How to take the stress out of moving house

9th March 2022

Moving house Light box saying New Home — Image by Sammy-Sander from Pixabay

This is a collaborative post

Packing up your entire home and shifting it somewhere else is a laborious job, even if you’re just moving down the street! The process of moving house is definitely not something which should be trivialised either – with 34% of Brits suffering severe anxiety during their last move and 40% reporting they became physically ill as a result.

It’s not just simply packing things into boxes and driving to your new location – in lots of cases, it’s the upheaval of your whole life! That being said, here are some tips which can help you move run smoother and hopefully reduce the anxiety felt throughout the process.

Organise early

One way you can guarantee less stress on your moving day is by planning in advance. This way, you won’t be rushing around trying to get everything organised weeks before your move.

You will want to create a checklist of all your belongings, and when packing into boxes, ensure they are labelled so you know exactly what’s inside. Try to do this 6-8 weeks in advance. The earlier you start this task, the less overwhelming it will seem.

Admin is also an essential part of moving. This may include notifying the council and internet/tv/phone providers about your move. Nearer the time of the move, you can update other institutions such as HMRC, the DVLA, and the Post Office about your new address.

Pack an essentials bag

Another good idea is to have a small ‘essentials bag’ packed which contains everything you need to get you through the next few weeks. This is a necessity as it’s likely you won’t always have access to your things in storage.

This may include toiletries, clothes, nightwear, medication, makeup, and anything else you feel you simply cannot live without! This means you can concentrate on your move, without having to worry about where your belongings are.

Removal companies

A big part of moving to a new house is hiring a quality removal company for their services. This is an essential part of your move, yet it can cost you quite a bit of money.

To get the best bang for your buck, shop around before committing to one company. Get at least three different quotes. Additionally, compare the cost of hiring a van and doing the move yourself as opposed to going with a company. If you’re not too confident with heavy lifting, this is something you may need to enlist the services of a professional for.

You can save money in other areas by booking your move on a weekday and calling around local retailers and your friends to secure free packaging supplies.

Other helpful tips

There are a number of smart techniques you can employ to take that extra stress out of your move – you want to make this as easy as possible for yourself and avoid any opportunity for things to go wrong or create extra work for yourself.

For example, wrap cling film over open bottles of liquids such as condiments or shampoos – this will prevent any spillages and stop them ruining other items during the upheaval. Keeping your clothes on their hangers and not emptying your dresser drawers will also speed up a lot of the unpacking /organisation process. It will be a great feeling knowing that your dresser is already stocked up and ready for everyday life.

By following these simple tips, you can create a stress-free, perhaps even enjoyable, move for yourself!

Reviews & Adverts

Moving House Or Extending: Which Is Better For Your Family?

2nd October 2017

There comes a point when every family will find themselves struggling for space. Everybody is getting bigger and as kids start to get older, they’ll increasingly want space for themselves. The simple answer, you need a bigger house, but that could mean two things. It could mean moving house to somewhere bigger, or it could mean extending your current house. So, which is better?

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Can You Extend?

In some cases, you won’t have to make the decision because it just won’t be possible to extend the house. There’s always the possibility that the foundations of the house are unstable, or that there are vital supporting walls that can’t be moved, making it impossible for you to safely extend the house. Before you start making any big plans for your new extension, get a chartered surveyor from somewhere like Allcott Associates to come and look at the house. They’ll be able to tell you whether an extension is viable or not and advise you on the best place to put it. If you skip this step and go ahead anyway, you might find that the builders dig up half the garden before realizing that an extension would be unsafe and you’ll have to pay them for the work and deal with the disruption for nothing.

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Another hurdle that you’ll face is planning permission. The laws can be pretty tricky and some requests might get denied. Applying for planning permission is a fairly lengthy process so it’s best to get started right away. You can submit your initial request online and then somebody will come to assess the property and decide whether you can get building regulations approval for the proposed extension.

Are You In A Good Location?

The value of a property hinges largely on the location and this is something you need to take into account when you’re trying to decide whether you should move house or extend. If your current house is in a pretty bad location and you can afford to move into a better location, nearer to amenities and good schools, then moving house is your best option. However, if you live in a great location already, moving house might be a downgrade. Your house will already be worth a lot of money and putting an extension on it will only increase the value so, if it’s possible, it’s the better choice.

Disruption

Whether you decide to move house or extend, it’s going to disrupt your life quite a bit. However, moving is going to be an easier transition. When you’re extending, you won’t be able to use large parts of the house for quite a while. It might mean some of the kids having to share rooms for a bit. If you’ve got a younger family this is less of a problem, but getting teenagers to share rooms is a bit more tricky. On the other hand, older kids will be better equipped to deal with the disruption to the house.

When it comes to moving, younger children are likely to find the transition a lot easier. Making new friends and fitting in at a new school is less of a struggle for younger kids than it is for teenagers. Either way, it’s going to be a troublesome period so you just need to decide what works best for your family.

Moving and extending are equally good ways of getting the space that you need. To decide between the two, ask yourself these questions and see what the best situation for your family is.

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5 Tips to moving to a new home

4th July 2017

New Home

Moving out towards a new home can be overwhelming to many people. Some find it hard to let go of their old house while others are excited for a new sense of adventure but everyone can agree on one thing which is, moving to a new home can be a drag if not planned right. So many things can go wrong. It would be best to plan ahead for your moving so that when trouble arises you will not be caught off guard and you can find the solution to it immediately. If you are not prepared to move out then the stress will eat you alive and will result to irritation and sarcasm. If you are planning to move out then you can rely on these tips we offer to guide you on your journey towards a new neighbourhood.

Make a Checklist

The first step and the most important. Before you start with anything, make a checklist of all the things you are going to do and the things you are going to bring. Making a checklist will guide you through your task steps at a time. It will also be easier for you to keep track of things and will smoothen up your problems when it comes to packing. Make that checklist and carry it with you so that you will always be reminded.

Organise your things according to its type

When you start packing you put those things with the same type in one box to avoid confusion and forgetting something. Keep your children’s things in the same box or the kitchenwares in the same box so that you will see which items will be forgotten. If you just randomly put things in a box, there is a slight chance that you might overlook something or worse lose them. It is better to organize your packing so that when you start to unpack them in your new home, you won’t have a hard time.

Hire a Professional Moving Company

Not everyone has a big car that can accommodate their things in their house. The safest way to move is to hire a Moving Company. They can take care of your moving needs from the small items to the big ones. It might cost you money but the safety of your things is assured. You don’t have to worry about your things in case your car breaks down along the road. All you have to do is give your new address to the Moving Company and you are worry-free.

Take care of your New Mailing Address

People tend to forget to update their new mailing address and because of that it, causes them problems in the future. Never forget to take care of your Address Change details. Before you leave your old home, try to update everyone that matters such as the post office, the banks and family members living far away. It is better to do it sooner because you will forget it once you are overwhelmed with your new home.

Hire a dumpster to get rid of your old stuff

After you finished packing, there will be things that will be left behind. It is either because they are old, not functioning or they are just trash. You can’t leave your old home dirty so you should hire a dumpster to take away your trash. You can check out eagledumpsterrental.com online to take care of your dirty business.

This is a collaborative post