How to Simplify the Process of Moving House

When we think about moving houses, we might become overwhelmed with the realisation of the enormity of the task. On the surface it might look simple, we picture ourselves after the change, already living and breathing in the new home, all services functional and all our possessions right where we want them; but to get there is an arduous process and any steps we can take to simplify them, will be of great help.

Now, the start of this article seems a little ominous, but the main thing we must remember before moving is this: do not become overwhelmed.

It is easier said than done, naturally, and of course, there might be situations that will make you panic, but the fact is that moving house is a completely doable task, and as long as you don’t let yourself believe otherwise, things will be easier.

There are many things besides a cold head that can help you when you decide to start the process of moving, and we will address some of those here.

The first big step sounds obvious, but it is actually something that most people tiptoe around for far too long. You should start thinking about your move as soon as possible.

The sooner you start to think about the specifics about the process, the better chance you’ll have at doing everything with the efficiency and success required. Try thinking of the best route to take to your new home on moving day. Start planning ahead where you’ll obtain packing boxes. Decide a colour coded system to identify boxes. Call the utility companies and make sure you know everything you need for the move.

All these things might seem evident, but when moving houses, it is not uncommon to oversee some of the most basic things in our lives.

Something else that you can do to simplify the process is to create checklists. Don’t just create a checklist of tasks as a whole, like ‘updating my information’, instead, address individual tasks, such as ‘update my information at the bank, update my credit card information on a website’. You are much more likely to remember all the necessary steps this way.

You should also make a list of all your important possessions. Separate the superfluous items from the essential ones make sure to pack all the things you don’t need on a daily basis in advance, so that the daily used objects are available towards the last day in your old home.

Also, make sure you are prepared for at least a week of living out of boxes. Prepare suitcases for the family as if you were going on vacation. Get everyone to pack their suitcase on the last day, with several changes of clothes, their personal hygiene items, and some bedding and towels.

The cleaning supplies for the house should be packed last, as well. During the move, it might be convenient to clean the old house once the boxes and furniture are on the move, instead of cleaning beforehand. It is also important to clean the new house before items arrive and after unpacking. Some bigger moving companies will offer these services, besides help with packing and unpacking. This is a great help to simplify the process of moving house.

Last, but not least, throw out the rubbish! Before the move, during the packing process, make sure you get rid of all the items that no longer serve a purpose in your home. Any item that you no longer use that is moved to the new house, will be an item that you paid to move. If you do a bit of a spring-cleaning before the big day, you’ll find yourself with a much more simple process ahead of you. You can donate your unused items to charity, give them away or even sell them, which can be a good option to make some money that will help with the inevitable expenses.