Wondering how to move home with as little fuss and stress as possible? Building a new home is an exciting and busy time, so it’s not surprising that many people focus on this, and leave their moving plans until the last minute! It’s well-documented that moving house is one of the most stressful times in life, so we’ve created a list of useful moving house tips to help make moving into your new home as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Preparing ahead of time is essential for any move, whether you have lots of belongings or you’re downsizing, so create a move home checklist and keep track of what you’ve done and what you need to do. Organising everything before you move into your new home and keeping track of your progress will greatly reduce stress at the other end – so start planning now!
Why move stuff you don’t want or use anymore? Reducing the number of items you have will make moving day much more manageable, and also shorten the time involved and the cost of removalists. Think about having a garage sale, donating useful items to charity or listing them on eBay or Gumtree. Go through all your documents and throw out what you don’t need anymore. Decluttering may take time, but once it’s done, it’s a great feeling!
You’d be surprised just how many boxes you need when you’re moving house! Ask friends and family if they have any they’d like to give you. Many storage companies actually sell boxes and then buy them back from you after your move. You can also purchase butcher paper and bubble wrap from removalists and storage companies, which is great for fragile items like glassware. Whatever you do, avoid using newspaper – although it may save you money, you’ll spend hours getting the black ink off everything! And don’t forget the packing tape and permanent markers to label your boxes – it makes unpacking so much easier.
If your budget allows, it’s a great idea to hire professional removalists. It makes the move much easier and saves your back from all that heavy lifting! But try and get two or three removalist quotes, as pricing between removal companies can vary greatly.
Inform important parties such as Australia Post, Medicare and Centrelink that you’re moving house. Any government agencies can be notified on the myGov website. This will save you a lot of trouble (and lost mail) in the future. You’ll also need to notify utility providers (such as power, gas, phone, internet and cable TV) about your plans. And don’t forget to contact the Department of Transport (for your car rego), financial institutions, superannuation fund and insurance companies. You can now opt to receive most correspondence by email, but you’ll still need to notify them of your change of address.
It takes time to unpack all your belongings and feel at home in your new house. So make sure you pack your essentials (kettle, toaster, coffee machine, etc) in separate boxes that are clearly marked and easy to get to. Encourage each family member to pack a small suitcase to cover the first few days, so you can settle in slowly, without having to search through dozens of boxes.
This may sound obvious, but make sure you’re available on moving day to oversee it. You’ll be able to help with anything the removalists aren’t sure about, and give them guidance when it comes to positioning furniture. Before the move, give some thought to where you want your furniture placed – especially the larger pieces. It will make the whole process so much quicker!
Becoming part of your local community, especially your immediate neighbourhood, will make moving house much more enjoyable. So why not invite your new neighbours around for a barbecue to get to know them, or join a local community group?
Sometimes it can be difficult for children to move house, especially if they’re starting a new school. So try and make this experience as positive as possible. Consider taking them to have a look at your new house a few times before the move, to help them get used to the idea. You can also show them around their new neighbourhood, including the parks, shops, and of course, their new school.
Fur babies are often more temperamental than human babies, when it comes to moving house! To help make the transition easier, unpack their toys and bed before they arrive. This will make their new home feel more familiar, and put them at ease.
Like to move into a new Hallmark home?
With over 35 years experience building quality family homes, Hallmark would love to help you make the move into a new-build home of your own! So if you’re thinking of building a new home in South East Queensland, the team at Hallmark Homes is ready to help.
Come and visit one of our display home centres which are located across Brisbane and the surrounding areas and get a feel for the quality design, materials and workmanship that goes into every Hallmark home. If you have any questions about our extensive range of single storey and double storey home designs or house and land packages, please contact Hallmark Homes today.
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