Moving house can be undoubtedly stressful, after all you are literally uprooting your entire life and transporting it somewhere new and, for the most part, quite unfamiliar. There are some things you can do in advance to help ease the stress of moving day.
Start sorting through your belongings early
As soon as you decide to move, even before you’ve viewed a new property, start sorting through your belongings. If you’ve been in your current home for a while, it’s very likely you have collected a number of belongings you no longer need nor use. Having a good de-clutter of your things before you pack (selling, recycling or binning anything you don’t use) ensures you are only moving what you really need. And if you plan on using a removal company, the less stuff you have the better; the last thing you want is an additional trip between properties due to a few boxes not fitting into the removal van.
Not only will you save money, as well as potentially making money on anything you sell, but you also won’t have the worry of sorting things out once you are finally in your new home. And hopefully you won’t have those unnecessary boxes of stuff that remain unpacked in a cupboard or the attic for years to come!
Make a list of what you’re taking
Depending on your current living arrangements, you may or may not have a lot of stuff to take to your new home. If you currently live with parents or are in a furnished let, you probably won’t have a great deal of furniture to take. Likewise, if you are moving with a large family, you will probably have a lot of furniture and belongings needing to be shifted. And if you are selling your current property, it may be the case that you have agreed with the buyer that certain items will be part of the sale.
Preparing a list of what you are taking – and even labelling things – helps you keep track of what is what and where it’s to go, especially when the chaos of packing and actually moving things commences.
What does your new property need?
When you move into a new property, it is normal and somewhat expected that you will be living out of boxes for a few days. But is there anything your new property will need from day one? Often essentials like curtains are not included with a property, so consider investing in some curtains or blinds for the first few nights; alternatively, you could hang an old sheet over the windows for some privacy.
Prepare an essentials box
Take some time to consider what you will need as soon as you arrive at your new home. It’s wise to have a box packed with essentials like tea/coffee, batteries, tools, chargers, cleaning supplies torches…anything you may need to hand for the first night.
If you are moving with children too, it’s also worth preparing an essentials box for each child, filled with their favourite toys, snacks, their own torch, books and other activities to keep them entertained.
List all the bills you’ll need to update
Some changes to utilities can be done ahead of the move but others will need to be done on the actual day. Make a list of all the companies you will need to call on the day of the move to update your address, listing them by priority. Also note down any relevant information (account numbers, security info…) to prevent any wasted calls in which you cannot remember the necessary details, particularly when the paperwork will be packed away into one of many boxes.
Once you’re in, take your time
You’ve got the keys, now take a breath. The chances are you will be planning to live in your new property for a while, so with that in mind, don’t try and force yourself to unpack everything within the first few hours. All you will do is stress yourself out and resent the decision to ever move. Instead prioritise the most important things and enjoy the first day and night in your new home, before taking the next few days to tackle one room at a time.
If you are in need of advice during the sale or purchase of a property, get in touch today on 0131 554 6244 or email: mail@bprsolicitors.co.uk.