The key (they say) to a smooth and successful home relocation is preparation, and I have to agree. Being organized ahead of time not only puts you one step ahead of the game but significantly reduces the stress leading up to moving day, and the initial day seems to flow without a care in the world.
Deciding either as a family or perhaps it’s just for yourself having taken on a brand new position in the company, when we think about the planning and process that goes into executing a home move we need to start as early as possible and have all hands on deck.
Designating chores or tasks to each family member will speed things along for sure, but they will also feel part of the decision-making and part of the ‘team’ that makes it all go well. Children especially enjoy using markers or tape dispensers, and they can add little touches to their room boxes, you’re not only closing a chapter of memories in this house but adding new ones as you go.
If you’re single and need help packing up boxes a great way is to have the girlfriends come around for a few bottles of wine and nibbles, and this way as you pack up you can chat, laugh at hidden clothes you swore you never wore or bought while relaxing with great friends. Win-win. No matter the situation there is a method of madness suited to everyone.
How to start.
If you check a Sydney CBD page for removalists, the first thing you will need is a notebook and a pen, I say notebook as opposed to pad because it is so easy to tear pages from a notepad and assume you’ll remember where you put them down, next thing you know you’re running around like a headless chicken searching for that scrap of paper with the number on for the utility guy. No thank you.
Having everything in one place with side tabs to categorize will save you years of grey hair through this transition.
To get the ball rolling think about which rooms you use the least, it could be guest rooms, offices, or the shed outside, whichever it is start there. It may not feel the most important but it clears the way as you approach the moving day.
As the spare room is all packed up you can store the ready boxes in there and out of the way as you still try to carry on with your daily activities and lifestyle schedule which seems to slow down for no one of course.
Another great tip would be to pack up seasonal items, so if you’re moving middle of the year, Christmas, Halloween, and fireworks night decorations won’t be needed any time soon.
Advice.
I do remember though my mother advising (or demanding whichever way you tend to look at it) us to pack up at least half of the kitchen after the non-essential rooms. At the time it didn’t make sense as we still had a few months to go and we naturally use the kitchen daily, but as we progressed it became clearer. People have a lot of ‘stuff.’
We kept out enough dinnerware plus 1 extra for the members of the family, glasses too, and wrapped and packed the rest. It took the majority of a full weekend to complete it and although we were left with nearly bare cupboards I understood not wanting to do this much work at the end.
Big appliance went too, anything that could be kept in its box as opposed to the usual decentering into the jar was left as is and the pantry was boxed and sealed.
After you have done all that, make yourself a well-deserved cup of tea (no the kettle is not to be packed up till the actual day, movers love tea and biscuits and it will soften them up to care more for your boxes, am I right?) and take a moment to read this article https://www.thespruce.com/packing-your-home-for-household-move-2436497 for a refresher course on who, what, where, when it comes to moving day.
Moving day.
It is here. The day that’s been circled for months on the calendar has finally arrived and there is a buzz of excitement in the air. It is essential to have a to-do list (written a few days earlier), this way you can check off as you go and nothing is left behind. For help with that, you can click here and see what others have done to make this an enjoyable experience because it can be.
Get the family up and moving as early as possible, feed them well, a good breakfast will set the tone for the rest of the day, and have a few snacks to tide them over if the energy levels begin to slow. Ensure everyone is in comfortable clothes and closed toe shoes and seal the last few bits and bobs into their boxes.
Aim for a maximum of 2 to 3 boxes on the actual moving day – they may have labels stating last ‘bits’ or ‘random’ from every room being stripped clean and this way you aren’t packing up till the movers arrive.
Etiquette.
Ensure utilities are not switched off till the next day, everyone will need the bathroom and perhaps a glass of water at some point, ensure the kids and pets are to the side with an activity to keep them occupied or better yet have the neighbor watch them for a few hours while the bulk of the work is done.
Make tea and have some cake or biscuits, and even sandwiches for the employees, moving is tough work and with full tummies, they won’t be counting the hours to be done and doing a rush job.
But the most important factor that many people forget is to let the professionals do their job, they know what and how to pack the furniture and boxes into the van, let them. The last thing they need is a customer who essentially is ‘just in the way.’ Sit back with your hot cuppa and enjoy the moment.
Leave a Reply