How Can I Make My Home Move Less Stressful?

How can I make my home move less stressful?

How can I make moving day easier?

Those two questions have to be amongst the most frequently searched-for answers online by people moving home.

So in this week’s home moving blog, we will share with you our top tips for making your home move as stress-free and easy as possible.

How Can I Make My Home Move Less Stressful?

Follow our tips below and your move will be as stress-free as possible.

Thorough preparation and good organisation is the key to a successful home move, approach the move in a methodical manner, and most importantly, choose your removal company wisely.

#1 Start the home-moving process as early as you can

The earlier you start planning and sorting out your home ready for the move, the easier it will be.

If you are packing your own moving boxes then be sure to allocate twice the amount of time that you think you will need.

Packing is the most time-consuming and often most expensive part of your relocation, as well as being extremely stressful.

Hiring professional packers represents excellent value for money and will take a huge load off your shoulders.

They will pack your things quickly and efficiently allowing you to live normally rather than living amongst piles of boxes in the weeks before moving day.

You may also like to read: Are Home Packing Services Worth the Cost? In this guide, we look at what professional packers do, how much they cost, and whether it makes sense to hire packers for your home move.

#2 Use checklists to plan your home move meticulously

By using checklists and planners you will have less chance of missing a home moving task, and you will know what you have to do, and when.

Checklists are also a great motivator as it is very satisfying to be able to cross things off your to-do list.

You may also like to read: Week-by-Week Home Moving Checklist and Planner. Here we have created the ultimate week-by-week home moving checklist to help you organise a stress-free home move.

#3 Create a home-moving binder

A home moving binder keeps all the important paperwork in one place.

It will contain all the important information about your home that the new residents could possibly need.

Creating a home binder is also essential for your new home so that you know where essential things like fuse boxes, guarantees, and operating instructions are.

You may like to read: How to Create the Ultimate Home Moving Binder. In this guide, we suggest the things that you should include in your home moving binder to make getting to know your new home so much easier.

#4 Make a floor plan

So you know your furniture will fit in your new home and therefore you will not be paying to pack and move furniture that you will not be able to use, create a simple floor plan for your new home.

Do this at the start of your planning so that you have plenty of time to sell or donate those unwanted pieces of furniture.

You may also like to read: How to Make a Floor Plan for Moving Home. In this guide, we explain how to measure furniture and doorways, as well as how to create a simple floor plan for your new home.

#5 Get rid of all the things you do not absolutely love or need

The fewer items you take with you to your new home, the cheaper your packing and transportation costs will be.

This is the most essential task to do before anything else.

There is no point in getting quotes for your home move until you know exactly what you will be taking with you.

The more ruthless you are about the process the easier your home move be.

You may also like to read: The Epic Guide to Decluttering for a Home Move. In this guide, we show you the easiest ways to declutter your home and also look at how to detach yourself emotionally from your possessions to make decluttering easier emotionally.

#6 Thoroughly research any removal company you are considering hiring

Read as many reviews and get as much information as you can about any removal firm you are considering hiring. This way you will ensure they are trustworthy and will make your home move as easy as possible.

You may also like to read: How to Pick a Good Removal Company – A Step-by-Step Guide. Choosing the right removal company is so crucial to a stress-free home move that we have created a step-by-step guide for you to find the best removal firm for your needs.

#7 Communicate regularly with your removal company

This is particularly important as moving day draws near. Be sure to confirm the actual move date and any changes to the items you want packing and moving.

The more information that the removal company has the less chance that there will be surprises on moving day.

You may also like to read: Why it Pays to Be Honest With Your Removal Company. Good communication between you and the removal company is essential. In this guide, we look at the consequences of not telling your removal firm something that you should have.

#8 Ensure you have adequate home moving insurance

Accidents happen, or the release of the keys may be delayed, or there may be traffic delays, or the house move may fall through at the last minute.

All these scenarios can be insured against so that at least any extra expense these scenarios may cost you are covered.

You may also like to read: Home Moving Insurance – Do I Need It? In this guide, we look at the various insurance policies that are available and whether it makes sense to insure your home move.

#9 Only use quality packing materials

The better the quality of the packing materials used, the less likely that damage will be caused to your precious items.

Use a minimum of double-walled boxes, good-quality packing tape, and plenty of protective padding.

There will be some items that your removal company cannot pack and move for health and safety reasons, and also if they are of high value, such as coin collections, so you will need to know how to pack these items yourself.

You may also like to read: How to Pack Fragile Items For Moving Home. This is a comprehensive guide on how to pack fragile and valuable items. From packing materials to packing instructions, this is a must-read for any home mover.

#10 Clearly label the moving boxes

Knowing what contents are in each box will make locating specific items so much easier.

By identifying which box goes into which room in the new home, the removal team can place them in the correct place, meaning you won’t have to shift boxes yourself between rooms.

You may also like to read: How to Label Moving Boxes – A Simple and Foolproof Method. In this guide, we share a really good way to label your moving boxes so that you can easily identify which room they belong to and the order in which to unpack them.

#11 Have children and pets looked after away from the dangers of moving day

It will be less stressful for the children, pets, and the removal team if children and pets are looked after away from the hustle and bustle of moving day.

It will also give you the opportunity to child and pet-proof your new home if you can board pets and have children looked after the day after you move too.

You may like to read: How to Childproof a Home After Moving. In this guide, we go through every room of the home suggesting things that may need childproofing to keep your kids safe.

#12 Have a Plan B

There are plenty of things that could go wrong on moving day but none of them are likely to be show-stoppers.

If you pre-plan for all eventualities then anything that does go wrong will merely be an inconvenience.

Knowing that you have a backup plan will ensure that your stress levels are kept to a minimum on moving day.

You may also like to read: Things That Can Go Wrong on Moving Day and How to Avoid Them. In this guide, we look at things that could go wrong on moving day and what you can do to prevent them from happening or plan what to do if they do happen.

How Can I Make Moving Day Easier?

It cannot be emphasised enough how important the preparation stage of your home move is, nor how important choosing a good removal company is.

If you have taken care of both those aspects of the home move then moving day should be a breeze.

Yes, there are still things that can go wrong that are beyond anyone’s control, but these events are rare, and in all likelihood, you will still move home and be in your new home at the end of the day.

Here are some tips for making moving day as easy as possible:

#1 Confirm the removal company

Confirm with the removal firm that everything is arranged for your moving date at least a couple of days in advance. This will give you peace of mind that everything is arranged and in place for your move to take place.

#2 Have everything packed and ready to go the day before you move

Having to rush about packing things on moving day will skyrocket your stress levels and will lead to poorly packed items, likely causing damage to your precious items.

#3 Pack a moving day essentials box

A moving day essentials box or bag will ensure all your essential items are close to hand on moving day. You should include things like food and water as well as any medication you may need.

If you are moving long distance you may need a bag or box for each member of the family.

You may also like to read: How to Prepare Your Open First Box. In this guide, we suggest things that you may like to include in your moving day essentials box and why it is so important to pack one.

#4 Set an alarm

Set your alarm clock on moving day so you wake up in plenty of time before the removal company arrives.

Having a relaxed start to the day will get you off on the right foot. The last thing you want is to oversleep and rush around as the removal company waits for you to get ready.

#5 Have all essential contact details for anyone involved in the move to hand

Be sure to save any essential telephone numbers you may need on moving day to your phone.

People such as the landlord, solicitors, and the removal company are numbers that you may need on moving day.

#6 Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged

Ensure all your mobile phones are fully charged on moving day.

It is likely that there will be a lot of communication going on and it would be a disaster to run out of battery just when you need your phone the most.

#7 Wear suitable clothing

Moving day can be hot, sweaty, and dirty. Choose clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and that are loose-fitting as they will be cooler.

Be careful that the clothing is not too loose so that they get snagged on door handles for example, but you need to be comfortable in them.

Sturdy shoes with flat soles that have a good grip are essential, there may be a lot of walking involved on moving day.

You may also like to read: What to Wear on Moving Day. In this guide, we suggest the best clothes to wear on moving day to keep you comfortable and safe.

#8 Relax

Maybe a crazy thing to say on what most people deem to be one of the most stressful days of their lives, but taking time out just to refocus and have some alone time will do you a power of good.

If you are relaxed and calm, those around you are likely to be too.

Remember that a good removal company will have come across any hurdles you may face on moving day a hundred times. They are prepared for such eventualities and will likely know the best way to resolve any hiccups that may occur.

You may also like to read: How to Survive Moving Day. In this guide, we suggest some more ways to make moving day as bearable as possible.

A Final Idea to Make Your Home Move Easier

Have you considered moving out of your existing home over a number of weeks?

The idea is that you rent a storage unit and pack and move your belongings at your leisure.

Of course, this idea would not be suitable for everyone, but if you have access to a vehicle that can transport items to the storage facility then it may make sense.

It would take careful planning so that you do not take to storage items that you may need in the run-up to your home move, but this option would allow you to move home as and when you have available time.

Renting storage is relatively inexpensive and will give you the flexibility to move things to your new home as you need them or as time allows.

This is a particularly good option if you plan to decorate or renovate your new home.

You may also like to read: Choosing a storage unit. Not all storage units are equal. In this guide we look at the various storage options, what they cost, and the things to look out for when choosing a unit or storage facility.

In our resources section, you will find many useful guides to help make your home move so much easier, cheaper, and less stressful. It would be time well spent reading the guides that you think will help you.

All that remains now is for you to chill out and move home. Good luck.