Upsizing? Want some tips for going from small to big?
Excellent! Australis Removals loves living large.
At Australis, we’ve been fortunate to assist hundreds of people who’ve gone from living in apartments to living in houses. The great Aussie dream of a quarter acre block may have changed slightly over recent years, but there’s still plenty of people who aspire to own a suburban home and backyard. And if you’re one of them, read on for some tips to make your move from small to big that much better.
Have a plan
If you’re moving from a flat to a larger house, you’ll likely have some extra space to fill. It’s also likely that you’ll have an idea about what you want to do with that extra space. But don’t keep your plans in your head, get them down on paper. Make an inventory of all your furniture, what will go where in the new house, and what you’ll need to buy. Once you know how much you’ll need to buy to fill your new, larger home, you can itemize and set a budget. For example, you might need big things like a bed and mattress for the spare bedroom, seating for extra living space, an outdoor setting, or smaller items like additional towels for the second bathroom. Once you know what you need, you can plan your expenses.
Do a floor plan
Once you’ve written down what you’ll need to buy, tackle one room at a time with a floor plan. Record room measurements so you’ll know that whatever new stuff you buy (as well as belongings you already own) will fit. It would be terrible to assume that king bed frame will fit in your new bedroom, only to find it doesn’t!
Save money on your move
Before you go out and buy a whole house load of new furniture, work out your moving costs with your removalist. It might be cheaper for you to move your smaller collection of existing furniture into your new house with the assistance of a removalist, then add to your belongings via direct delivery from a furniture store. Or it could be more economical for your removalist truck to pick everything up from the store for you in one go, rather than pay multiple store delivery fees. This store pick-up may only be an option where the stockists are local and close together, but please do discuss it with Australis. If we can save you time, cost and hassle, you know we will!
Buy quick, slow, or rent?
While you’ll have more space to fill, it doesn’t mean you’ll have the money to immediately fill up a house. Consider your options — if you’ve got the time, plan to shop at EOFY or Christmas sales for your new stuff. Also, consider what in-store interest-free deals are available.
If buying everything at once isn’t an option, plan to fill your new home gradually over time. Filling your house slowly with quality pieces you’ll love for years can be very satisfying. Or, if you need lots of stuff in a hurry but don’t have the cash, consider renting. The upsides to this option are that it’s cheaper in the short-term and you can upgrade when you feel like giving your home a makeover.
Get creative
Designing the look and feel of your new home can be a project all in itself. Google “how to create vision boards” and for extra inspiration, look at websites like Instagram and Pinterest. Home and garden magazines, sales catalogues and visiting home centres and expos can also provide lots of inspiration for creating a new interior that’s 100 percent you.
It’s a big, bad world
When you’re accustomed to living in a smaller space, going to a bigger one can be discombobulating. This is especially so for pets and young children. If you have pets, see our articles for tips on moving house with pets. Above all, it’s imperative to keep in mind that you will need to introduce your pets to their larger living quarters gradually. Keep them confined to small, safe spaces and let them explore their new digs under supervision.
Children may also feel overwhelmed moving to a larger home. If possible, let them visit their new house and neighbourhood several times before the move so it’s not so big and scary for them when they do move in. Check out our article for more tips on moving house with children.
Ask us for help
There are so many great things about moving to a house. But because the move can be complicated by issues like picking up new furniture, and coordinating with stockists, it can be trickier than simply moving to a similarly sized home. If you’d like to discuss options and what Australis can do to help make your (ahem) big move easier, please call us for a chat. We’d be delighted to offer the insights we’ve gained from over 30 years of assisting people to move.
