an eight-week plan that will ensure you stay on track.
Decluttering your home is a big job, so we suggest you tackle this one first. A cleaner, more organised house will help you keep calm when you begin your packing. It will also ensure you’re only packing the things you need – there’s nothing more frustrating than packing items you’re going to bin after you move.
The best way to declutter is to focus on a specific room or space at a time. You’re going to need plenty of bin liners and bags of motivation but once it’s done you’ll feel much better about packing.
Store all important documents, such as passports, wills and insurance papers in one box or file to ensure easy access. Put this file somewhere safe and memorable so that you have all of the important papers to hand when you need them.
It may also be a good idea to create electronic copies of important documents by scanning and saving them onto a computer – you can never be too careful!
Another key to making your move as stress free as possible is keeping organised. We’ve created a moving house checklist which highlights what you will need to do and consider when you’re moving home. Click here to download our checklist!
There are so many different parties involved with moving house, it’s likely things won’t always go to plan. Now, we’re not talking about creating a full secondary plan of action, but rather that you have a list of options should some of the major pieces of your move fall through.
For example, it might be a good idea to compile a short list of back up movers, just in case. Plan alternatives for the big parts of your move. You’ll feel much better knowing that your uncle and his two-ton truck is available should you need it.
Before your moving day make sure you have packed a moving day survival kit of the essentials. This should contain necessary items that will help get your family from A to B with as little stress as possible. Your survival kit should contain items like toiletries, phone chargers, snacks, bottles of water and a couple of tea bags – just in case you need to take a time out.
It’s important to have easy access to the supplies that will keep you well-fed and watered on this busy day. So, keep your handy survival kit close by in the car so that you can get items as and when you need them.
When you’re moving house you are placing all of your worldly goods in the hands of your removal company – so make sure they’re professional and experienced! Inform them of your requirements and organise a pre –move visit so when they arrive on the day they’re fully prepared.
During a stressful time like a move, we don’t often feel like there’s a lot of time to get all the tasks done. We’re so focused on making sure that everything goes to plan, that we sometimes neglect our own needs and health. Make sure you are getting enough rest and not relying on quick ready meals or takeaways each day. While it may seem like you’re being efficient with your time, you’re also neglecting the most important tool necessary for the move: yourself!
Plan evenings off into your moving schedule. Make time for friends, family and the occasional glass of wine.
Similarly, when you arrive, don’t try to unpack everything all at once. Give yourself time to relax, enjoy your new home and even get a chippy to celebrate.
