Moving is one of the most stressful things you can do in your lifetime.
“61% of people said that moving home is more stressful than relationship breakdown, divorce and starting a new job” according to a recent article in The Express.
So we decided to seek the advice of local expert removals company ‘House & Carriage’ and asked them to share their moving hacks and top tips with us. With over 12 years of removals experience they sure know a thing or two about moving home!
1. Pack yourself overnight bags
with toiletries, pyjamas and snacks, and create and label an essentials box with all the things you’ll need as soon as you arrive. This is key advice as there’s nothing worse than getting to your new home to find that you’ve packed the kettle, mug and tea bags in different boxes, and you can’t have a nice, relaxing cuppa in your new home. Make sure everything you need for that night and the morning after is either with you in the car, or packed and labelled clearly as essentials.
2. Invest in good quality boxes and packaging
Don’t go out and buy the cheapest packaging you can find, it simply won’t last or will break under the strain of the move. Be sure to invest in double walled cardboard boxes, durable packaging tape, thick bubble wrap and high quality dust sheets. This will guarantee your belongings will arrive at your new home intact and in one piece. You can visit MyStore for all your packaging needs we sell it all!
3. Try to label your boxes carefully
Don’t just pile your belongings into boxes and label them in a rush – you’ll have you or your movers scratching their heads once you get your items to the next house. Use a clear labelling system that states what the box contains and where you’d like it to go. Always try to label the sides of the boxes, not the top. That way if they’re stacked, you can still see what each one contains.
4. Pre-clean your home before you move in
If you can get your keys early, it’s always a good idea to get into the house beforehand and clean up a bit, particularly in areas like shelving in the kitchen and bathroom. That way you can start to unpack your food, plates, cutlery and toiletries without having to do a deep clean before you put them away.
5. If you’re planning on doing the packing yourself, think about weight
Consider how heavy a collection of items is. For example, books shouldn’t be put into massive boxes as the weight will make transporting them difficult. Also, you could potentially break the box. Choose smaller boxes that take around 30kg weight in total. Make sure the boxes are sturdily constructed and filled right to the top so they stack on top of one another without getting crushed.
6. Not packing boxes yourself? Make it easier for the removals company
A removals team will happily pack everything for you, making sure all your breakables are well-cared for. And by ensuring your house is tidy before the removals team arrive, you can save valuable time during the packing process. Being clutter free means they won’t have to spend time clearing space to work in, and they’ll be able to easily locate and pack your things.
7. Defrost your fridge and freezer beforehand
Fridges and freezers can leak very badly during a move; you don’t want nasty smells emanating from your fridge while it’s being transported. Do a complete defrost and clean in advance. Make sure you buy comestible products that can be used right up to the move day to eliminate throwing good food away.
8. Make a plan of where your furniture will go
Removal companies often dismantle furniture to get it through doors, and move furniture from room to room, when it just doesn’t fit. But to make the move simpler, it’s always a good idea to plan what each of your rooms will look like beforehand and measure the spaces to ensure that beds, wardrobes, sofas etc. will fit in.
9. Make one last check before you leave
Switch off all your lights and the electrical appliances that you’re leaving behind, as well as your heating. You don’t want to get a bill for utilities that you haven’t been using. Lock the doors and either post the keys through the letterbox or give them to your agent to pass on to the new owners. Check every room, just in case there’s something you’ve left behind.
10. Unpack room by room
Once you get to the other house and your boxes have been unloaded start to unpack room by room. If you start to open a box here and there, things can get messy and hectic. Start with the kitchen as that’s the most used room in the house and then kit out a bathroom with towels and toiletries.
The rest of the rooms you can choose in order of relevance.
11. Smart movers use self-store!
So you don’t have to move everything into your new house at once, it might be wise to invest in some temporary self-storage in Oxfordshire, like MyStore Self Storage, to keep belongings safe until you’re ready to bring them in. This can help you to decide when to introduce more into your space, or when to store items for the longer term. You might also want to decorate some rooms when you move in, so keeping belongings to a minimum could give you a real advantage.
If you think our self storage can benefit your move then please get in touch with us today.
Rooms are available from as little as £7.50 a week.
