by Want to have a smooth relocation? Here are 13 tips to make sure your house move is hassle free.
1 Take It Down
Everything you move has to come through the front door, so get your possessions as close to that departure point as you can. Everything should be brought up from the basement or down from the attic well before moving day. You can pack them in a room you can do without for a couple of weeks.
2 Start Early
Although you love those photos of friends and family, they can be the first to come off the walls when you’ve decided on a move date. The more you pack before move week, the less you will have to do then.
3 Box Clever
If you’re moving yourself, then keep boxes small and manageable so you can carry them easily. The boxes that hold reams of paper are great for packing almost everything, especially if they have handles. Book boxes and diaper multipack boxes are also good and strong. To keep boxes secure, use wide packing tape; this is also good for labeling.
4 Label
Label, label, label. Don’t just label boxes by where they’re going; label where they’ve come from as well. Label boxes on the top and at least two sides (four if you can’t be bothered to be careful about how they’re put down). That way the movers or helpers will know where to put everything and you will know where to find precious family heirlooms or your favorite coffee pot as soon as you move in.
5 Wrap It Up
Some of the best material for wrapping fragile items is newsprint and bubble wrap. A local printer may well have the end of a roll of newsprint and you’d be surprised how much you can wrap with it. Of course, bubble wrap is even cleaner and you can pop the bubble too. Everything fragile or sharp should be wrapped, as well as anything you need to keep clean – like your mattress. Garbage bags and dustsheets can double as alternative wrapping material.
6 Get Stuffed
Stuff cups, mugs and glasses with paper (or clothing such as socks) before wrapping them. That provides an extra layer of protection. Wrap delicate handles separately as well as lids for teapots, coffee pots and so on. With wrapping, more is more – the more wrapping you put around your stuff, the more likely it is to survive the move intact. Line the bottoms and tops of your crockery boxes, as well as any nooks and crannies with old tea towels. This provides more protection for your breakables and packs the towels as well.
7 Open Spaces
There are a lot of items you won’t be able to do without, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave the packing till the last minute. Pack your canned foods in boxes but don’t seal them. That way, you can easily get hold of something you suddenly find you need.
8 Holiday Time?
Empty suitcases are a great place to pack folded clothes and you can get wardrobe boxes for the hanging ones. You could also just put them over the back of a car seat. Carry on luggage is also great for packing a few essentials such as clean clothes for after the move and any medicines you might need.
9 Back To Basics
Speaking of essentials, pack a box with the items you need easy access to on moving day. A kettle, tea, coffee, sugar, milk and water are good starting points. Throw in a couple of snacks too. The box should also include basic tools (hammer, drill, screwdriver, nails, screws and wall plugs) so you can start putting things in the right place as soon as you move. Complete the box with some dust sheets and garbage bags.
10 The Best Investment
If you plan to hire a self drive van, get one with a tail lift which will help with large furniture items. Buy or borrow a heavy duty trolley too. Find a company that will let you pick up the van the day before move day or return it the day after. The night before will let you get a head start on the loading; the morning after means you can collapse into bed at night without watching the clock – and you may be able to take another load the next morning.
11. Other Transport
Cars are great for taking the items you don’t want to put in a van, such as laptops and DVD players, as well as the items you don’t want to lose (money, jewelry and credit cards). Spread some garbage bags in the foot wells of the car and you also have the ideal place to put your house plants.
12. Food Frenzy
Box up perishables on move day, but leave frozen food where it is – as long as you don’t open the freezer it’s the safest place to leave it. If you have a long journey ahead of you, then start emptying the freezer a few weeks before move day.
13. Delete The Junk
Finally, moving is a good excuse to clear out unwanted items. Throw out anything you haven’t unpacked since your last move and take the chance to ‘lose’ that unwanted gift from a few years ago.
