Yearly Archives: 2018

12 Tips to Take the Stress Out of Moving

Moving can be really stressful, even if you have done it before. But for those who have never moved, or for whom it has been a long time, having to pack up everything and do all those other essentials before moving day can seem like a nightmare. However, the following tips can cut down the stress and help you move your goods in an efficient and organised way.

• Pack your essential in an overnight bag to keep with you so you don’t have to search all those boxes when you arrive at your new home. It’s likely to be late and you’ll be tired.
• If you own a laptop or tablet, keep that with you as well for safety.
• Pack breakables in clothing to save on bubble wrap. It will also save you having to pack the clothing in other boxes. But don’t use clothing you will want to wear soon, in case there is a delay in unpacking. Out of season clothing is best. Clean socks are great for glasses.
• While most things will be packed in cardboard boxes, use a clear bin for those things that you will need first. Being in a different-looking container will help it to stand out from all the others and it will be easier to find.
• Label your boxes by room or by cupboard rather than writing the contents on the box. Unpacking by room also makes the task more manageable.

More Things to Do Before You Move

While there are hundreds of things to do before you move, packing takes up at least 50. But before you can pack, you must go through all your stuff and decide what you don’t want to pack. These are things that are now of no use to you for one reason or another.

It could be simply clothes or toys the kids have grown out of or sporting equipment you no longer use. Or maybe you are moving to a hotter climate from a cold one and won’t need those warm jumpers or doonas any more.

How to get rid of surplus goods

While it is possible to have a garage sale, this takes time to arrange and you have to be there for a whole weekend to put stuff out, sell it and pack up what didn’t sell. It may be easier to sell unwanted goods on places like Gumtree or eBay, especially if you have an iPhone and can do it on the run. If you choose this route, start at least three weeks ahead of your moving date as things don’t always sell quickly.

Keep the prices reasonable. Some people have an overrated idea of the value of their things, which stems from the fact that they used to love them. Other people are not emotionally involved yet and won’t want to pay too much. They shop at such places to get a bargain.

How to Move Your Family

While much information can be found on how to pack and move your stuff, not so much is written about moving your family. For little children, a move into a strange house can be scary, especially the first few nights. Children of any age are always affected by the moods of their parents, so if you are stressed out and irritable they will pick up on this and may become badly behaved as a result.

Here are some tips on how to move your family without going crazy:

• Make sure you explain to children about the move. If they have to move schools and lose friends, they may be very unhappy. Give them a way of keeping in touch – phone calls, exchanging email addresses or street addresses, whatever is appropriate to their age.
• When packing their toys and room, leave out their favourite one or two toys to take in the car and have with them when they arrive. Little children should keep their favourite soft toy.
• Don’t get rid of their stuff without their permission – or at least, their knowledge.
• Get them involved in the moving and packing process. Having jobs to do makes them feel important.
• Get older children to research the new area and find out what they can do and where things are – the schools, public library, skate park, swimming pool, whatever they are interested in.