Back-breaking furniture, perilously narrow staircases and chipped crockery – the idea of moving house strikes fear into the hearts of most. But with careful planning it doesn’t have to be a nightmare.
So you’ve just secured the home of your dreams? Congratulations. Now the fun really begins.
The good news is that knowing how to move properly will help ease the gigantic task ahead.
So to help you keep your sanity, here are our top five tips to guarantee less mess, less stress, and ultimately, more moving success.
Draft a budget
A moving budget doesn’t just help manage the cost of moving, it also acts as a checklist to make sure you haven’t overlooked anything.
Besides the obvious expenses like removalist fees and utility connection costs, it can also help you remember things like redirecting your mail. Here’s a good rundown from ASIC’s MoneySmart website on some costs to expect.
It’s cull time
Moving is often the perfect time to get rid of any stuff you no longer want or use.
Go from room to room and work out what items you can offload at a garage sale to make some extra cash. Not only will you save on removal fees, but the extra cash can go towards paying for the removalist.
Hiring a removalist
Sure, offering friends pizza and beer to help you move is one way to do it, but you’ll still probably need an expert hand. If so, ring several different removalists and compare both the quotes and the insurance coverage.
Be sure to enquire as to whether there are any additional fees – for example, if the move takes longer than expected.
Also ask if they offer moving supplies as part of the deal as this can help you save money on boxes and tape.
Ask for leave
Moving house isn’t something you want to squeeze into a two day weekend.
Talk to your boss about taking an extra day or two off to move, and think about putting the kids in childcare if necessary to make the day less stressful.
The best bit? Removalists often charge cheaper rates mid-week.
And finally, pack smart
How you pack will help you when you’re unpacking so keep in mind a few things.
- Pack boxes with heavier items on the bottom and don’t overfill a box – weight limits are there for a reason.
- Newspaper makes great fill for packing boxes, as do tea towels and dishcloths.
- Keep a list that labels and numbers every box as you pack it to keep track of the items in each box. This is important in case anything is lost, and ensures you don’t unpack the garden tools in the kitchen.
We’ve seen hundreds of our clients prepare for their big house moving day before. So if you’d like any extra tips or advice, be sure to get in touch. And yes, apologies in advance, but it’s a darn shame – we’re already busy that day…
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