Moving houses or countries may or may not be everyone’s tea. If you are moving to a new home or country, you should keep a few things in mind to help get you in the right direction, so it stays a hassle-free task. This moving guide includes some dos and don’ts, which we have included for your perusal below, as well as other helpful information.
Simplify for Stress-release
One of the main things to start doing weeks beforehand, and sometimes maybe even months ahead, when moving into a new house or country is to declutter all your belongings from every room. Keeping it to the necessities will simplify things significantly for you. If you don’t know where to start, you can check www.atlantahomemovers.com for extra tips and moving services.
You can either do it yourself or hire an expert for you, depending on the size of the house and the number of things you have collected over the years. Did you know over 75% of Americans have performed this task over the past year? Click here to find out more about the process of doing this.
The simple act of decluttering and organizing your things will help relieve stress and free up a lot of space. It is one of the most important tasks to start any adventure with.
You can sell your things at a garage or garden sale and earn some extra cash, or you can donate them to goodwill or give it to your friends and neighbors. If you think about it, it will also lessen the load when you move to carry fewer boxes.
Make sure you check for any broken or cracked items, which should ideally be thrown away or recycled if possible.
Creating an Inventory List Is Key
Creating an inventory of your belongings will aid in keeping an eye on things. You will know exactly what you’re moving with and what you are leaving behind so that in a few months, you won’t be searching from the roof to the floor to find that flower pot or piece of furniture you thought you had.
Many moving companies automatically do this for you; however, to save time and sometimes money, you can do this bit yourself. A moving inventory is a list of all your items categorized according to valuable things and least valuable things, and additional information such as their estimated value and condition (new, broken, or old). It may sound like quite a task; however, it is a beneficial tool.
The more detail you give it, the better. Start with the more essential items, such as all your furniture from every room. If you want to take it a step further, creating a list for each room is clever.
So the furniture will come first, then maybe the electronics can go next, and other items such as rugs, carpets, mats, lamps, decoration pieces, paintings, etc.
Things such as clothing and miscellaneous items should also be listed if you misplace something and don’t want to rummage around looking for it. If it’s on the list, you can do a quick check on it, instead. This list can also help you in the event of theft to file a police report.
What’s better, you should also take photos of the items or record a video. There are also a bunch of different mobile apps that you can use to create your very own inventory.
Don’t Forget To Change Your Postal Address
Redirecting your post to your new place will also help towards the de-stressing of moving homes. Some people choose not to do this and leave their old address in a house they don’t live in anymore, and the new owners have to pick up the slack. Unless you know the new people, never leave your belongings where you are not living anymore.
It is as easy as contacting your local post office and asking them to redirect your post. You may receive an important post that includes bills or test results and may never know about it until it’s too late.
Another way of doing this is to change your address on all your subscription services, including the bank, medical facilities, dentists, schools, online stores, etc. Stray letters are also at a higher risk of identity fraud when your particulars are pinched and used to commit fraudulent activity, such as opening a bank account or obtaining your credit card information.
Don’t Forget To Change Your Utilities
Another essential item on your to-do list should be to sort out your utility bills. Your new address will need to update gas, insurance, and council tax.
If you get this done early in the process, you won’t need to do it when you move into your new place, which will add fewer things for you to do so you can relax and enjoy the new sights and sounds. No one needs additional admin and chores when they have countless boxes to unpack and focus on setting up their new home.
Start Packing As Early As Possible
As soon as you have an inclining to move home, you should start packing, even if it is within 3 months or 1 year. Starting early is the best thing to do because it’s not just the goods that will need to be moved but also other essential items, such as finding the right mover and booking a suitable date for them and you. If you’re looking for Richmond Hill Movers, make sure you book them as early as possible so you have a better chance of them being available on a convenient date for both of you.
You may also need to organize that garden or garage sale beforehand, which could take time once you have sorted out and indexed your things. When you start packing, the trick is, to begin with the least used room. It could be something like the spare bedroom, the attic, and perhaps the garage.
While packing, make sure to leave some necessary items aside for you to take with you on the road trip and to use for the coming days until you move out. This is usually known as a ‘survival box,’ so it should have items like non-perishable foods, water, a phone charger, a torch, and warm clothing.
Use Labels On All The Boxes
Any arts and crafts junkie will tell you how important labels are in any given situation. Always ensure that once you have packed your boxes and duct-taped them or let the movers pack them for you, you should always put a label indicating what’s inside the box and whether it is fragile.
Sometimes some unfavorable things happen, like boxes can drop, especially if you’re moving in peak winter and the floors are wet and slippery. Labeling these boxes will help the movers identify which ones to be more cautious of when handling them.
If you do not have sticky labels, use a marker to write on the boxes, as long as it doesn’t easily rub off. One great idea is to categorize them according to the rooms, so 3 boxes for the bedroom, maybe 5 for the kitchen, and 2 for the living room, for example.
If you’ve got kids, ask them to help you out. You can label the boxes, and they can draw all over them. It will keep them busy while you sort out the other things.
Getting Acquainted With Your Future Home
When people move to their new homes, they seldom explore the area until weeks and months later. One of the best things you can do for yourself and your family, either before or after you have moved into the new place, is to walk about or drive around and explore the vicinity to find out what facilities it offers, if you haven’t already done this.
Sometimes you may be surprised at how many cafes or local pubs and shops there are. Perhaps it may even help you leave a few more items behind, sell them, and get new and different things in your house as a fresh start, or try something new.
All in all, moving properties should be a fun activity and hiring the right help, as well as doing your bit of packing things correctly, as per the above-mentioned suggestions, will help you to practice organization, if you’re not that kind of person, and will lessen the overall stress of the trip.
Let’s face it, when you move, you will have the first 3 months to settle in and unpack and decide what goes where. Doing more before this gives you less time to run around and more time to enjoy the new experience.
