Whether you’re moving down the street or relocating to another province or continent, packing up and moving home is one of the most stressful experiences one can go through. You’ll need to figure out where you’re going to live, where the kids are going to go to school, how you’re going to be moving your pets, what the new work situation will be like and, to top it all off, you may not know anyone from a bar of soap when you get to the other side.
Here are some tips on what you can do to make the moving experience a little less daunting:
1. Stay Organised
The best thing you can do to keep your stress levels in check during the entire relocation process is to get yourself organised. Start planning your move as early as possible.
The best way to do this is by creating a moving to-do list. Not only will this help you stay focused, but it will also give you a sense of accomplishment as you check things off.
Take your list one step further by using a large calendar to map out deadlines this will help you ensure your tasks are done in good time and you are not left scrambling as moving day arrives.
Label your moving boxes as clearly as possible, marking the sides and top. Indicate which room you want each box to go into when arriving at your new place. A numbering system can be very useful: number each box and write a list of every single item in the box, then, when you’re 4 year old insists she needs to drink out of her purple princess Sofia mug you know it’s Kitchen Box No. 3.
2. Research
Take the time to research the area you will be relocating to. You can use resources such as the internet and Facebook to do so.
If you’re moving because you’ve changed jobs, ask your new boss for advice on suburbs and schools.
Ask a local estate agent to give you an idea of house prices in the areas you like. If possible, take the time to travel to your new area so that you can make an informed decision on where exactly you are relocating to.
Knowing what to expect will go a long way in keeping your mind at ease when moving day arrives.
3. Keep Your Finances in Check
Relocating to a new area can be a costly exercise and the expense can cause a lot of anxiety. Creating a budget and sticking to it will be critical to maintaining peace of mind during the moving process.
Consider the area you will be moving to, whether you will be renting or buying and what the going rates are. Don’t forget to consider monthly expenses such as rates and taxes and fuel for travel to work, schools and shops.
Once you’ve worked out the above you can get down to the detailed moving expenses. Consider the cost of moving your stuff, pet boarding, buying new furniture, utility fees and renovation costs. Keep in mind, using properly insured professionals can save you a lot of heartache and frustration vs using a cheap fly by night operation.
4. Declutter
Getting rid of all your unnecessary or unused items means you will need to move less stuff to your new home, increasing your efficiency and saving you a few bucks. It’s best to get this done and dusted before the moving company comes to do their survey as they base their quote on the volume they’ll need to move.
Be ruthless when sorting through your treasures. Only keep those items you really need or use. The best way to prevent this process from becoming overwhelming is to break it up and sort in categories, rather than rooms. For example, take an afternoon to go through all your clothing or books.
You don’t need to throw everything you don’t need away, consider donating usable items to charity or selling them. There are several online platforms like Gumtree or OLX where you can do this. If you are planning a big purge consider using a company such as Moving On which specialises in selling second-hand household items.
5. Get Help
Doing everything yourself can be extremely overwhelming. There are a whole host of professional organisations out there that can assist you with relocating.
Using a reputable moving company such as Iron Horse Relocations can take a lot of stress out of the entire relocation process. Bigger moving companies can not only assist in moving your stuff but will also assist with packing, unpacking, moving your pets, moving your vehicles and even getting rid of your empty boxes and packaging when you’ve unpacked on the other side.
If you’re moving for a job your new employer may be able to assist you financially. Some companies have a relocation assistance policy, so it’s worth asking. Even a small monetary reprieve can lift some of the financial burden.
If you do decide to pack yourself, ask your friends or family members to help, just give them enough notice. Make it a fun event with some music and snacks, or even pizza. Use disposable plates and utensils and you won’t even need to clean up.
When it comes to unpacking on the other side, put someone in charge of delegating tasks. This will need to be someone who knows where everything needs to go and is prepared to answer a million different questions. Having one person directing and everyone playing their specified roles will help keep the whole moving train on track.