Moving house is a stressful time. Besides the process of finding a house, getting mortgage approval and hoping everything goes smoothly, actually physically moving to another property is time-consuming and will see those stress levels rise.
Moving is a huge upheaval that essentially means you are picking up a huge part of your life and taking it somewhere else. You need to be prepared for packing, moving and unpacking, each of which has its challenges and can leave you feeling drained.
While it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to stop moving from being stressful completely, there are things you can do to reduce stress and make the process easier.
Take time off work
There is a lot to do when moving and trying to fit it all around your day job is going to make things harder, which is why using some holiday time is a good option. Taking time off work will allow you to focus on the move and ensure you have time to pack and arrange everything.
As well as the moving day itself, take some time off beforehand for packing and then a few days after to get settled and unpacked. Even if you don’t get everything unpacked before going back to work, this will help a lot so you aren’t coming home to mountains of boxes.
Start early
You might think that you have plenty of time to get everything sorted before moving day, but the chances are there will still be plenty to do on the day.
Make the process smoother by starting as early as you can with packing. Getting everything that isn’t going to be needed packed up ready to go will help reduce your stress levels and ensure you aren’t left throwing anything and everything into a box at the last minute.
Create a packing plan
A packing plan can also really help you. Make a list showing the order that you’re going to pack up rooms, as well as a list of what you need to keep out until moving day.
It can also be a good idea to note items that you’ll need once you get to the new house – such as cutlery, a kettle and tea bags – so you can keep these separate.
Declutter first
Moving is the perfect time to get rid of things you don’t want or need anymore. Rather than packing everything up so you can sort through it at your new home – which probably won’t happen so boxes just end up in the attic or basement – have a declutter as you’re packing.
It can be a good idea to get a skip or fill a trailer ready to take to the dump so decluttering is easier. This will also make unpacking quicker as you know that everything going to your new home is needed.
Sort out your utilities
It’s easy to forget your utilities when moving, but doing so can lead to more headaches later on. You should call your utility providers to let them know that you are moving, even if you aren’t staying with the same provider. This will mean you can sort out meter readings and final bills.
You should also get yourself on the electoral register at your new address once your move is confirmed, as well as update your driving license, GP contact information and bank account. All of this will reduce stress later on and make sure you don’t forget to update everything.
Label every box
It can get repetitive, but labelling every box really can make life easier when it comes to putting boxes in the right room and unpacking. Labels should clearly state which room the boxes need to go in, as well as what’s in them so you can make sure you’re unpacking things that are needed first.
If you have fragile items, these should be clearly labelled and stored together ready for moving day. You should also make sure they are in smaller boxes as this will reduce the chances of breakages.
You may think that you’ll be able to remember what’s in each box, but this is rarely the case so save yourself a lot of stress by buying a marker and clearly writing on boxes.
Get help
Whether you’re hiring a van yourself and doing a few trips or hiring a moving service, making sure you have help to hand will pay off big time. From moving boxes to cleaning your new home and the one you’re leaving, extra hands make the work easier and can help you get moved faster.
Moving will also be exhausting, so having help is only going to be a good thing – even if someone is just there to keep the cups of tea coming. Ideally, you want people at your old house and at your new home so work can carry on at both properties.
Take your time
Once you’ve moved, you don’t need to power through your unpacking straight away. Take your time so you can find the right layout for yourself and enjoy settling into your new home.
You want your home to be set up exactly how you want it, which will take time to work out. This means getting your furniture in place, unpacking some necessities – like crockery – and then dealing with everything else over time.
Your life shouldn’t revolve around unpacking, so make sure you have time to relax and do other things.
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