If you’ve been reading the Australis blog for a while, you’ll know we’re full of advice about how to make your move easier. And once in a while, we like to give you an overview of our favourite tips. Consider this your ‘best of’ Australis blog installment.
There’s so much to consider when you move, and in this article, we’ll talk about some easy things you can do to prepare for moving day. Read on for our fav top five…
1. Create a moving plan
The saying goes: ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’ As soon as you know you’re moving, create your moving plan. Work out how much time you have until moving day, and list everything you’ll need to do. A basic ‘to do’ list should include:
- Conduct an inventory of each room in your home so you know how much you have to pack. Then create a timetable and list when you’ll tackle each room. If you know exactly how much time is at your disposal, you’ll reduce your anxiety and break big tasks down into manageable chunks.
- Get your packing materials together early. Australis recommends lots of boxes, tissue paper and newspaper for wrapping delicate items, sticky tape, labels and textas. And don’t forget any special tools you might need to dismantle larger objects or to transport them safely if you opt for a DIY move.
- Plan where big items like your fridge and bed will go in your new home. Get a floor plan of your new place and check measurements to make sure everything will fit!
Feeling overwhelmed already? See our detailed moving checklists designed to break down the process week-by-week, right up to moving day.
2. DIY or Professional – Decide early
There’s nothing worse than a last minute rush to book a reasonably priced, good quality van or professional removalist. And that’s assuming they’re available on your desired moving day!
Do your budget early and decide which is best for you—professional, or DIY? If you’re facing a long-haul move, such as from Adelaide to Melbourne, you’ll need to be especially prepped in this department.
Often, choosing a professional removalist with experience in interstate moves (like Australis!) will be the best overall option for your wallet and your peace of mind. If you decide your course of action early, you’ll have plenty of time to get multiple quotes and ensure you’re all set ahead of time for moving day.
3. Let it go
Like the song says, Let it go, let it go…sorry, children in the house! But, seriously, when was the last time you wore those acid wash jeans? No, you really can’t wear them again (unless it’s for a bad 80s dress-up party).
Moving house is the perfect time to ditch your clutter. Why move things you don’t use from one home to another? The move isn’t going to make that old trash any more attractive, it will just clutter-up your lovely new home. Make piles of your belongings in each room and dedicate them to the ‘keep and pack’ pile, the ‘maybe’ pile or the ‘no way!’ pile.
If you’re struggling to let go of items you don’t use but which trigger special memories, take a picture. Recent research has shown the picture is just as effective at eliciting those fond memories as the big, taking-up-space object.
See our article for more tips on how to declutter
4. Kids and pets—all aboard!
If you have children or pets, your moving day will have that extra layer of complexity. You’ll need to make sure they’re safe, comfortable and entertained.
Include your ideas for kids and pets in your moving plan. Make sure you’ve listed things they’ll need on the day such as food, water, medications, appropriate travel restraints, emergency supplies and toys.
If you have a long-haul trip, do you have in-car entertainment and chargers for devices? Pets may be better off in boarding facilities while you undertake your move, then relocated to their new home once you’ve settled in. If you have a supportive family, you might even consider this arrangement for your children!
One thing is for sure, there are lots of considerations when it comes to moving with kids and/or moving with pets and we’ve gone into heaps of detail about both in these articles.
5. Techno moves
No, we’re not talking about your Running Man, or even your groovin’ robot dancefloor moves. We mean think about what you can achieve with your computer, phone or smart device. Gone are the days of physically going from place to place to arrange everything you’ll need for a move (thank gawd!). See our list of top online hacks to make moving day smoother for you.
Get creative – what jobs can you complete from the comfort of your couch? Include them in your moving plan and tick them off as you go. You could even create your moving plan on your device! Ticking (or deleting) things off a list is one of the easiest feel goods you can achieve when it comes to the huge job of packing up ready for a move.
Another easy feel good is to call Australis for a chat. We love chatting to our customers and we’ve been in this biz for so long that we’re full of helpful tips and tricks to survive moving day. And if you’ve got any you’d like to share, we’d also love to hear ‘em.
Until next time, happy moving.
