Despite what many people say, moving house doesn’t always have to be an overwhelmingly stressful experience. If you get yourself organised with plenty of time to spare, it can be a smooth process, ending with you settling comfortably into your dream home.
As we all try to economise in all areas of our lives, moving house doesn’t have to be an exception- as long as you know where to start. Many homeowners are opting to take control of their house-moves and take on the majority of the work themselves, rather than handing the entire process over to professional removalists.
Below, we offer some helpful advice on decluttering, packing and transporting your belongings to your new home so that you can make sure things stay trouble free. Plus, we’ll drop in a few handy DIY house-move tips so you can save yourself time, money and most importantly, stress, during your upcoming relocation.
Decluttering
When you’re planning to move house, you firstly need to begin decluttering your existing property to give yourself a completely fresh start once you move into the new place. Our first and most important piece of advice is to start decluttering early- preferably a couple of months in advance of the move. As with everything in life, time flies by fast, and you’ll suddenly find yourself sifting through mountains of stuff the week before you are due to move. Below, we share a couple of ways you can make the decluttering process easier.
Recycle and donate
Being economical doesn’t just mean saving money- it also means doing your bit for the environment too. Start by sorting through your belongings and separate them into three piles: keep, donate or recycle. In the ‘donate’ pile, you should put those things that you don’t want, but are still in good nick and can be taken to your local charity shop.
For items that are unusable or damaged and are in your ‘recycle’ pile, make sure you dispose of them properly at your local recycling centre- this includes e-waste and large pieces of furniture. Remember, consider your ‘recycle’ pile carefully as there may be some things in there that are salvageable; now’s the time to get creative and upcycle old furniture into funky, personal pieces for your new home.
Utilise storage
Even if you’re not an obsessive hoarder, you’ll probably find that your ‘keep’ pile is largest of the three, and the thought of packing it all can be daunting. Whilst you may want a mostly DIY house move, utilising professional storage services can be a great way to manage the amount of stuff you want to move, and also offers back up if your relocation faces unexpected delays.
By placing some of your larger items into storage, you can start to pack up the mass with a little more space around you. If you have any particularly valuable pieces like fine art, antiques, musical instruments or even a vintage car, you can rest assured that they’ll be kept safe and secure in a storage unit. You may even find that you don’t miss some of the things you store away- more opportunities for recycling and donating!
Packing
Now to the biggest task of every relocation- packing up your entire home and family into a set of cardboard boxes. Along with decluttering, packing should begin nice and early so that you don’t rush the process and wind up damaging your valuable possessions and causing yourself unnecessary amounts of stress. When it comes to packing, there are two key areas to consider- what materials are you going to use and how do you plan to load and unload your boxes and furniture?
Packing materials
The materials you use to pack your belongings are crucial- small, weak and irregular shaped boxes simply means a less efficient move and damaged goods at the other end. Luckily, there are plenty of reliable options available; you can hire or buy professional standard packing materials from a removals company, borrow or buy used moving boxes from your local community or even get resourceful with things you already have in your house. For example, keep clothes inside your chests of drawers and wardrobes or pack soft furnishings like toys, towels and curtains inside duvet covers and bedding.
Loading and unloading
If you’re planning a DIY house move, you need to feel confident that you’re fit and strong enough to lift and carry heavy furniture safely. Most importantly, take your time and consider your route- if you need to get a large bed frame down a narrow staircase, make sure you have at least two or three other people to help you manoeuvre it and an extra pair of eyes to help you navigate any tricky corners. For smaller pieces, pack them into trolleys and wheely suitcases in order to minimise the amount of time you actually have to carry heavy things. Remember, professional removals teams are trained in lifting and carrying, so don’t overestimate your own abilities and don’t be afraid to ask for a helping hand.
Travelling
The final step in the process is, of course, the move out day itself and getting you, your family and all your belongings to the new home. Whether you’re moving around the corner, to a new town or even to another country, transporting everything can be a logistical nightmare. You’ll need to consider the distance you have to travel, how many trips back and forth you need to take and when the best time to move is. You have two options when it comes to the travel arrangements- you can either do everything yourself or hire a removals company for the final stage of the process.
Moving yourself
If you plan to transport your belongings in your own car, it’s essential that you utilise the space and pack it tightly in order to minimise the number of times you have to drive back and forth. You’re essentially playing a lifesize game of Tetris, but remember to be aware of the weight of your belongings. Your car will be much heavier when it’s full and this can massively affect your ability to drive- steep hills might be a no-go!
Another economical option is to hire a van for your move. This way, you can fit much more than your average car but you still won’t need to pay a removals team for the day’s work. Just make sure you have all hands on deck to help load and unload and if you need a particularly large vehicle, double check that your driving licence allows for it.
Use a removals company
Whilst transporting everything yourself might suit some families, others may still benefit from the expert services of a removals company. If you have a lot of furniture and boxes to move, it could actually be the more economical and environmentally friendly option as a removals lorry can carry out a move in one trip. Your local removals company will visit your property prior to the move and do a quick survey in order to work out what size lorry is required to carry your things. They’ll make sure that everything fits in perfectly, saving you plenty of time and money and make your move as trouble free as possible.
Arrowpak International is an expert removals company based in East Anglia, able to handle relocations within the UK, across Europe and even international moves. With 40 years of experience and a team of professional removalists, you can rely on Arrowpak to ensure your upcoming relocation runs smoothly. For more information, visit their website today.
