Moving to a new home can be both exciting and daunting, the latter more to do with the sheer amount of time and effort it takes to pack up your things and transport them to another location. If you’re moving to another part of town or the city that you currently live in, it might not be so bad, but moving further afield can make things more complicated.
Essential steps of moving a house
Below are some of the essential steps of moving a house that you need to be prepared for to try and minimize the stress that can come with this experience.
Getting your moving date
Whether you’re renting or buying, once the contracts are finalized and signed, you will soon know when you’re moving date will be. When renting a property, you might find that this date comes sooner rather than later, but it can be fast-paced when you have sold your home and bought a new one as well. No matter how many weeks or months you have before you move, make sure you’re organizing a schedule as soon as you get your date to make sure everything is packed up and ready to go in time.
Hiring a moving company
You might also need help transporting your belongings from your old home to your new one, including moving heavy objects like couches, tables, etc. Make sure that you’re contacting a local moving company sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment as they can get booked up quickly.
Once you know what your moving date is, look into hiring popular long-distance movers or rental van if you are moving your belongings yourself within the first couple of weeks, or at least three weeks before you move at the very latest. You can find quotes from apartment movers online to compare prices and get the best rates.
Decluttering
Moving house is not only an opportunity to experience a new area and living space but also to get rid of the items that are cluttering up your home. Everyone gathers a collection of useful or unwanted belongings over the years, perhaps thinking that one day they would be put to use. However, after a while, it’s time to admit that certain items are simply taking up space and need to go.
Before you start packing your belongings into boxes, go through your closets, drawers, and other storage areas and get rid of anything you don’t want to bring with you to the new house. If you haven’t used it in the last year or two, get rid of it. You can sell your unwanted belongings online to make some extra money if you want to or donate to goodwill if they are still in usable condition.
Packing
When you have decluttered, you can move on to putting your belongings into boxes ready to put into the moving van. Start packing up the non-essential items like clothing you won’t be wearing and home décor items. In the final week, start packing up your kitchenware.
You can leave out some plates, cutlery, and a few pots and pans to cook simple meals, but eating take-out or ready meals in the last couple of nights can help minimize clean-up or using too many utensils. Toiletries that you don’t use every day can also start being packed up in a final couple of weeks, leaving your toothbrush, shampoo, etc., to the last minute.
You might also want to think about renting out a storage unit temporarily for some of your belongings if you want to have more room for decorating in your new home or want to wait to move them in for another reason.
Cleaning
Finally, to make sure you’re getting your security deposit back and to be courteous to the new residents, deep clean the house or apartment before you leave. If you don’t have a lot of time to do this yourself or the energy after packing up your home, you can hire a domestic cleaning service to do this job for you and the perfect professional finish.
Final words
If you’re planning to move to a new home in the next few months, remember these essential steps and prepare for them to make your moving experience easier.
