When we last moved house in 2015, I was heavily pregnant and also had a toddler to look after too so we tried to be as organised with everything as we could be. I've put together a list of my top tips for ensuring your house move is smooth sailing and stress free.
Accept offers of help
You'll probably have a few people offer to lend a hand either on the day or in the days prior to or following the move. It is definitely worth taking them up on the idea. You could make it into a social occasion, everyone helps to pack one box in exchange for a cuppa and a slice of cake! If anyone is willing to offer free childcare for an hour this can be a godsend. My toddler loved nothing more than unpacking all the items we had packed! With a bit of help, you'll soon have the boxes filled.
Pack a starter kit
The last thing you will want to do when you arrive at the new house, is have to rummage through boxes to find some essentials. Pack a starter kit containing some useful must-haves in advance and keep it to hand. Items can include toilet rolls, hand soap, tea bags and snacks, for example. Keep this in your car so it doesn't end up getting lost among the sea of boxes.
Pack in advance
You'll be surprised by just how quickly time flies as you approach the moving date. With all your other day to day commitments the weeks can pass by quickly, leaving only small chunks of time in which to get organised. Start early and try to do a little bit each night until the only things left to pack are the things you are currently using.
Declutter
A good declutter is good for the soul and makes house moving a lot simpler. Out with the old and in with the new! Keep a few boxes to one side; one for the charity shop, one for throwing out and even one with items to sell at a later date. When you get to the new house you will only be taking the things you actually want and need. It'll feel great to have the extra space. You'll be surprised just how much stuff you have accumulated over the years.
Colour code the boxes
For each room, decide upon a different coloured or themed sticker and make sure they are placed on the relevant boxes. It will save a lot of time the other end as you will know exactly which boxes are for which room. This is a great activity for your children to get involved with too. My toddler had animal stickers and he loved to stick them to the boxes.
Hire a Mover
Hire a removal company. They really took the stress out of moving the boxes and larger items out of our house and into the new one. Removal companies load, transport and unload your belongings and can also assist in the packing and unpacking process. The man and van service will save you so much hassle on the day and will save you a considerable amount of hard work.
Make up your beds
The absolute last thing you will want to be doing after a hard day is to have to put bed sheets and duvet covers on. When you arrive, make this one of the first things you do, then, when you're ready to call it a night you will have beds ready to climb into.
Prepare a goody bag
Children will love this idea and it will save your sanity too. It can be a long, overwhelming and tiring day for little ones. Pack them a mini goody bag with items such as crayons, sticker books, colouring books, a magazine and a notepad to keep them occupied. It doesn't need to be expensive if you buy from pound shops.
Relax
You don't have to unpack everything all at once. That's the beauty of the days and weeks to come as you can take time to get to know your new home, arranging it in a way that suits you and your family. These things don't need to be rushed. On the first night, you only really need your beds made up and somewhere to site whilst you eat your takeaway!
So there you are, a few little tips for making your house move as smooth sailing as can be.
Do you have any tips for moving home? I'd love to hear more!
*collaborative post
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