Make Moving into a New Home Less Stressful

Put Together a Moving Caddy

Prior to you even begin packing up your worldly possessions, put together a dedicated box (caddy) that you can take from room to room with all the packing essentials in it- packing tape, scissors, Stanley knife, coloured paper for colour coding, as well as self-adhesive labels and permanent markers for labelling.

Having all these supplies in one location will save you from constantly asking yourself and others – “where is the packing tape?”

Reserve Removalists and Truck

It is vital that you reserve removalists and a truck early. Many removalists can easily provide you with a quick estimate to help with budgeting your moving expenses. Hunt around for the best deal.

You wish to locate a removalist that is dependable, professional, and focused on delivering excellent customer service – after all, you are trusting them with your worldly possessions.

Find the Best Boxes

Obtain the best quality packing boxes you can locate. The cardboard boxes need to have a sturdy base so that absolutely nothing falls out of the bottom.

You will certainly locate boxes in a variety of style including wine cartons, tea chest cartons, port-a-robes and many others to suit your individual needs. Double-check first whether your removalist package includes them.

You can also hire boxes if you are not planning on moving again for a while.

Outsource your Packing

If you are time-poor! Outsource your packing and organise professional packers to take care of it all for you. It will cost a little extra but might just be the assistance you require to manage the move!

Label Your Packing Boxes

Labelling your boxes will certainly help you to quickly determine what goes where in your new home and assist with unpacking.

Pack a Bag of Essentials

Each member of the household needs to pack a bag with all their essentials, that can get them through the first couple of days.

By doing this it will guarantee that everyone has quick access to whatever you require – such as toiletries, clothing, pyjamas and items for the children and also toys and school materials.

If you have pets- do not fail to remember to pack their essentials too!

Sketch a Plan

Create a sketch plan of where you desire your furnishings to be positioned in your new home. This will certainly supply the removalists with a guide to follow, so they can get everything exactly where you want it.

Put this plan in a central location- such as the front entry so everyone can see it. Do not neglect to include the locations for any hanging items, such as heavy artworks as well as hanging mirrors.

Develop an Easy and Simple Meal Planner

Whilst you are packing and unpacking, cooking meals will be an inconvenience and will definitely be the last thing on your mind. Assembling an easy and simple meal planner will ensure you have something available at mealtimes.

Consider meal ideas that will keep dishwashing to a bare minimum. When everything else fails there is always takeaway or home delivery.

Have a Moving Day Plan for Children and Pets

Children like to run around a great deal and can get in the way of removalists that rarely look down when carrying heavy pieces of furniture and boxes. This safety concern, as well as the emotional stress of saying goodbye to their home alone, is enough to warrant a moving day plan for children.

If you have friends or grandparents who have offered to help watch the children, take them up on it. Get them to pick them up before the removalists arrive so that they can avoid the boredom and anxiety that comes with moving day.

Help children settle into a new home by having them pack up a box of special items before moving day so that they can find these treasures as soon as they arrive in their new home.

For pets, try to stick to your usual routines as much as possible in the lead-up to the big move.

On the day itself, lock them inside a room or part of the backyard while everything gets moved out of the house by the removalists, so the pets don’t escape.

Alternatively, you could leave them at another familiar location or with a well-regarded cattery or kennel, but this can leave pets confused and upset, who generally respond best to their owners.

When you arrive in your new home, designate one room as your ‘pet’s room’ and fill it with their favourite toys and scents so that they feel at home. Then slowly get them accustomed to their new surroundings (inside and outside the home) and if possible keep routines consistent.

Disconnect and Connect Utilities

Organise House and Contents Insurance

When you move into a new home, you require to ensure that your present home insurance policies stop the day after you’ve evacuated and your next insurance policies start the day before you move. Then on moving day, you’re covered by insurance.

When it comes to the move itself, most insurance providers include some form of transit insurance in their standard contents insurance policy.

However, if they don’t, you can purchase a standalone product from your removalist to cover you for moving day.

If you don’t already have house and contents insurance, then now’s a good time to buy these policies. Even if you have only a handful of valuable items (e.g. laptops, TVs, white goods), the cost of buying new ones if there’s a burglary will far outweigh the expenses of a year’s worth of insurance fees.

Immediately Begin to Unpack

Begin to unpack as quickly as you arrive at your new home. You can do this by asking for assistance from relations and friends, or you can hire a team of professionals!

If you actually colour coded your packing boxes, this will be a whole lot simpler.

Update your Contact Details & Mailing Address

Do not forget to have your mail re-directed at the post office.   Contact businesses and government bodies individually to update your contact details so your mail will go to the right place.

That means you shouldn’t forget to:

• contact your car insurance, registration provider and the RTA to update your driver’s license
• update your details on the electoral roll
• let your bank know you’ve moved
• update your details with all superannuation funds
• update magazine or box-style subscriptions

Just as you should inform all relevant businesses of your move. You should update your friends and family with your new address (and phone number, if applicable) so they can continue to get hold of you after you move.

Once tasks are done, it will finally be time to put up one’s feet and enjoy one’s new home.