Moving to a new home comes with a strange mix of excitement and stress. It is a fantastic new opportunity and you get a chance to make a new place your own. Even with this exciting move there is a lot to think about which can cause it to be stressful if you don’t make a plan and do some preparation in advance.
As a realtor in Nanaimo, I have helped countless people deal with their moves and I understand there are plenty of things that you can do to make this experience much more relaxing for you and your family.
You should be able to enjoy your move and that is why I wanted to put together this guide. It will show the steps you can take towards a stress-free move (or as stress-free as possible) so you can look forward to moving day instead of dreading it.
Top Tips For A Stress-Free Move
Moving doesn’t have to be stressful! Follow these tips to make your next move a breeze.
Make A Moving Plan Early On
The single biggest thing you can do to ensure a less stressful move is to make a moving plan and to make it early. This not only helps to keep you organized but by doing it early you allow yourself some wiggle room in case you hit an unexpected snag, which is almost inevitable.
Planning a moving schedule doesn’t have to be very difficult or time-consuming but you should try and do it well. You will need to plan the time it will take for you to pack, load, clean, move and unload all of your belongings. If you are planning on hiring professional movers (more on this below), make sure you book them early to get your desired dates.
You will also need to speak to your landlords and employers to arrange the necessary time to complete all of this work. Some people often have an overlapping month between the two places, but we recommend renting a storage unit if you need the extra time as this is a much cheaper option.
Make an in-depth moving checklist as part of your moving plan so you don’t forget anything!
Pick A Reliable Moving Company In Advance
Hire an expert moving company to do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Research moving companies and find one that has plenty of good reviews. The last thing you want is any damage to your possessions or your property during a move.
Be sure to get multiple quotes as professional movers can often be more expensive than you think. You will want to make sure you know exactly what is included in your quote so you aren’t left with any surprises on the day either.
Try and do this as far in advance of your moving date as possible as movers tend to be busy on dates like weekends, holidays or at the end of the month.
Have Each Member Of The Family Pack Their Own Survival Suitcase
Have each member of your family pack their own suitcase with the essentials they will need to get through the first few days in your new home. Unpacking can often take several days and you don’t want to have to dig through boxes to find an essential item on your first night.
Items to include in this suitcase are toiletries, phone and laptop chargers, medication, and some snacks and water to keep you going. Keep these survival suitcases separate from the rest of your boxes so that you can access them easily at any time.
Declutter Your Home
Before you start to pack it is a great idea to thoroughly declutter your home. Get rid of any old, unnecessary, or unwanted items as this will save you time, money, and stress when it comes to packing and moving.
Donate, recycle, sell, or throw away as many items as you can. This leaves fewer things for you to pack and organize and it will make your move cheaper as you might only need a smaller van and fewer moving hours.
Gather Your Packing Supplies
Before you start packing, you will want to get all of your supplies in advance, allowing you to pack quickly and efficiently when the time comes. You will need:
- boxes
- newspaper
- packing paper
- tape
- old rags
- moving blankets
- scissors
- markers
Having a centralized packing location can also help you feel less stressed during your move. Use a spare room to set up a station to easily pack away all of your items. This keeps the rest of your house from becoming cluttered with packing equipment in the lead-up to your move.
Start Packing Weeks In Advance
How early you have to start packing depends on the size of your house but for larger homes, it can take 8 – 12 weeks. Packing always takes longer than expected so it is a good idea to start as early as possible. This way you aren’t running behind closer to moving day which will certainly make things feel more stressful.
While it may go without saying, categorize everything and pack it together. It is usually a good idea to start early with the rooms that you use the least and leave areas like the kitchen and living room right to the end.
Even when packing items that are from the same room, be specific with your labelling. It may seem quick and easy to just write “kitchen” on the box but it is a good idea to list a couple of the items that are included in each box like plates, bowls, or cutlery. That way when you have 10 different boxes labelled kitchen you will still be able to find what you are looking for. Some people even use colour-coded tape, cards or markers to make the unpacking process even simpler.
Pack heavy items in small boxes and light items in larger boxes to avoid boxes breaking or ripping as you move. And while it is recommended to generally keep similar items together, you should keep fragile items separate and clearly mark them so extra caution is taken with them during the move.
Ask Your Moving Company For A List Of Items They Won’t Move
Most moving companies will have a list of items that they will not transport for you. This can include things like bleach, pesticides, fertilizers, plants with soil in them, open paint cans, and a whole host of other items.
Check with your moving company in advance to ensure you know what they won’t be able to move. You can then make alternative arrangements for these items or donate, sell, recycle, or throw them away.
Organize Utilities
Settle all of the utilities for your current home before you leave if you can, or at least be aware of any final utility bills you will need to pay. Cancel any existing subscriptions you will not be taking to your new home, like internet and cable services.
For your new home, you can often set up accounts for yourself in advance so you are ready to go the day you move in. Set up electricity accounts, transfer your internet or cable if you are keeping it, set up accounts for water, gas, or heat wherever necessary. This will save you having to do all of this once you have actually moved as you will already have your hands full.
Take Time To Clean Your New Home Before Moving In
If you can get access to your new home a few days before moving in then you should give it a good clean and assess it before you move. It is much easier to clean an empty home and you will be glad you took the time to do so when you finally get to move in. Make sure to keep your cleaning supplies separate from the rest of your packed belongings.
Take advantage of the empty space to take deliveries for the likes of white goods or measure for blinds, carpets or rugs.
Stress Less With Nanaimo Real Estate
Planning your move well in advance will lead to a much more enjoyable process. By following the advice above you can greatly reduce your stress levels and you can actually appreciate your new home.
Have you got any questions about moving to Nanaimo? Get in touch with me and I would be more than happy to help answer any questions or to help you look for Nanaimo real estate opportunities.