The PSCO. guide to a stress-free move.
If you’re planning to sell this Spring, then it’s likely you’ve got a big move on the horizon. And, whilst moving home can be super exciting, it can also be a little stressful and somewhat overwhelming as you pack up all of your personal belongings and relocate somewhere new.
As a staging company, we “move house” up to three times a day - sounds exhausting right?! Yet, over the years, we’ve perfected the moving process and, today, we plan on sharing our top tips that will help your next moving day be as stress-free as possible!
Planning & Preparation
Like most things in life, prior planning and preparation will always pay off - especially when it comes to a task like moving homes.
Start by taking some time to go through your entire home, thinking about everything that might need to be repaired, replaced, donated or moved. Whilst this can be a daunting experience at first, it will ensure you’ve got the right plan in place.
Then, think about the time you’ve got to complete the tasks. If you’re hoping to be moved out within the next 30 days, divide up each job into the coming weeks so you’re not leaving everything until the last minute, or setting unrealistic expectations of yourself.
Packing
Next up is packing. Spending the days and weeks before moving day decluttering and packing will mean most of your belongings can simply be put into the truck, then positioned in your new home, making the whole experience much easier for everyone involved.
To help the packing process run smoothly, we suggest ensuring you’ve got the right utensils for the job. These include:
Bin bags and boxes for organising and decluttering
Good quality tape
Packing boxes of various sizes
Packing materials like bubble wrap or tissue paper for protecting fragile items
Basic tools for dismantling furniture and odd jobs around the house
A permanent marker and sticky label to designate boxes to different rooms
Our other suggestion is ensuring you take the time to pack a designated box, bag or suitcase filled with all of the important items you will need whilst moving. After all, you don’t want these items getting lost amongst other boxes.
Items to include:
House keys
Car keys
Electrical chargers
Medications
Toilet paper
Clean towels
Toiletry bag
A change of clothes
Bedding for the new house
Pyjamas
Basic kitchen utensils
Moving Day
Ok, it’s crunch time - the big day is finally here. And, want to know the key to success on moving day? It’s people-power! Whether you choose to opt for a professional removals company or enlist the help of your trusty family and friends, it’s amazing the difference more people can make to the efficiency of moving day.
Whilst moving day is typically not the highlight of your calendar, there are several ways you can make the day more enjoyable for everyone.
Be organised - The better you can prepare for the entire process, the less likely you are to be stressed on the actual day.
If you have young kids, consider having family, friends or a babysitter look after them. If this isn’t possible, pack some of their favourite things, and carry them yourself in the car to avoid losing them in the truck. That way they can stay busy playing whilst you focus on the move.
Other small things you can do to boost the mood include playing a great playlist on a portable speaker, keeping the team caffeinated and well-fed with some delicious snacks available on hand.
PSCO. Top Top; Be sure to remember to show your gratitude for those who’ve helped you out and, if it’s your family and friends, be prepared to assist them with the same task in the future.
New Home
Depending on the home you're moving into, it may or may not require a big clean first. Cleaning before moving will allow you to get into any awkward places that will soon be hidden by furniture, as well as inside cupboards and storage areas, ensuring the home is in the best possible condition before you start living there.
Finally, we suggest taking your time once you’ve arrived at your new home. There’s typically no rush to set everything up in time for the first night. Instead, allocate your possessions to their appropriate room, then work slowly from room-to-room placing things. After all, you can’t expect everything to go together perfectly! These are new spaces, with different shaped and sized rooms which will mean you might need to be adaptive to make your belongings fit perfectly in their new place.
Good luck!