Worried because you're moving house soon? This
really doesn't have to be a stressful, chaotic time. Here are
some proven tips to help you achieve a successful, organized home
move.
USE A MOVING CHECKLIST Make yourself
a moving checklist outlining everything that needs to be done
before, and after, your move.
LEAVE IT BEHIND Avoid moving anything
you don't really need. It is expensive, time-consuming, and physically
unnecessary to move things you won't be using. If you don't use
it now, you most likely won't use it later.
THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT STORAGE If you
must put household items into storage be sure you really will
want them when they come out. After a year in storage you will
wonder why you've been paying someone to look after stuff that
you no longer want. It is obviously really, but make a detailed
list of what is in storage to avoid lengthy pointless searches
in your new home.
IT’S CURTAINS FOR YOUR CURTAINS
Decide whether curtains are any use to you in your new house otherwise
sell them to the buyer of your old home. If you are taking them
they’ll probably need to be re-sized. Unless they are expensive
material, custom made or virtually brand new you’d probably
be better off getting new window dressings for your new home;
call in professional help before you move so they are ready to
fit as soon as you have moved.
GET RID OF CLUTTER Dispose of broken
tools, old toys, old clothing and other items that you no longer
need, before you move. Give usable items to charity or hold a
garage sale or visit a boot sale.
DON'T SKIMP ON YOUR REMOVAL SERVICE Choose
an experienced moving firm with an established reputation for
good service and reliability. Choosing someone that is unreliable
or inexperienced will waste more time and money than you can imagine.
ENLIST ANY HELP YOU CAN GET You will
get a lot more done, with some family members and friends helping
you pack and/or unpack. If your children are old enough, they
should be helping too. And someone can keep the crew served with
tea and biscuits to keep them going!
BOX IT Get boxes in assorted sizes. Be
sure they're clean, in good condition and have covers so they
can be closed and sealed with tape. Start collecting them from
your local merchants, or purchase them from your moving company.
Wine or spirits boxes are excellent. They are sturdy and contain
dividers making them ideal for packing glasses, goblets, vases,
etc.--but make sure these boxes have lids. By the way, an easy
way to store boxes so they do not take up storage space is to
open both ends and flatten them out. Cartons can be resealed with
strong packing tape as you use them.
MARK IT Felt pens are ideal for marking
boxes with information such as its contents, destination room,
fragile or this side up.
USE THE A PRIORITY SYSTEM Everything
you pack does not have to be unpacked the first day in your new
home. If it contains essential items, mark it PRIORITY 1. If the
contents are important, but not crucial, mark the box PRIORITY
2. If the box contains out of season items, holiday items and
other things you won't need right away, mark the box PRIORITY
3. Then, unpack in 1, 2, 3 order.
WRAP IT You will need plenty of wrapping
paper and heavy-duty packing tape. Anything wrapped in newsprint
will most likely be soiled from the ink and will require cleaning
after unpacking. Movers use unprinted newsprint. For items you
prefer to keep clean, you can purchase this packing paper from
your mover. Kraft paper, tissue paper and shock- resistant corrugated
paper make excellent wrapping materials and may be purchased at
most major department stores, craft stores or your mover. These
papers also make excellent cushioning and lining material. For
really delicate items get yourself a supply of plastic bubble
wrap.
LABEL IT As you're packing, place removable,
coloured, circle stickers on your boxes to easily distinguish
kitchen items, from bedroom items, from bathroom items, etc. Use
a different colour code for each room. If necessary, make a master
list so you'll know what is in each box. If you can go to your
new home ahead of time, you may wish to stick a corresponding
coloured sticker on the door, or door frame, of the room that
the box will be delivered to. This can guide the crew from the
removals firm so they leave items in the correct room.
LIGHTEN UP Cartons can be handled easier
if they do not exceed 50lbs / 30kg, fully packed. Keep this in
mind when you're packing.
ROOM BY ROOM Pack on a room-by-room basis,
keeping the contents of each room in separate boxes. This will
eliminate confusion and save time when you're unpacking.
PACK EARLY Even if you only pack two
boxes a day, in thirty days you will have packed sixty boxes.
Start in areas where the goods are not in frequent use such as
the cellar, attic, garage, etc.
ORDER ADDRESS LABELS Order address labels
before you move into your new home. They will be great to have
on hand when you need to indicate a change of address on anything.
Leave a few behind with the people who move into your old home
or apartment so they can forward anything that gets delivered
to them for you. Give them some stamps to cover any postage costs.
GET YOUR METERS READ Tell the electricity,
water, gas and phone companies you are moving & get them to
read the meters.
REDIRECT YOUR POST Set up a mail redirection
service with the Post Office for at least three months to automatically
divert your post. But don’t use this as an excuse for not
telling people you’ve moved, unless you are trying to avoid
a stalker or debt collectors!
CREATE A SURVIVAL KIT Make a survival
kit for your first night in your new home. This should include
items that will get you through the night if it's too late to
unpack or the movers didn't show up. Helpful items to include
might be: non-perishable food, can opener, paper plates, plastic
utensils, bottled water, a flashlight, a few towels, sheets, toiletries,
a blanket, toilet paper, pen/paper, a few small games or magazines
and a change of clothes for everyone.
HAVE SOMEONE WATCH THE KIDS If you have
children, especially young children, it might be a good idea to
have someone baby sit them while you are doing anything that involves
your move, such as packing, unpacking, etc. Your kids won't be
interrupting your progress and you'll accomplish more with less
stress.
MAKE IT PET FRIENDLY If you have pets,
be sure you have a plan for them when the movers arrive. Perhaps
keep your cats in the bathroom with the litter box, or put your
dogs in a fenced in yard. Also, take care to do what you can so
your pets feel comfortable in your new home. Bring their favorite
toys, give them attention, and don't leave them alone for long
periods of time for the first few days.
USE THE ONE ROOM RULE Set-up one room
in your new home as quickly as possible. This way, you'll have
a quiet retreat, free of boxes. You and your family will then
have a place to go when you need a break from all of the unpacking
activities.
DEVISE A PLAN Before you begin unpacking
randomly sit down with your family. Discuss a plan, including
where things will go, who is responsible for what, etc. It will
help things run smoothly and avoid arguments.
HAVE A TOOL KIT ON HAND One of the most
important things to have on hand when you're setting up your new
home is a basic toolbox that includes simple tools and hardware,
such as a hammer, screwdrivers, nails, hooks, light bulbs, electrical
fuses, etc. And don't forget to have a fully charged battery in
your mobile phone.
FUNCTION BEFORE FORM It is best to first
arrange your furniture, and then unpack accessories and personal
items.
MAKE THE FIRST NIGHT SPECIAL Make the
first night in your new home as special as possible. It can be
take-out Chinese food, or pizza, but you may sweeten the evening
with flowers, candles and music. It will really make a big difference
and will help you to unwind and de-stress.
GET READY FOR BED As soon as the bedroom
furniture is delivered, set it up and put the sheets on the bed.
You'll be grateful that everything is ready for sleeping later
on tonight when you're really tired.
LET EVERYONE KNOW Inform everyone that
you've actually arrived at your new home with simple postcards,
or e-mail for those family members who can receive it.
GET ACQUAINTED Once you arrive at your
new home, schedule some days on your calendar to meet the neighbours.
This is a great time to figure out where the supermarket, bank,
post office, etc. are and will give you a chance to get familiar
with your area. If there is a tourist bureau in town, stop by
and see what events and opportunities your town will be offering.
Finally, enjoy your new life in your new home!
Bronia Suszczenia is co-founder and Creative
Director of York
interior design company Art from the Start Ltd based in England.
She designs projects ranging from dressing a single window, designing
interiors for new homes, right through to refurbishing whole hotels.
Visit http://www.art-from-the-start.co.uk
to see more FREE design tips, to see the design portfolio and
to learn about the unique Room-in-a-Box interior design service.
