Taking The Stress Out Of Moving Home

Every time I’ve helped someone move I always dove into the kitchen first because I know (we all know) that moving the kitchen is the biggest stress and practically half the house! Just one cabinet at a time, one box at a time and the refrigerator last and I always bring our two biggest coolers because almost NO ONE has enough coolers to handle their entire refrigerator and cooler! The last person I helped move was in the winter and that was awful except, it was great for moving all of their frozen and refrigerator items!

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)

Is there such a thing as a stress-free house move? Many people will attest to there always being some level of stress when it comes to moving home. After all, it wasn’t voted one of the most stressful life events you can go through for nothing! But a house move by nature will always have some level of stress associated with it. That is completely normal and to be expected.

However, the crutch is how you deal with moving home and what you do to reduce how stressful it can be and take away any unwanted stress or unpreparedness for events from the moving experience. 

There are many reasons why someone would be moving home. Be it the first time they move out of their parent’s home for life as an independent adult, following a marriage or divorce, accommodating a growing family, or simply because you need to or want to move regardless of the why behind the move, how you make a move will make all the difference to this experience.

So how can you reduce the stress of a house move?

Plan and Prep

As tempting as it can be to throw stuff in boxes and hope for the best, this is the last thing you want to do. In this instance, lists and planners are your best friend, especially if you have a family to work around and jobs. Packing effectively and changing detail requires meticulous attention, and as such, lists are vital.

Use good old pen and paper, note apps on your phone, or a calendar to help you get organized. 

• Write down your weekly schedule and identify any blocks of time you have to pack.
• Break down your house into all the different rooms. Include storage spaces, too, such as the attic, basement, and storage rooms.
• Break down each room into smaller tasks you can complete easier, e.g., wall coverings, toys, books, soft furnishings, etc.
• Write down all the companies you need to inform your house move, including doctor, dentist, postal service, work, insurances, etc.
• Make all the items that can be packed first so that you don’t really need to give you a starting point.
• Book in a moving company to ensure availability for moving and getting the best prices possible.

Give each point a date you need to have it completed by. This ensures you have the utilities switched on in your new home in plenty of time, your children’s school knows of your new address, and no essential medical appointments get lost in the post.

Packing Essentials

Round up all of the packing essentials you might need, such as packing tape, boxes, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, etc., to allow you to get started right away. Don’t forget to include markers and labels to help you to identify the boxes when they are in your new home.

If you are using local movers, they might have packing supplies you can buy to ensure your belongings are safe and secure.

Declutter

The last thing you want is to be packing items you no longer want or need only to have to find somewhere for them in your new home. Of course, decluttering isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, but the moving process is the ideal time to have that big sort out you have been putting off. 

Use your packing list to break it down into smaller tasks. It is important that once you have identified what you no longer want, you don’t then leave it in bags or boxes around your home. Instead, make it a priority to donate anything you donate or give away to family or friends or dispose of anything that is no longer fit for use. Then you can benefit from the extra space and clarity in your home. Avoid doing massive sort-outs at once, especially if you have a lot of stuff to sort through, as chances are you won’t be able to get it all done in one day and remove what you don’t want from your home.

What’s In The Box?

No one likes nasty surprises or finds they can find the kettle for that much-needed coffee at the new house. A great way to avoid this is to label your bosses. If you have created a master plan list with detailed steps, you can add the corresponding label to your list for reference. Another great idea, before you seal the box up, is to take pictures of the items in the box on your phone. Then give this image the same label description as the box. This way, if something accidentally gets packed that you need, instead of opening all the boxes to find it, you can simply go through all the pictures to find the item and locate the correct box.

Ask for Help

Even with all the best will in the world, you cannot do everything alone. So give family and friends ample notice of when you are moving and put in requests to help early to avoid double booking or people making other commitments. 

Be clear about the help you need, be it for school runs, extracurricular drop-offs for children, or even babysitting. Or, if you need them to help you move over a day or two, let them know exactly what you need help with so you can be confident you have covered all bases.

Prepare For The Worst

A popular phrase but very true in this case. To avoid any unwanted surprises, plan for everything and expect the worst. This way, you won’t be disappointed when things go wrong, or you head off schedule. You will only be pleasantly surprised when things go right.

With all the best planning and prepping, sometimes things happen that are out of your control. But to quote another cliche, failing to plan is planning to fail, and if you really want to remove as much stress from your moving day as possible, then you should make sure you start the process of planning early to help you stay on top of everything you need to do.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)