If there is one fact that everyone can agree on, it is that moving home is stressful. Right from the moment you start packing your belongings into boxes through to the first night in your new home, the entire process is known for its ability to push people to the limit.
However, while it is impossible to say that moving can ever truly be easy, it can be easier – especially if you are able to get the timing just right. Below, we’ve put together a moving timeline that can allow you to manage the process from start to finish that is well worth keeping in mind the next time you’re moving home…
Eight weeks from Moving Day
- Find a moving company that suits your requirements. If you have particularly large or awkward items to move (such as a piano), you may need to find a specialist company to assist with this; similarly, if you are moving long distance rather than locally, looking for companies such as Allied Van Lines that specialise in long moves is likely to be the best choice.
- Gather supplies such as boxes, tape, box labels, and materials to protect delicate items during the move.
- Declutter. Before even thinking about packing, decluttering your home is incredibly useful. Be ruthless; if you haven’t used an item for six months and it has no sentimental value, then say goodbye.
Four weeks from Moving Day
- Pack items stored in rooms you use the least, such as your dining room or guest bedroom, and keep a list of where each item has been packed.
- Focus on medical requirements; request a copy of your medical records from your existing provider. You can also begin to browse for a new healthcare provider located closer to your new home and start the process of enrolling as a patient.
- Start notifying companies such as your broadband and electricity providers of your impending move and arranging for your services to transfer to the new address
Four weeks from Moving Day
- Gather together your most important documents such as your passport, driving licence, and bank details and store them securely in their own file. Don’t pack this file into a box; transport it with you on the day of the move.
- Transfer your home insurance to your new address, double-checking that the policy will continue to cover you at your existing home until the date of the move.
- Start packing the rest of your home, focusing first on the largest items and then moving through to smaller items as you progress. Continue to update your list noting where each item has been packed.
The week of the move
- Eat from existing stocks rather than buying new food. You can use one of these apps to find recipes that are suitable for the items you have available.
- Double-check the arrangements with your chosen removals company and your cable and utilities providers.
- Prepare a “first night” bag that contains all the essentials you need for the first night in your new home, so you don’t have to start unpacking boxes the moment you arrive – tea or coffee, your phone charger, and medications are a good starting point.
The above timings are a rough guide; you do not need to meet every marker exactly, but aiming to be there or thereabouts should help to simplify your move and make the entire endeavor as stress-free as it can possibly be.