Everyone will tell you that moving home is a stressful, unpleasant experience that you will want to get through as quickly as possible and then try to forget. While we agree it’s not the most fun thing you can do, it really doesn’t have to be stressful either. There are ways that you can make it easy on yourself and everyone helping you out, and ensure that the move itself goes smoothly and efficiently, leaving you to get settled into your new place and really start to feel at home. Here’s how to do it.
Start Packing Early
As soon as you know you are going to move – perhaps even as soon as you decide it’s time to put your home on the market or let your landlord know you won’t be renewing your contract – you can start packing. Even if you think there is very little to do, packing your entire home up will always take longer than you imagine, and if you leave it to the last minute, you are sure to get stressed, making the process take even longer.
Start by packing the things you aren’t going to need between now and the time you move, such as the majority of your clothing, books, spare bedding, ornaments, toys, and jewelry. Only keep the essentials unpacked so that you don’t have to do a lot closer to moving day.
Don’t forget to label the boxes so that you know what’s in them; by the time you move you will have forgotten, and that can make unpacking a longer job.
Throw Things Out
When you are packing, you have the perfect opportunity to throw things out that you are never going to use. There is no point in packing them up simply to unpack them in your new home and wonder why you brought them with you. If you are starting early as we suggested, you will have plenty of time to take a load of trash to the dump, or to arrange to sell in through a garage sale, or perhaps online if you prefer.
Get Your Paperwork In Place
There are many different types of documents that you are going to need when you buy or rent a new property, including:
- ID such as a passport, driving license, or social security number
- Bank details
- Wage slips
- References
You should also ensure that your life insurance is up to date, especially if you are buying a property as this is often a condition of the sale. If you need to update your insurance, or you don’t yet have any, look for a 30 year term life insurance policy that can match your mortgage. That way you know that it will be covered should you pass away.
Get Help
Something that always makes moving home a lot more stressful is if you try to do it yourself. If possible, hire a removals company to help you – some will even pack for you. If this is not within your budget, then enlist the help of friends and family. The job will be done quicker, and you will be out of your old place and into your new one before you can start to get too stressed out.
