Moving Day
The day of your move is all about getting you out of one house and into the new one, if you've hired a company, all you'll need do is oversee them, or stay out of their way entirely. If you haven't, its important to have some strong family members and friends on hand to help you shift everything into your van.
Empty one room at a time, and ensure the cupboards (if they are walk in) are also empty, once its done, sweep, mop or vacuum, and do one final pickup then close the door. Make it clear to the others helping you that sealed rooms are finished with, so that people aren't trailing dirt into rooms that are finished and clean.
Moving day itself will probably pass in a blur, so its important to try to savor your final moments in the house you're leaving. You'll probably have many memories, good and bad, there, and full closure on that period in your life is important, so that you can move on.
You'll want to keep a couple of boxes, or bags spare and on hand so that you can catch anything that you've missed, that's been knocked into a corner, or essentials that you've kept out for the move, the latter should be marked clearly so that you can find them at the other end.
Keeping your kettle, mugs, coffee, tea, toiletries and baby supplies (if you've got a small child) separate from your packed belongings might be a good idea, as is keeping any essential work, moving, utility or ID documents in a safe place during your move. The latter will ensure that they don't accidentally go astray, or are placed somewhere that you can't find them.
You should take a final meter reading, and where appropriate, shut down any water, electricity or gas supplies if no one is going to be in the house for a few days after you.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Moving more than a couple of streets
Sometimes, moves take us hundred's of miles from our home town, to new states, countries or continents. These moves are harder to plan for, and require much more stringent assessment of belongings, so that you can afford the move itself.
Long distance moves are harder on families who are used to supporting one another, you'll often find that your phone bill increases and that you'll have more problems adjusting if you're moving away from familial support, if you're moving TO your family though, you can be sure that things may get easier, if a little nutty. Moving back to one, or both families guarantees that your life will probably be filled with help, or interference, depending on how you view your family's input, either way, its worth it, once you find clear and consistent boundaries.
The move itself should be planned the same way as you would any other move, but remember, the more you're moving, the more petrol you'll need. A 400 mile move MAY end up costing you the same as renting a van in the UK, a move out of the country may be cost prohibitive, and it may be easier just to sell everything and start fresh when you get there.
A long move such as over several hundred miles may also change schooling arrangements, or your job, uprooting over a distance of hundreds of miles can lead to new opportunities, or the loss better ones back where you were, so you have to carefully evaluate what you want from your life, and whether it would be best served by moving to a whole new part of the world.
Moving to a different country or continent may leave you with language to consider, do you speak the language that is predominant there, and if not, can you learn it? If you can't communicate, you'll find it harder to do many things we take for granted.
Long distance moves are harder on families who are used to supporting one another, you'll often find that your phone bill increases and that you'll have more problems adjusting if you're moving away from familial support, if you're moving TO your family though, you can be sure that things may get easier, if a little nutty. Moving back to one, or both families guarantees that your life will probably be filled with help, or interference, depending on how you view your family's input, either way, its worth it, once you find clear and consistent boundaries.
The move itself should be planned the same way as you would any other move, but remember, the more you're moving, the more petrol you'll need. A 400 mile move MAY end up costing you the same as renting a van in the UK, a move out of the country may be cost prohibitive, and it may be easier just to sell everything and start fresh when you get there.
A long move such as over several hundred miles may also change schooling arrangements, or your job, uprooting over a distance of hundreds of miles can lead to new opportunities, or the loss better ones back where you were, so you have to carefully evaluate what you want from your life, and whether it would be best served by moving to a whole new part of the world.
Moving to a different country or continent may leave you with language to consider, do you speak the language that is predominant there, and if not, can you learn it? If you can't communicate, you'll find it harder to do many things we take for granted.
Before moving anything in
Before moving anything in
Always before you are moving any of your belongings into your new home, its important to make sure that everything is as it should be. You may have had a list of repairs you expected, or this may be the first time you've seen the house empty. Take some time to go around with a notepad and check all of the sockets for obvious signs of wear and tear and look for damage that you might be otherwise liable for.
Ensure that any cupboards are empty, free of damp, mold or bad smells, and keep a close note of what where the electricity, water and gas stopcocks are. While doing this, you'll also be getting a feel for where you can place any furniture, how to get it up any stairs or even just into the house. Note down any damage or concerns you have to be discussed with whomever you're dealing with, its important to have these notes before moving anything in so that you can get the problems remedied as soon as possible.
If you're letting from a landlord, he'll give you a list of any fittings, fixtures and furniture he's leaving, its very common nowadays for landlords to leave 'white goods', kitchen appliances, such as the fridge, freezer, washing machine and cooker. If you're letting, your landlord should also give you contact details, emergency repair numbers and any paperwork pertaining to these emergency repairs that you may need. You may also want to get bank details or arrange a good time to come and collect rent. Any final paperwork can be signed now, and then you can start making your new place your own.
You should also ensure that the central heating and boiler are working correctly and collect any manuals for these from the previous occupant, these manuals will save you a lot of frustration in the long run.
Always before you are moving any of your belongings into your new home, its important to make sure that everything is as it should be. You may have had a list of repairs you expected, or this may be the first time you've seen the house empty. Take some time to go around with a notepad and check all of the sockets for obvious signs of wear and tear and look for damage that you might be otherwise liable for.
Ensure that any cupboards are empty, free of damp, mold or bad smells, and keep a close note of what where the electricity, water and gas stopcocks are. While doing this, you'll also be getting a feel for where you can place any furniture, how to get it up any stairs or even just into the house. Note down any damage or concerns you have to be discussed with whomever you're dealing with, its important to have these notes before moving anything in so that you can get the problems remedied as soon as possible.
If you're letting from a landlord, he'll give you a list of any fittings, fixtures and furniture he's leaving, its very common nowadays for landlords to leave 'white goods', kitchen appliances, such as the fridge, freezer, washing machine and cooker. If you're letting, your landlord should also give you contact details, emergency repair numbers and any paperwork pertaining to these emergency repairs that you may need. You may also want to get bank details or arrange a good time to come and collect rent. Any final paperwork can be signed now, and then you can start making your new place your own.
You should also ensure that the central heating and boiler are working correctly and collect any manuals for these from the previous occupant, these manuals will save you a lot of frustration in the long run.
De cluttering before packing to Move
De cluttering before packing to Move
De cluttering before packing is an important aspect of preparing to move, because it allows you to decide what you'll need for the new house, what you'll have room for, and what you won't.
The most important thing to remember when de cluttering is that you'll be making room and getting rid of emotional baggage, whilst lowering your moving bills. An average four person house requires at least a seven tonne van to move, whilst a house that doesn't de clutter might need twice that!
De cluttering can be considered essential or heartless, but either way, moving house is one of the best times to do a proper de clutter, in fact sometimes, its the only 'spring clean' that some people do. And while its always good to hang onto things of sentimental value, do you really need a newspaper from 1985 with an article about something that you needed to follow up within a week of the printing?
Get rid of any papers that you don't need (though keep all important documentation), consider donating any magazines, books, old toys or clothes in good condition to a local charity, or sell them on Ebay or similar, to make some cash.
These donations and sales make mental and space sense, you're not wasting perfectly good items you will probably never use again, and you could sell the really good condition items in a variety of places. You could hold a yard sale, or garage or even a car boot sale, or if you have enough time, auction them online, either via a recognized site, or through your own website, if you have the know how, getting rid of the things you don't need is both very freeing and releasing, and can actually generate you some extra money for the move. You could even sell off surplus office, or craft supplies, if you have them spare, making your home office move leaner, and easier.
De cluttering before packing is an important aspect of preparing to move, because it allows you to decide what you'll need for the new house, what you'll have room for, and what you won't.
The most important thing to remember when de cluttering is that you'll be making room and getting rid of emotional baggage, whilst lowering your moving bills. An average four person house requires at least a seven tonne van to move, whilst a house that doesn't de clutter might need twice that!
De cluttering can be considered essential or heartless, but either way, moving house is one of the best times to do a proper de clutter, in fact sometimes, its the only 'spring clean' that some people do. And while its always good to hang onto things of sentimental value, do you really need a newspaper from 1985 with an article about something that you needed to follow up within a week of the printing?
Get rid of any papers that you don't need (though keep all important documentation), consider donating any magazines, books, old toys or clothes in good condition to a local charity, or sell them on Ebay or similar, to make some cash.
These donations and sales make mental and space sense, you're not wasting perfectly good items you will probably never use again, and you could sell the really good condition items in a variety of places. You could hold a yard sale, or garage or even a car boot sale, or if you have enough time, auction them online, either via a recognized site, or through your own website, if you have the know how, getting rid of the things you don't need is both very freeing and releasing, and can actually generate you some extra money for the move. You could even sell off surplus office, or craft supplies, if you have them spare, making your home office move leaner, and easier.
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