There is no sugar-coating it; moving is a big job that many of us struggle with. The good news is that by implementing a few simple tricks, you can reduce the stress of moving.
There is no doubt that Australians enjoy moving around. According to a study by the University of Queensland, Australians are among the most mobile people, with four in 10 moving places every five years and approximately 15% moving yearly.
However, as exciting as the prospect of shifting to a new home or city is, the process can quickly evolve into a nightmare.
The stress and panic begins the moment you learn that you will be moving. The thought of what needs to be done and how much of your time and energy will be required to complete it can be overwhelming. This is a perfectly normal reaction.
However, it doesn’t have to be stressful–you can devise a solid plan and overcome the initial worry and panic.
The important part of planning is in the detail of what goes into moving from one house to another. It is critical in simplifying the process and ensuring a smooth transition. At the same time, there will still be some stress and possibly a few hiccups along the way.
A plan that helps you stay on track and prepared for unforeseen circumstances makes a significant difference.
That said, we have compiled a list of the top three things to remember when moving.
1. Preparing an Estimate
Buying a house or making a down payment on a rented home is costly enough; unfortunately, your expenses do not end there when you move. Aside from the obvious costs of hiring a moving truck and purchasing packing supplies, numerous minor expenses can add up to far more than you realise.
When you have a rough estimate of the costs involved, you can create a budget that works for you and plan your move around it. Here are some of the costs associated with moving:
● Using a moving service
● Hiring professional movers
● Hiring professional cleaners to clean your old and new places
● Disconnecting and reactivating utility services and buying packing materials
2. Make a Schedule
Most of the time, packing up your belongings is ahead of you. While weeks or months may appear to be a long time, before you know it, you are counting down the days until you move, and the race against the clock begins! You can avoid this situation by creating a packing schedule to keep you on track.
The most helpful and efficient way to do this is to create a timeline in which you mark how much of your belongings you want to be packed by a specific date.
For example, if you have three months before your move, you should have at least 50% of your belongings packed by the end of the first month. This is essential because as the moving day gets closer, you will have many last-minute things to take care of.
3. Take Care of Utilities
Moving into a house with no power or Internet will only worsen the shock, especially if your move is during an Aussie summer. One of the very first things you will need to settle, even before you move in, is getting the power and gas connected to your new address.
This is also a good opportunity to take stock of your current energy provider. Ask for references, compare gas and electricity providers online, and settle for a good deal.
Your phone line, Wi-Fi connection and cable TV may not appear to be top priorities, but when you finally move in, there will be a lot of unpacking and other things to take care of—leaving very little time to get these services up and running.
Besides, it is more reassuring to call ahead of time and fix an appointment for the technician to come by and set up the utilities.
Wrapping Up
Life still moves on and falls into a routine after the move. When you are so focused on the move and the logistics involved–it is easy to overlook basic life necessities. To ensure nothing is overlooked, imagine your first few days in your new home.
Plan to have groceries delivered to your home so you do not wake up to an empty fridge.
When packing, leave enough necessities to last you until you move. Organise what you need daily—like toilet paper and medicines—and ensure they are set aside and not packed away.
