A Moving House To-Do List

Moving home can be a long and arduous affair, and there are a lot of things you will have to do running up to the big day. You are essentially packing up your entire life, and relocating it to a new destination, and this is never an easy task. However, there are a few ways you can prepare for this experience to make it as smooth a transition as possible, and reduce the amount of stress you will face. To start off, pick up a pen and start writing a list of everything you will need to do. Here are a few ideas of tasks to put on your moving house to-do list.

Start packing straightaway

Start packing as soon as you know a house move is coming up in your immediate future. The bigger your house, the earlier you should try and start packing, as this will result in less stress for you closer to your moving date. Packing early also means you can do a little bit everyday, rather than having to dedicate whole days to boxing up your home. Start by packing rooms which contain items you don’t use as much, such as spare bedrooms or the garage. Once you clear one unused room, you can then start to store packed boxes in that space, in order to reduce the amount of clutter and disruption in your day to day life. Packing one room at a time will allow you to keep organized and ensure you don’t miss anything.

Make sure each box is full, but not too heavy to carry without difficulty. Try and mix and match heavy and light items in each box to fill space without increasing weight. Filling empty gaps will stop boxes from collapsing, and avoid items rattling around and breaking during the moving process. Wrap easily breakable and delicate items in old newspapers, bubble wrap, or even items of clothing, to help protect them. Make sure to label your boxes well, as this will make things easier to find, and help boxes get placed in the right room when you arrive in your new home.

Have a clear out

Over the years, it is really easy to collect items that you don’t really use, want or need anymore, and moving house is the perfect opportunity to get rid of clutter. As you pack up your home, start to sieve out the things you don’t need to be taking with you, and either gift them to someone you know, donate them to a charity shop or sell them on.

Find a reliable removals company

If you are relocating, then it is likely you will have a lot of items to pack up and ship over to your new home. You may want to search for local moving companies who can assist you with moving all of your furniture and boxed up items out of your old house and taking them to your new destination. When choosing a moving company, make sure to check for any hidden fees, check out the terms of their insurance policy, and find out if they offer any customer guarantees. It is also important that you fix the price for the removal and the terms of the contract up front, to avoid the company trying to add over time. It may also be worth checking out their reviews and track record to find out if the company is really as good as they advertise.

Locate important documents

You never know when you might need official documents, such as passports, so make sure you know exactly where they are before you move, and relocate them to a safe place which will be easily accessible throughout this process. It would also be advisable to back up important documents from your computer, just in case the worst happens and your computer becomes damaged.

Notices of address change

A week or so before you move, you need to start notifying people of your change of address. It can be inconvenient if your mail keeps being sent to your old address, especially if your new home is miles away from your last. Send out a notice to all of your friends and family with your new address, and include the moving date so that they know when the change is taking place. There are also several government agencies which may need to be made aware of your change of address before you move.

Prepare an essentials kit

Anything can happen when you move house, such as delays occurring or items getting lost. Even if everything goes completely to plan, it is likely that you won’t have everything unpacked for at least a few days after you arrive. This is why it is important to prepare your essentials kit. Select a few boxes which you will keep easily accessible at all times throughout your move, and within them, pack all the necessary items that you might need to have on hand. Some useful things to include might be your first aid kit, a few dried food options, toilet paper, and a few beverages. It may also be worth packing some hygiene and clothing items for each family member: you will only need items for a few days, but this will help you to avoid unnecessary stress.

A few days before

If you are taking your refrigerator or freezer with you, then you will need to unplug them at least 24 hours before you move, to allow them to dry out completely. This is also the time to disassemble any furniture which you are unable to move intact: If this includes beds, then you may want to have some airbeds or sleeping bags to hand for the last few days in your old home. The night before you move is the time to pack those last few items you’ve been keeping out, such as laptops and kids toys. Carry out a full sweep of the house for any stray items which may have been forgotten. Finally, create a clear plan of action for your moving day, so that you feel completely in control and aware of everything that is happening on the day.

These are just a few things to consider when moving house, but the list, unfortunately, goes on. Try to keep calm and work through the process as methodically as possible.