MOVING LIKE A PRO
Category Property Ownership
MOVING LIKE A PRO
Moving house is ranked close to the top of the list of activities that causes high levels of stress. Proper planning and preparation for the Big Day is imperative and will ensure that stress does not overshadow the excitement one should feel for opening a new chapter in one's book of life.
Once you have confirmed the date of occupation, you can book the removal company. They will require a list of goods to be moved. Do your best to be specific so that the correct size of truck can be allocated, and you don't get charged an additional fee. Removal companies charge a premium over the end/beginning of the month, and it will therefore be better to move mid-month, if possible.
Take time in the weeks leading up to the move to work through your belongings and discard or give-away items you no longer need or want. This is a great time to start fresh, so get rid of clutter and items you have not used for years. The probability that you will need them in the future is very slim. Take 3 big boxes marked Keep. Sell and Donate; handle an item only once and place it in the appropriate box. Stay focussed and do this for every room in the house. Put the 'Sell' and 'Donate' boxes out of sight and then start dealing with the Keep boxes. Use a marker pen and clearly mark the box indicating which room's contents it is and what it contains. Alternatively, number the box and list the items using Excel - this will make it much easier to find a specific item quickly and easily.
Start well in advance by packing those things that you don't use daily and can do without for a few weeks. Store packed boxes out of sight as the sight thereof might be unsettling to your children and pets. If possible, arrange for them to stay with a family member or friend on moving day.
Children will settle in quite quickly when they are surrounded by familiar things. Make their beds and hang their curtains first and have some familiar toys around or their favourite teddy bear on the bed. So, when packing up the final belongings, be sure to mark the boxes clearly as 'Day 1' for those items that will make the new place feel like Home. Pack a 'Day 1' Box for Bathroom Essentials like basic toiletries, towels, a bathmat, toilet paper, and headache tablets! Another 'Day 1' Box should contain Bedroom Essentials like linen, pillows, and blankets - even curtains and curtain hooks. The final 'Day 1' Box must contain Kitchen Essentials, for instance, a few cups, glasses, cutlery, dish towels, a pair of scissors, and garbage bags. Whilst there will still be a lot to be packed away, having the basics from your 'Day 1" Boxes handy will make the task much easier and a whole lot less stressful!
It is important to transport your personal documents, as well as valuable items like jewellery, laptops, and cameras yourself as a precautionary measure.
Last, but by no means least, be sure to leave your old place in a clean and neat condition. Discard your own rubbish, and check that everything is locked and switched off.
The key to a successful and stress-free move is planning and staying focused on being organised.
Author: Adrie Barnard
