The process of moving to a new home can be one of the most exciting, yet stressful experiences in a person’s life. While many people relish the chance to start a new chapter, packing up our belongings can often be more challenging than we may anticipate.
But moving home doesn’t have to be a nightmare. While, naturally, there’ll be lots to sort out, there are a variety of things you can do to make the process much smoother.
So, we’ve teamed up with UK home moving specialists, Clockwork Removals, to come up with four tips for a stress-free house move.
1. Consider hiring a moving company
While you can move your belongings yourself with the help of some friends or family, it can be much quicker and more efficient to hire a moving company. Many people find having external help relieves a lot of stress – because they find comfort in the knowledge that their furniture and possessions will arrive smoothly and safely where they need to be.
For example, Clockwork Removals specialise in downsizing and offer complete packing and wrapping, removal, and storage services in order to make your move as seamless as possible. They’re fully industry-accredited as a member of the British Association of Removers and are also a Which? Trusted Trader.
A professional removal team will be able to help you dismantle and pack all of your furniture, appliances, and other property safely and efficiently – helping to save space and reducing the likelihood of your belongings becoming damaged in transit. Some people also choose to pay for insurance to give them extra guarantees on expensive items, like grand pianos.
Another advantage of hiring the right moving company is that, in the unexpected case that you aren’t able to access your new property, you’ll still have somewhere to store all your packages. In cases like these, Clockwork Removals offer temporary storage, whether you need it for a few days or a few months.
2. Be strategic with your packing
Whether you hire a moving company or not – many of us will still pack our own belongings when moving house.
So, hopefully, these tips will help to make the packaging process as easy as possible…
Declutter your belongings
Moving home is the ideal time to declutter. Since you’ll be comprehensively managing every item in your home anyway, it’s best to get rid of anything you no longer need before beginning the packing process, rather than bringing it all with you only to throw it all out once you arrive.
Our article, How to declutter and organise your home, has plenty of tips to help you get started.
Create an inventory
It’s a good idea to make an inventory of everything you pack, so you can easily check whether you’ve forgotten anything.
Even if you’re unlikely to actually leave anything behind, being able to check against your list makes it much easier to relax and trust that everything is accounted for.
You may also decide that you want to get a professional company to do this for you. Clockwork Removals produce a full inventory for all customers using their storage services – which can provide a further level of reassurance.
Start by packing up the least used rooms
When you begin packing, starting with the rooms you use least frequently is the best way to ensure the process disrupts your day-to-day life as little as possible in the lead up to your moving day.
While you might be able to put up with a messy or empty lounge for a few weeks, most people probably wouldn’t fancy being without their kitchen for the same amount of time.
Label your packing boxes
It might sound like just another thing to add to your plate when you’re already surrounded by cardboard, but making sure to properly label your boxes can save you a lot of time and headaches.
It’s especially worth clearly labelling not only the contents of each box, but also the room that you want them to be left in – as this will save time for both you and any members of your moving team.
Photograph any complex electronic setups
If you have any electronic appliances with complex wiring setups that might be difficult to reconstruct once you’ve moved in, it can be a good idea to take pictures of how the wires are configured. This will make things much easier later on when you’re setting everything back up.
Take care with mirrors
When packing mirrors and glass frames, it can help to make an ‘X’ between the corners of the surface with masking tape. This might sound like an old wives’ tale, but the tape will actually absorb some of the shock if the mirror is bumped or jostled, which means it’ll be less likely to break.
Additionally, in the event that it does break, the tape will keep some of the shattered pieces together, saving you some time and reducing risk when cleaning up.
Backup your documents
When moving computers or devices, it’s worth backing up any important documents you have saved. This way if something goes wrong – for example, a device gets broken or there are issues setting it up in your new home – then you won’t need to panic.
Get creative when packing jewellery
If you don’t have a dedicated jewellery box, then egg cartons can make great temporary packaging that will keep your valuables separate.
Additionally, if you’re worried about necklace chains tangling, a cheap and easy way to avoid this is to thread each necklace through a straw. This way, you can keep all your necklaces in the same box and avoid having to collect them all together when you unpack, and you won’t have to worry about the annoying task of untangling links.
Pack clothes in suitcases or wardrobe boxes
Clothes can take up a significant proportion of your packing and can be a bit annoying to move. The easiest way to pack clothes is in a suitcase – especially any that you want to have available to you when you arrive at your new home.
Another clever option, though, is to use a wardrobe box – which is a tall cardboard box with a wardrobe rail running through the top. These boxes allow you to simply move the contents of your wardrobe all at once on their hangers, which will save you a lot of time both packing and unpacking.
Either way, it’s best to pack specialised and out-of-season clothes first, so you’re not eating into your regular wardrobe with your packing weeks before the move.
Don’t forget the kettle!
This last tip might possibly be the most important of all: make sure you pack your kettle, mugs, tea/coffee, etc. last – and that they’re the first things you unpack once you arrive. That way, you and your removal team will be able to keep up your energy (and likely mood) and take regular breaks throughout the process.
Consider getting help from professionals
If packing is proving a little too overwhelming, then you can always turn to removal specialists. Clockwork Removals offer full packing and wrapping services – including special items like wardrobe boxes.
Professional help can be especially important if you’re moving abroad. Clockwork Removals also offer an export wrapping and relocation service, which can reduce hassle in an already stressful process.
3. Inform relevant people and organisations of your change of address before the move-in date
As well as sorting and packing, there are a few other things that you’ll need to get sorted before your move.
For a start, relocating to a new address means that you’ll have to notify a number of people and organisations who have your current address.
Some of the most important include:
- Your local councils (for council tax, and to re-register to vote)
- HM Revenue and Customs
- Your employer
- Your GP and dentist
- Your bank
- The DVLA (if you drive)
- Your insurance providers
You’ll also need to sort out various utilities, including your water and electricity, landline and broadband services, and your TV license.
It’s best to get ahead of all this, so you don’t forget anything. Making a checklist sometime before your move can be helpful – as can informing everyone on your list of your change of address a short time before you start living at the property. This way, you’re less likely to miss any mail, and will hopefully have all your utilities up and running as early as possible.
Plus, it might sound obvious – but remember to let your friends and family know your new address too. With lots to do, it can be easy to forget!
4. Remember that your pets might need some extra love and support during a move too
Pets are also sensitive to the moving process. So, if you have a pet, it’s best to keep this in mind when organising your move.
On top of making sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date, and updating their identity chip details once you’ve settled in, it’s important to consider whether your pet will be accompanying you on moving day. While there’s nothing wrong with bringing your animal friend along with you, leaving them at a kennel, a cattery, or with a friend for the day can avoid a lot of stress for both of you.
Once your pet is introduced to your new home, it’s important to give them a lot of time and attention – because the sudden change of environment will be a difficult adjustment for any animal.
You’ll need to make sure that your pet settles into the outdoor environment, too. If you have a dog, try to supervise them in the garden for a while, to make sure you spot any holes in fences or other potential hazards before they become a problem.
If you have a cat, it’s important that they learn that your new home is also their new home. So you may want to keep them indoors for a couple of weeks, and once you do let them out, perhaps help them explore the local area by using a cat lead for a while until they acclimatise.
If you want even more tips on moving with pets, check out this advice page from Clockwork Removals.
Final thoughts…
Moving home, whether from a large detached house or a small apartment, can be an exhilarating yet tiring process. And while the end result is always worth the trouble, it’s worth considering what can be done to make things easier along the way.
We hope that our tips will be helpful with your next move, or that they might even stick with you the next time that you’re helping with a friend or family member’s move.
If you’re planning a move in the future, whether locally, to a new area in the UK or abroad, then you may want to consider the industry accredited and insured services offered by Clockwork Removals from their centres across the UK. To find out more, you can visit their website here.
Are you planning a move, or have you got any handy tips from your own in the past? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.