14 Easy Tips To Avoid House Moving Stress

According to studies, moving house is one of the top 5 most stressful life events. But it really doesn’t have to be.
By following some simple tips you can avoid potential pitfalls and reduce the hassle.

Before The Move

Make A List

Putting it on paper, gets the worries out of your head and allows you to organise and prioritise. Once you can see what lays ahead, you can make notes and solutions beside each entry and start ticking off each job as you complete it.

Choose A Date

Once you know the day it’s happening, that can reduce some of the uncertainty and anxiety, it gives you something to aim for (even if it does have to move slightly due to latter events). Try to avoid holidays and Bank holidays as these days are always very busy, putting a squeeze on the availability and prices of removers.

Book It Off

That’s not just your moving date, book time off prior to your move to declutter, do little repairs, start packing, etc. The more you can get done in advance of the move, the more prepared and relaxed you’ll feel as moving day draws closer. It also means you’ll have time to deal with any extra issues that crop up.

Declutter

It’s not just attics and overstuffed spare rooms, it can actually feel like spring cleaning for the brain. Reducing the ‘junk’ you don’t want to take with you, will make packing easier and moving cheaper (moving is calculated on the distance to travel and amount of items to be moved).

You can read more here; 14 Tips To Declutter Before Your Move

Book Your Movers Early

Early birds catch the removal vans. Like many services there are peak times, some days and dates are in higher demand (school holidays, the week before Christmas, etc). The later you leave it, the greater the chance your chosen movers will be booked and the higher the costs. Companies like Armishaws allow you to pay a deposit to save your dates and offer flexibility should your dates suddenly change.

Get Packing Ahead Of Time

Try and pack everything you can ahead of time. Here are a couple of tips on packing to help keep it simple and worry free:

• Start Early. The more you get done early, the more you’ll reduce last minute panic packing.
• Pack the least used items earlier on, and the most important last. This also means those important items will be last on/first off at the other end.
• Label fragile items boldly – you’ll be calmer and your crew will be able to identify which packages need extra care.
• Label boxes on all sides and the top so they don’t get lost when stacked on top of each other.
• Ask your removers about their packing options and you could get some/all of it done for you. Packing Services
• Make sure white goods are ready for the move by cleaning/defrosting/unplumbing in advance.

Do Your Homework

Redirect post, cancel suppliers/direct debits, make sure everyone who needs to know has been told you’re moving. Then think of your new home, setting up suppliers, arranging a food/grocery delivery to arrive the day after your move… Get all those little paperwork jobs added to your master list and get them ticked off well ahead of the day.

Check The Weather 

Make sure you keep an eye on the weather in the week before your move in case you need to take extra precautions. Although obviously in Britain our weather is about as reliable as a sundial at midnight.

Moving Day

Have An Early Night

If you’ve planned all of the above well, then you shouldn’t need to stay up until daft o’clock the night before your move. Waking up tired could make you irritable which could set the tone for the day, so get your head down at a decent hour the night before the move.

Ask For Help If Needed

Many hands make light work, so don’t be shy, pressgang friends and relatives in to help out on the day. The more help you have, the less pressure on yourself to get everything done single-handed. Having relatives look after children for the day and keeping them occupied can be a HUGE way to reduce stress (“Are we there yet?”, “I’m hungry!”, “Jacob said he’s going to stuff me in a removals box!”).

Plan The Van Parking

Not all gardens or drives can accommodate a large removals van, in which case you’ll need street parking. Officially you’re not allowed to place anything on a public highway to reserve parking (such as cones or wheelie bins). You can ask neighbours or put up polite signs asking people to leave space. Tell you movers of any potential parking or access issues in advance.

Make Sure You Eat

It is very easy to get carried away and forget to look after yourself on the day, make sure you have a break! Lower blood sugar will mean energy levels will start to flag and make you ‘hangry’. No matter how strong your removals team is and how little lifting you plan on doing, it will still be a physical day so keep some snacks handy and try to make time for lunch.

Clean As You Go

It’s a lot easier to clean an empty house, if you can get into your property before your movers, so pack cleaning essentials in your car. Have lightbulbs handy, it’s surprisingly common for people to find the previous owners have taken every bulb with them.

Unpack The Essentials First

The first thing to reach for when unpacking is the essential items. You need somewhere to sleep, the means to make a drink, functional heating, light bulbs and window coverings. So just give yourself a quick arrival shortlist;

• Sleeping
• Drinking/eating
• Warmth/lighting
• Privacy

After these essentials, any other packing should be seen as a bonus. You have plenty of time (years ahead!) to make your mark and start dressing your new home. A well earned take away is a far better reward for everyone on moving day than hanging a few pictures. The other reason is that if you start unpacking other items and then find yourself getting tired before the beds have been put together, you’ll still have things to do. If you have the four essentials covered, you can collapse into bed any time you like.

If you have any moving day questions or concerns, want some quick advice or a free quote,
simply contact our friendly team and we’ll be happy to help.