Tuesday, 04 December 2018
If you are doing the big move in the coming new year, you might already be feeling the anxiety that comes with change.
Not only is moving home physically draining, but the emotions associated with change can intensify the process.
To help reduce tension and ensure your move is as smooth as possible, we have put together some vital tips to get you started…
Begin recruiting well in advance
Nothing screams ‘friendship’ like watching your best friend shuffling along your front yard in 30-degree heat with your bedframe in balancing on his shoulders.
If you aren’t using professional removalists, gather your friends and family. If you are using removalists, make a booking ta least a month in advance and always check reviews first!
Declutter
Moving house is the perfect time to clear out the unwanted or unneeded items – which for hoarders can be the ultimate challenge – so stay disciplined.
For each room, divide belongings into three piles – keep, maybe and lose – then concentrate your decision-making on your maybe pile. Be ruthless and stick to the rules for the entire home. (As a general guide, if you haven’t used it in the last six months it’s time to let it go.)
For items of value in the dump pile, perhaps a weekend garage sale or Gumtree advertising can turn your trash into cash. Alternatively, donate these items to charity.
Load up on all the moving essentials
- We’re talking bubble wrap, boxes, tape, markers and packing blankets.
- Label each box with room it’s from and a subtitle of the items (e.g. ‘Bedroom – toys.) Be sure to also mark boxes containing fragile items.
- Newspaper is perfect for safely protecting wine glasses or candles, so start collecting papers a few weeks before the move.
- You should also consider a logical order for packing your belongings – leaving your cleaning products until last, for instance, as cleaning your empty house will be towards the end of your list.
Disconnect & connect services
Notify all your utility providers of the dates you’ll be moving out to have services disconnected from your old home and connected at your new place. Don’t forget to connect electricity, internet, gas and water, and to redirect mail.
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Update your details
Inform relevant institutions of your change of address. These can include: AEC, ATO, Medicare, Centrelink, car registration departments, pet registration, insurance provider, GP, Optometrist, Dentist, Vet, Bank, Mortgage provider, Super fund, employers, membership and loyalty programs and schools.
The right cover
Organise appropriate home and contents insurance to cover your belongings during and after the move. It can be useful to take photos of items before moving as a record of their condition.
Prepare a ‘first night box’
Pack everything you’ll need to be comfortable in your new home in a first night box. A change of clothes, bed linen, towels, toiletries, sleepwear, medications, some cookware and crockery are all must-haves. Maybe even add a bottle of bubbly to toast your successful move!
