There has been ample discussion of sticky tape prices, papercuts and the structural integrity of boxes in the Clarity Road office this week.
Why, you ask?
Because, being the true geniuses we are, Julie and Jess have both decided to move house in the middle of the Queensland Summer. Needless to say, we have learnt a lot about each other over the past few weeks…
Jess and Julie are moving for different reasons. Indeed, there are countless factors that can influence your decision to relocate. You may move for work, for your kids, for a relationship, for financial reasons, for a change of scenery – all life changing events in themselves.
While we have already touched upon some of these situations on the site, we discovered this week that there is a lot more to be said about coping with the stress that moving house entails.
Below are some moving house tips and tricks that we wish we had known a few weeks ago.
Prepare
Moving isn’t just about packing everything up and shipping it to a new place. There are other important things that need attention like organising a removalist, transferring your electricity bill and notifying your child’s school of your upcoming change of address. None of these jobs are particularly taxing, but can take up valuable time when left to the last minute. Help out your future self by planning your move early.
Make a list of all of the tasks – big and small – that you need to get done, and set a yourself a deadline for each one. If you don’t have time to make a list from scratch, use this cheat sheet from Emove to get started.
This list will allow you to wrap your mind everything that is to come, and make the move feel less daunting.
Preserve your memories
Even if you are moving on to bigger and better things, there are always some fond memories created within a home that are difficult to leave behind. Before you start filling boxes, spend ten minutes walking around the house taking a few pictures of the important places or views that you will miss most. You may not see the value in these photos at the time, but down the track they often prove invaluable.
Cull the clutter
It makes sense that the less you have to move, the easier your move will be. Before the big day, do a thorough clean-out and get rid of everything unwanted. Remember that some of the things you consider trash may be another’s treasure, so set aside any clothes, toys or gadgets that are in working order to send off to your local op-shop. Not only will you will you simplify your move, but help out those in need in the process.
Expect some speed bumps
Regardless of how many moving house tips you follow, there is always the potential for something to stunt your progress.
The removalist truck won’t fit everything.
The friends who offered to help out slept through their alarm.
The cleaners are a no-show.
While you can prepare for the unexpected to an extent by giving yourself plenty of time to move, you ultimately can’t control the future. What you can control, however, is how you react to that spanner in the works that inevitably puts you behind time.
Unwelcome? Yes.
Frustrating? Certainly.
The end of the world? No.
Don’t let a smashed plate or a faulty GPS turn your outlook from positive to frustrated. This moving house tip is all about recognising that everyone involved is doing the best they can – just keep it together and get through the day.
Commandeer a support crew
We have all heard the saying that many hands make light work. When it comes to moving this couldn’t be more accurate. Although you may feel guilty about asking friends or family for assistance, moving is the time to swallow your pride and throw the question out there. Don’t turn down offers of help because you are worried about inconveniencing people – they wouldn’t volunteer if they weren’t sincere! Even an hour of a friend’s time can make a huge difference for you across the course of the day. It ultimately means one less hour of work you have to do yourself.
Label. Everything.
This one comes from experience – no matter how confident you are in your memory, for goodness sake label the boxes. There is nothing worse than arriving at your new home, only to find that you have no idea where everything goes. Spending an extra 30 seconds scribbling the contents of a box on the lid will save you precious time (and a few tears) at the end of the day.
Remember that the move isn’t over in a day
The lead up to a move is full of anticipation, planning and preparation.
The moving day itself is a blur of lifting, driving and unpacking.
You followed all of the moving house tips. You worked as hard as you could have.
But once all of the excitement is over, the move itself isn’t. There will still be untouched boxed lying around, possessions out of place and phone chargers that are MIA. This disorganisation can leave you feeling out of place in your new surroundings. Be ready to feel uprooted, but also be assured that this feeling will pass.
It may take some time, but eventually your house will again feel like home.
