Moving House | How to Move House

©Article written and supplied by: www.buyassociation.co.uk

 

Moving … it’s a stressful business.  Think about it.  You’ve been living at the same place for years; think about all those things you have collected.  It all needs sorting, packing and moving.  This does give you the opportunity to have a good sort out and throw all the stuff away that you don’t need or don’t use anymore.

But before you leap in there are one or two things you should realize: Moving is tough; no matter how it is done.

Friends

This is a great source of help.  But it is sometimes more of a hindrance than a help.

You will need to organize them and set tasks, for instance one or two people to every room. 

You will have to make sure they do not throw things away you want to keep.

You will need to make sure they are fed and watered.

Don’t mix alcohol into the equation.  It’s difficult enough without everyone being drunk.

 

The Kids

Yes, they will want to help, but as your stress levels rise so will your temper.  The best thing to do is pack them off for the duration of the move.  Ask a family member to look after them, that is providing they are not helping you.

 

Pets

If you have any ask a relative or close friend to look after them for a couple of days.  You simply will not have time to look after them properly during the move.

Remember: If you are self-moving don’t forget to book a rental truck in advance.  It is no good trying to organize one on the moving date; you simply will not have time.

House Sale

If you plan for the move well in advance you could cover your moving costs by have a ‘House Sale’.  People love to rummage through other peoples unwanted items … think of how much you can get rid of and make a buck!

Take our advice … plan this carefully. It will save you a lot of headaches and overall stress.

Boxes:

You can save a few bucks here.  Go down to your local supermarket, you will find lots of boxes, in all shapes and sizes.  It may be a good idea to buy some new strong boxes for your delicate and precious items.

Out with the Old: This is the perfect time to sort out all the things you really don’t want anymore.  If you plan your move carefully you could hold a ‘House Sale’.  If you have old furniture you do not want phone a couple of Antique or Furniture dealers in your area.  If you have a lot of things to get rid of you may need to hire a ‘Skip’ or ‘Dump Container’.

Starting the Packing:  Books, DVD’s, Records all make a good starting point.  They are easy to pack and stack!

Remember : Don’t seal any boxes at this stage. It’s typical that you will find another book or something else that needs packing.  So leave all the boxes unsealed until the last minute.

The Kitchen: Leave just enough items so you can eat or pack this area to last.  If you go through the kitchen carefully you will find that you can pack an awful lot and still leave sufficient items to cook and eat with.

 

Bedrooms: Give the kids some room here.  Ask them to pack their own things. Ask them to make a pile of things that don’t want anymore.  Yes, most kids will not want to throw anything away, so when they have finished sit down with them and go through things again.  It is a learning curve but one which will help them to better organize themselves.  As for your room, think carefully what you want and don’t want.  Black plastic bin bags are great for throwing out all that rubbish.

It’s in the Attic!: When you enter the attic and turn the light on you are going to see all the things from your last move (and more) that never got unpacked.  It is time to be brutal and get rid of everything that is not essential.  Certainly some things are sentimental and needs to be kept and stored, that’s why we have attics.  But you really should throw out those old shoes and golf clubs you don’t use anymore.

Truck Hire: Go through your local yellow pages and get quotes.  It is likely that you will need to hire a vehicle for 2 or 3 day, even longer if you are moving far away.  Don’t skimp here … hire one that can make the move in one trip, especially if you are moving a long distance.  Also hire one with a ‘Tail Lift’.  This will save you weeks of back pains.

Remember : You can do yourself real injury if you are not careful when lifting heavy objects.  If you need help in lifting advice go and see the Physical Trainer in your local gym. They will be able to give you excellent advice.

Go down to your local supermarket and get boxes … lot’s of boxes!

At least two pairs of scissors, strong parcel tape and marking pens.

Label everything and don’t overload your boxes.

If you are moving abroad make sure each box has a clear Address Label.

Put the kids to bed and start packing.

Find a relative to look after your pets.

Medical items … the last thing to pack and carry them with you.  Those Tylenol will come in handy.

Pack things tightly.  If it rattles it will break.

Wrap all liquids in at least two plastic bags with sticky tape round the necks of the bottles.

 

Moving Sale

Have a huge garage sale two weeks before you intend to move. Gather up every nick nack and dust collector you own and put them on sale. Bring out all of the salvageable clothing from the 'skinny' end of your closet, pile up all of the magazines from the stacks, and dig out all of those queen-sized sheets that don't fit your new double bed.

Any gift you've never used goes here, as well as anything that you and your partner do not mutually love; CDs you never listen to, VCR tapes you haven't looked at in years, everything.

Organize your sale in an interesting display. You'd be surprised how many people will slam on the brakes and stop at the sight of a stack of National Geographic Magazines. Tell people that if they buy two items, they get one free. Sell clothing as 'complete outfits' for a fiver. Be creative! You will be pleasantly astonished at the amount of money you can make a nickel or a dime at a time.

When the sale is over, take everything of practical use to a charitable organization, and get a deduction slip for tax purposes. Mercilessly discard everything else. In the case of magazines, timeless publications like the National Geographic always go to the local pokey for the people who have too much time on their hands. Home and garden publications always go to the local assisted-living facility. Try to find an appreciative audience for whatever you normally enjoy. Think about those situations where you would like to find something interesting to read, and carry them there.

Instead of using paper boxes for your belongings, consider investing in a collection of large plastic storage boxes with lids. They keep dust and moisture off your belongings, offer great temporary storage, and stack when not in use. These containers have saved this Researcher's 'stuff' on many occasions when hurricanes and floods threatened, and an immediate evacuation was ordered.

Things never to move: magazines and perishable food items. Magazines weigh a ton.

Most of us furnish to fit the space. If we have empty bookcases, we buy books to fill them up. Try to unload the same way. It is much better to enjoy the extra space in a new place because you edited well rather than try to shoehorn in everything that used to fit in the old space. It also helps to eliminate any feelings of depression or inadequacy you might feel over moving to a place with less storage or square footage.

Always let your mantra be, 'Move as little as possible to be comfortable.'

 

Spic ‘n’ Span

It’s always a good idea to get the new house ready before you move.  There is nothing worse than trying to clean, redecorate or renovate with a house full of furniture.

 

Stress, moving can get you down

Keep an eye on yourself. Make sure you eat and drink properly. Sure, there’s a lot to do but you can do any of it if you sick:

Plenty of fluids – no not beer.

Take a break.  Go to the park, get some air.  A good walk clears the head for logical thought.

Start getting all your friends contact details. If you are moving far away it’s nice to know that there are friends you can contact

Get online and check out your new local area, you won’t feel so lost. 

 

Once you get to the new place:

Don’t try and unpack everything at once. Go for the essentials.  Make up a bed and wait until the morning.

Take time out – Again, go to the park for a walk or any other activity other than looking at boxes.

Don’t forget you need to eat.  Find your local supermarket and do a little shopping.

Contact your friends.  Let them know you arrived safely and everything is OK.

 

Documents!

There’s always paperwork.  Receipts for this, receipts for that, old house papers, you name it.  You should go through any documents you have very carefully.  It’s even a good idea to take them with you and leave them packed, a trip to the new attic will sort this out.  You know that if you accidentally throw an important document out it will cause you far more stress. 

 

Intercontinental moves

For many people leaving everything behind for some other destination is purely a dream.  For some people it’s a reality and for some a necessity. If you are thinking of moving abroad see... Moving Abroad Guide and Living and Buying Abroad section.

A word from the Editor; “I was one of those people who dreamed of a better life in a much better climate and took the leap.  Moving to another country is not easy.  The paperwork alone can give you endless sleepless nights.  The move itself is a simple one.  Leave it all.  Just pack a suitcase and store the rest.  After you have lived at your new destination for more than 12 month, then think about shipping.”

When you are packed, see if there is any room for small and valuable things that you use frequently. Everything else is not important. Do a quick sum, like is it worth $100 per kilo? If it's heavy then you can buy it when you get there. (Obviously, the figure differs from person to person and personal objects are more important to some than others).

Don't pack books. You have to travel light. You can always find a bookstore where you are going or order online. 

There are numerous storage facilities around. Check your local Yellow Pages.  Rent one for a year, this will give you enough time to settle and establish whether your chosen location is actually where you want to be.

Remember : If you get on a flight and you exceed your weight limit you are going to be in for a shock.  International carriers now levy high penalties for those who exceed their weight limits.  Have your credit card handy if you decide you must take it all.

Keep fragile and personal items in your hand luggage.  Don’t pack liquids of any sort.  If you flight is over 5 hours wear comfortable loose fitting cloths.  Unless you are traveling on the new A380 with a 1st Class ticket then you will not get a shower for some considerable time.  Make sure you are comfortable. Relax, we hope you find your new life to be everything you wanted.

 

Moving Pets

Pets can be a particular problems, especially if they are large, such as horses, in which case you will need specialized transport.  However, if it’s the family cat, dog or other manageable pet then let them travel with you in a suitable container. There are many web sites out there that supply cages etc for your pets.  Do a search on Google for Pet Cages.

Remember : Take food and water for your pets.  Make sure, if you are on a long journey, to let them out once in a while for exercise and other of life’s necessities.

 

Re-cap

Time to recap just so you don’t forget :

Boxes, loads of Boxes

Marker Pens

Adhesive Tape (loads)

 

Cope with the Stress

Take regular breaks.  Take a walk in the Park.  Drink and Eat sensibly.

Out with the Old …

Don’t keep stuff just for the sake of it.  Now is the perfect time to clean out all the things you don’t want or need.

 

Planning ahead

Book a removal truck – one with a tail lift

Visit your supermarket for boxes – even buy a few good ones

Have a ‘House Sale’

Sort out the Pets

Leave medical items to last

Make time for yourself

Sort the kids out – ask a relative or friend to take them for the night

Pack things tightly – if it rattles it can break

Get contents insurance for your move

Make a list of everything

Label each box carefully

 

DIY Truck Loading

It’s a mystery and always will be, how all of this will fit.  Layout everything (providing the weather is fine) in the driveway.  Sort boxes into similar sizes. Remember do not stack hard and heavy boxes on top of those with valuables. If you are not moving far and you have time, do a few trips.

Your New Neighbors

When you roll up the curtains will be twitching.  It’s a normal and natural behavior for people to be curious.  There are always going to be questions, so try and answer these without causing any offense. 

One of the main questions on seeing any new neighbor is; “Are these people going to disturb my peace?” especially if you have kids and a big dog.  Nobody really likes noise.  If one of your new neighbors does approach you while you are moving in smile and say ‘Hi’.  Apologize right away for any noise you might be making, they will, if they are reasonable people understand.  You never know you may hit it off right away and they’ll give you a hand moving in!  It does happen. At first they will be suspicious.

Dealing with the kids

Keep them busy. If you can, let them stay over friends for the night. If the kids are older get them to chip in.  Teenagers won’t like it but this is

 

Time to unpack

If you think that things can go wrong they generally do.  All sorts of things can go wrong in the move, from the Truck not turning up to breaking down.

So always label one box ‘Emergencies’.  Pack this with some clothing, a camp burner, blankets and food.  If the worst comes to the worst you be able to get by for a night or two.

When you arrive unpack the mattress first, you are going to need a good night’s sleep after all the hard work. The next thing should be the food, or better yet order a take-away and get them to deliver.  All you need now is the knives and forks! 

The main unpacking can now wait until the morning if it is early evening or later when you unload the truck. After the vital systems are established, proceed to unpack the shelves cupboards and other furniture.

Try and be systematic in your unpacking approach.  It will make the whole thing much easier.  Boxes labeled with certain rooms should be taken to those rooms.  Let each family member take charge of one room. 

 

Before you go … don’t forgets

Boxes, Marker Pens, Newspaper and Tissue, Tape and Scissors, Bubble Wrap and finally a Tape Measure.

If you have any questions that need answering let them know right away.

Just remember … plan ahead.  You’ll make things so much easier if you have a good plan to work from.

 

We hope moving to your new home has been a little easier with our guide. Please pass this on to your Friends and Family.

©Article written and supplied by: www.buyassociation.co.uk