Unless you are a minimalist, moving is one of the biggest household tasks there are and can be incredibly overwhelming. However, if you can get a head start and stay organized you and your family should make it through this mammoth process unscathed.
Read on to consider six often overlooked things when moving house:
- ASKING FRIENDS
It is a straightforward thing to ask your friends to help you move out when the money is tight, right? Wrong!
Your friends do not want to help you relocate. For sure, they are not going to refuse as they love you and sincerely want to do their part in your hours of delicate confusion. However, waking up before the local roosters to haul someone else’s 90-pound bed frame down four flights of humid stairs is no one’s idea of fun.
- KEEP CHILDREN AND PETS AWAY
Irrespective of who is moving your fixtures – professional movers or pals – they do not want a yelping dog or a boisterous child running around while they are carrying loaded boxes and furniture. It is distracting for the movers and it is unsafe for children as well as pets.
When dealing with the stress of moving, it is normal to forget about the safety hazards that could impact your children. If you aren’t 100% sure on what you need to check/look out for, SafeStore has written a helpful article entitled How to Keep Your Children Safe on Moving Day which will help guide you.
It is actually a wise idea to have a trusted friend babysit your kids the day of the move or if your parents live in the same city, they would be delighted to have their grandchildren for a day. The same goes for your pooch or kitten. If you can house them elsewhere for a day securely, you will be able to focus on the main course of the day.
- MOVING COMPANIES
Some people are just born with the skill that lets them efficiently pack innumerable things into confined spaces. Unfortunately, not everyone has this Tetris DNA, which makes moving companies all the more essential.
If packing is not a skill included on your resume, there are professional moving companies whom specialize in packing and handling your possessions with care before transporting them in and out.
A cursory online search will reveal the leading moving help businesses in your region – you can also get a quote from most of them in a matter of minutes.
- KEEP YOUR MOVERS IN THE LOOP
It is fine to let the movers work their way with the boxes, but when we talk about big and heavy objects it is crucial to inform them of your requirements and expectations before booking. Moreover, your mover needs to be aware of all the last minute details to calculate your total relocation cost and time, and have accurate equipment available. This includes notifying the company about any extremely heavy objects such as a piano or fridge, access restrictions (walk-up only, small elevator or narrow driveway) and whether you will need assistance with reassembly or assembly of furniture.
If you have hired movers to pack, pick up and ship your furniture and boxes, then you must ensure your presence during the entire process. This is because finding a damaged item once you have signed the inventory will ruin your mood.
- PACK A SURVIVAL BOX
Carry the essentials you will need first in a transparent plastic tub. It looks simple but is a tantrum-saver and you will thank us later. You can call it your moving house survival kit. This may include a box cutter, bin bags, paper towels, kettle, cutlery, and some cups as well as tea, coffee, sugar, and milk because you will be scorched when you get there.
Oh! and do not forget toilet rolls.
- DRAW A FLOOR PLAN
You know what will save you moving day agony as well as time? A pre-moving-in floor plan of your new home!
Sketch and list your furniture and fixtures the way you and your family want them to be arranged in every room. After that, tag all the objects to match the numbers on the floor plan. This will enable the movers to know precisely where to place which item.
It will relieve you of the moving day hazard of making 11th-hour decisions about the respective placements of big household items. Therefore, it is admissible to make a floor plan before time to ensure minimum last minute hassle.