As much as they can be exciting, moving experiences tend to be very stressful due to all the stuff you need to think about. Transporting your whole life from one place to another doesn’t look that hard at first – until you try it. With packing the very first box, you can find out that you have no packing tape, that none of the box sizes are big enough for some of your belongings, that there is stuff you forgot you even had… and the list goes on and on. In order to avoid this, here are some tips you can follow for a less stressful moving period.
Plan everything ahead
And by everything, I really mean – everything. Everyone’s first thought is to make a plan, but when it comes to moving, not many people stick to it. Planning the whole packing process means thinking about every little thing you own, which can be very frustrating and exhausting. Nevertheless, if you start on time, there is no need for this process to be so devastating. You can motivate yourself by making a planner of your own design that you can’t wait to fill. Making task lists is also a good idea, since checking to-dos can be rewarding on its own.
Hire a moving truck
Hiring a moving company can be somewhat expensive and also inconvenient if the company has a lot of work during the day. Sometimes they can just rush through the city with your stuff in order to keep a schedule, without taking too much care of your belongings. A cheaper and safer way to move your stuff is to relay on a trusty Budget truck hire that can be booked online for as long as you need. These trucks come in three different sizes, so make sure to give a good estimate on how much space you will need, and drive your own stuff safely to your new home.
It’s time to get rid of some things
Packing can be quite insightful when it comes to discovering some old and forgotten things. In some cases these memories are priceless, but in most cases you just find forgotten junk. This garbage might have been of sentimental value at some point of your life, but it’s obviously not anymore, if it has already been forgotten. Therefore, there’s no reason to keep it, let alone take it to your new place. Moving is a great opportunity to clean up your wardrobe, cupboard and desk drawers. Throw all the unnecessary stuff away. If you didn’t need it so far, you won’t need it at your new place either.
Name every box
One of the most frequent mistakes people make when moving is not labeling the boxes. You might think that you’re going to open all of the boxes and find everything there anyway, but if you need a face mask or a towel for a hot bath after a long moving day – you’re in trouble. Besides labeling each box consider placing everything you’ll need in short notice in one box (e.g. toothbrush, dishes and clean clothes). Don’t forget to label this box as well in case it gets lost between all the others.
Don’t take it on alone
Having a couple of good friends to help you out with moving is always a good idea. Together, you can pack everything faster, just make sure you give them the right instructions so that they don’t misplace things. Having a plan is necessary in this case, as well. The best coordinated action is the one that is carefully thought through.
The best time to start packing was yesterday
Never leave packing duties for tomorrow because you’re already a day behind your best schedule. Even though you should have started yesterday – don’t panic. No one was left on the street with their stuff because of unfinished packing. Anyhow, packing one box a day for a couple of weeks can help avoid last-minute burnouts and races against time. You can leave all those boxes open in case you need something. There is no place for stress when the moving day comes and you are already all set to go.
Take notice of the electronics
Cables are moving day’s worst enemies. You don’t notice them when they are lying on the ground, until you have to disconnect them, pack them, and then reconnect them afterwards. Figuring out which cable goes where can be a complete nightmare if you haven’t labeled them. Packing electronics thoughtfully can save you a lot of time and energy afterwards.
Don’t forget to take care of the administrative stuff
It’s best to change your address at least a week before you actually move because you don’t want your subscribed mail ending up nowhere. Also, you should think about whom else might need your address. It would be wise to change the address on all your social network profiles and make a list of all the people to notify of your new address.
It’s also smart to take advice from people you know have moved recently because they will provide you with fresh advice. With careful planning and taking on packing step by step, stress during moving days can be completely avoided.
About the author:
Chloe is a graduated journalist from Adelaide and a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator. She loves everything related to decor, aesthetic and lifestyle topics. She is also passionate about photography. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world and take some stunning photographs of beautiful places. Beside all this, she enjoys drinking coffee and reading a beautiful book from time to time.