8 Tips for a Well-Organised and Stress-Free Move
8 Tips for a Well-Organised and Stress-Free Move
Are you moving house soon? Moving can be an exciting yet stressful process. Not only will you meet new people, but you’ll also have plenty of things to pack, clean, and organise before you settle into your new home.
To help make your moving process less stressful (or even stress-free!) and more enjoyable, we’ve put together eight smart things to do. These are the 8 tips for a well-organised and stress-free move.
1. Declutter
Before you start packing, go through your things and see which items you rarely or no longer use, such as old books, clothes and appliances. Consider donating them to your local charity or giving them away to your friends. You could also sell them online or hold a garage sale and earn some extra money. Getting rid of unnecessary items will not only reduce the number of things you have to pack and unpack, but also reduce the number of boxes you need to move to your new home.
2. Hire removalists
If you don’t want to move all your belongings yourself, look for a good removal company in your area. You can ask your friends for recommendations or search removalists online. Try and book a few weeks before moving day if you can. By booking well in advance, you can pick the day and time you want to move. Removalists can help you move your boxes and furniture to your new house and save you time and energy.
3. Sort your mail and update details
Tell your friends and family about your new address so they know where to find you. Also let your service providers know your new address, such as:
- Utility companies (water, gas and electricity)
- Banks and insurance companies
- Tax and legal advisers
- Medical practitioners
- Australian Taxation Office
- Roads and Maritime Services
- Clubs and associations
- Children’s school
- Home services (gardeners or cleaners).
You should redirect mail to your new address for a few months to see if there’s anyone who missed your memo.
You also need to change your address details on your:
- Vehicle registrations and licences
- Electoral roll
- Concession and travel cards
- Superannuation fund
- Magazine or newspaper subscriptions
- Online shopping accounts.
By sorting your mail and updating your details, you can avoid the stress of missing out on important things, such as bills.
4. Turn the water and power on
Once you know the date you’re moving out, tell your utility providers to disconnect your water, gas, and electricity at your old house when you move out and then connect your utilities at your new house when you move in. After you arrive at your new place, check that the utilities are working to ensure that you can clean, cook, have light and use your devices.
5. Set up your Internet and devices
Before you move, check whether you can keep the same Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you were on an NBN (National Broadband Network) plan at your old home and the NBN is available at your new address, you can keep the same ISP, as well as the television and phone services that are wrapped up in your Internet service. If the nbn™ isn’t available, however, you’ll need to switch to a non-NBN ADSL plan or a new ISP. If you were on an ADSL plan and the NBN is available at your new address, you’ll need to switch to an NBN plan. When switching to a new plan or ISP, you’ll have to get a new modem router.
Whether you’re keeping the same ISP or switching to a new ISP, let them know your new address and start date (preferably a month before you move as it can take up to 30 days to connect to the Internet at your new place). This way, you can have your Internet, television, and phone ready and waiting for you once you move in.
6. Give the home a good clean
After you move out of your old place, hire cleaners to give it a good clean before the new owners move in. You can choose to clean the entire house yourself, but you may have to spend at least half an hour per room for a thorough clean. So, having a few extra hands will make it less tiring for you at the end of the day, and it’ll also get the job done quicker!
7. Plan your unpacking strategy
Do you want to make the unpacking process easier? Follow this simple strategy:
- Write on each box the items inside it and the room it’s intended for.
- Create a floor plan showing where you want your furniture to be placed in your new home and give copies to the removalists.
- Ensure access to your home is clear, including the driveway and front and side entrances.
- Give the removalists a tour of your new house so they know which room is which.
- Get the removalists to help you unpack the boxes.
8. Make it feel like a home
If there’s any new furniture, curtains or appliances you need for your new house, buy them before you move and have them delivered on moving day. This way, you don’t have to go through the stress of waiting weeks for new items to arrive and setting them up after you’ve already moved in. What’s more, if you’ve got everything you need and the place is fully furnished, you can make your house feel like a home from the start.
Ready for moving day?
By following these tips and tricks, you can make the moving process as smooth as possible, both for you and your removalist company. And after you’ve unpacked and arranged your furniture, you can sit back, relax and enjoy your new home.
Happy moving!
