Moving homes can be an exciting new chapter in your life, but let’s be honest – it can also be seriously overwhelming. From packing, to transit, to unpacking in an unfamiliar space, the whole process can feel chaotic, leaving you stressed out and drained.
READ: Bought a new home? Here’s a checklist of what to do before moving
The good news? With a few savvy tricks, you can streamline your move and make settling into your new space a much more comfortable experience. David Jacobs, Regional Sales Manager for the Rawson Property Group, offers his expert insights to help you move with ease.
Take measurements early on
One of the most common frustrations people face after moving is realising their furniture doesn’t fit the way they had hoped. Whether it’s your sofa being too big for the living room or the dining table crowding your kitchen, these issues can be avoided with a bit of pre-move planning.
“Take detailed measurements of your new home before moving,” advises Jacobs. “This will help you map out exactly where each piece of furniture should go, making it easier to direct your movers with confidence and avoid any disappointment on moving day.”
Make sure to measure window heights and widths as well, so you know whether your existing curtains will work, or if you need new ones. This little step can make a real difference to your comfort in your first few days in the new space.
Label boxes for easy unpacking
It’s tempting to just throw things into boxes, thinking you’ll sort it all out later. Spoiler alert: “later” often translates to weeks of living out of boxes searching for things you know you packed, but can’t remember where. Jacobs suggests avoiding this by implementing a smart labelling system.
“Label each box not just with its contents, but also with the room it belongs to,” he says. “You’ll thank yourself when movers or friends helping you are able to put everything in its rightful place without asking you constantly where things go.”
For extra efficiency, Jacobs says some people even use colour-coded labels for different rooms, making it effortless to tell which boxes belong where.
Pack in reverse order
One of the most underrated hacks to make unpacking a breeze is to pack reverse order. Jacobs explains this as packing the items you’ll need first at the top of each box and the ones you’ll need last at the bottom. This way, you can unpack your essentials without digging through non-essentials first.
READ: A new home presents the perfect opportunity to overhaul your household budget
“For example, if you’re packing up the kitchen, ensure that the things you’ll need right away – like plates and cutlery – are easily accessible” says Jacobs. “This method makes it much simpler to get your home functional quickly.”
Set daily targets
One of the biggest stressors of moving is trying to do everything at once. It’s easy to get overwhelmed if you try to pack up your entire home in a weekend. Instead, Jacobs recommends spreading out the workload by setting daily packing targets.
“Focus on one room at a time,” he says. “Set yourself a goal to pack up one room each day in the week leading up to your move. This way, you’re breaking the process down into manageable tasks, and the packing won’t feel nearly as overwhelming.”
Clean as you pack
Cleaning while you pack serves two purposes: first, it prevents you from taking unnecessary clutter to your new home; second, it leaves your old space in good condition, saving you from an additional cleanup on moving day.
“Declutter as you go,” Jacobs advises. “As you’re packing up each room, clean the area and get rid of things you no longer need. This way, when you finally close that door for the last time, you won’t have to look back.”
Pack an “essentials box”
There’s nothing worse than arriving at your new home, tired after a long day of moving, only to realise you don’t know where your toothbrush is. That’s why it’s essential to pack a “first-night” box with all your must-haves.
“Make sure you have a box with essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, chargers, basic kitchen supplies, and important documents,” says Jacobs. “Label it clearly and keep it close during the move so it’s the first thing you unpack.”
Pre-clean your new home
Cleaning your new space before moving in, especially if it’s been vacant for a while, will save you the trouble of having to clean around boxes and furniture later.
“A fresh start in a clean space can help make your new house feel like home right away,” Jacobs says. “If possible, take a day before the big move to do a thorough cleaning, or consider hiring a cleaning service to make the job quicker and more effective.”
Manage cable chaos
Untangling a jumble of cables can be a nightmare, especially when you’re trying to set up your TV or computer in your new home. Jacobs recommends avoiding this this by wrapping cables neatly and labelling them before you pack. “Wrap cables in Velcro strips or zip ties and label each one so you know exactly which cord belongs to which device,” he says. “It’s a small step that will make setting up electronics much less frustrating.”
Plan for pets and kids
If you have pets or young children, moving day can be especially stressful. Jacobs highly recommends arranging for someone to watch them on the day of the move so you can focus on getting settled without distractions. You’ll be more productive and less stressed knowing they’re safe and cared for.
Celebrate your new space!
Finally, don’t forget to enjoy the process! Moving into a new home is a significant milestone, so once the hard work is over, celebrate! “Whether it’s having a small housewarming party or simply ordering in your favourite takeout, take the time to appreciate your fresh start,” says Jacobs.
READ: Top 7 items that get damaged when moving and how to protect them
Home-Dzine shares the best tricks when moving out for the first-time
Whether you’re moving out of your house with your roommates or with your partner, the need for landing on the necessary habits of better planning never dies.
Here is a list of things you should apply when you start living independently.
1. Bring changes to your lifestyle
Living in your parent’s house is different, as there’s no burden of responsibilities on your shoulders. But when you decide to live alone in your own home, a bunch of duties pops up. But don’t worry; if you keep your lifestyle on track, there will be no milestone that you can’t achieve.
2. Take a look of your finances
One of the most critical parts about leaving your house for the first time is to deal with your every-day increasing expenses. All you’ve to do is to plan and finance your future life. But the question that knocks out your head is how you’re going to do all this? Make a budget to figure out your expenses. Buy everything ranging from your utility needs to furniture should be in your budget.
The best way is to note all your expenses for the month on a notepad and spend your money accordingly. Plus, keep water, petrol, and electricity in control as it also influences the budget.
3. Choose the best location
The choice of location for your future house will influence your troubles a lot. No doubt it’s relatively easy to compromise with your needs, but still, you’ve to buy reliable real estate where all your needs are on your doorstep.
4. Find yourself a permanent Job
Taking a brave decision to move out of the house for the first time isn’t appropriate unless you have a steady job pushing you up financially. As you’re going to face millions of problems economically and emotionally, only a permanent job resolves all your matters. It’s the best advice to have a steady job before move out of the house.
5. Always have a plan B
Not everyone who’s moving out of the house is the one who gives a potential setback to the upcoming problems. There’re chances that you may get fail in building yourself up. But don’t bother about it much; having a plan B when moving out of college is the only thing you can do to save your living.
6. Go for renters insurance
The unfortunate time comes without informing. Thus, the best way to push yourself up in such circumstances is to have renters insurance. Choose the policies which have low monthly payments or those that offer full replacement coverage.
Stand On Your Own
Shifting in your house by moving out for the first time seems like a daunting task. But you shouldn’t get confused after reading the tips we’ve talked about above. Adopt them in your life and see your development in days.
