THE DEFINITIVE CHECKLIST FOR MOVING HOUSE
Moving house is one of the most stressful life events any of us can experience. The trick to turning it into a positive experience is to plan well and keep it simple.
There are three stages to moving house: the pre-move, the move, and the unpacking – and each come with their own sets of challenges.
Checklist 1: The Pre-Move
Know your time frames and do your paperwork – count back from when you have to move and understand how much time you have to pack and get out. Book removalists or vans if you need them and arrange for your mail to be redirected (this one’s important because it can take a few weeks to be activated). In the weeks before moving you should also make sure your insurance policies get updated to the new address (including coverage details) as well as banking, drivers’ licence and so on.
Downsize your stuff – moving less will make unpacking so much easier, so during the pre-move, allocate blocks of time to sort through cupboards and cull, cull, cull. Scaling back on all the excess ‘stuff’ you currently have means you’ll bring only the essentials and a whole lotta joy into the new house.
Write a new home shopping list – after ruthlessly culling half of your possessions, you will need to replace some of them with working, new, updated versions. You may also need additional furnishings or items that you didn’t need in your previous home – like storage options, floor or window coverings or pool toys for the new pool! Write a list and start to plan to buy what you need. Arrange for larger items to be delivered to the new property either on moving day or after you’ve moved.
Get good boxes and label well – you could source a good selection of strong, quality boxes from your local supermarket, some friends or online, but there’s also value in spending some money and buying with purpose. Some removalists will ‘rent’ boxes to you that can be returned, others will sell at a flat rate. Having good quality strong boxes means you don’t have to worry about collapsing bottoms and things breaking – especially if you’re moving. It also means you’re better insured with removalists if something gets damaged or lost. Label each box for the room it needs to go to in the new house - removalists will unpack into one large space unless advised otherwise and if they’re already carrying it, they may as well put it down in the room it needs to be in. COUNT YOUR BOXES – before the removalists arrive and after they leave from dropping them off to make sure that all of your stuff has been accounted for.
Checklist 2: The Move
Get rid of the kids and the pets: the change can be difficult for them once you’ve moved, but kids and pets WILL be a huge hindrance on moving day. Work out where to send them to and for how long, then have a little departure party together before they are driven away so they can say goodbye to the house. Keeping them out of the process will reduce the stress, ensure the job is done methodically and at a reasonable pace and
remove the risk of accidents that come from having small moving people and animals underfoot.
Pack a transition box: the first day or so will be a bit like a camping trip, so put together a box of things that you’ll need during the move and after the last box has been delivered. Everyone will need to be fed, bathed, and put to bed on the first night so fresh bed linen and towels, PJs and other clothes, bathers (for the new pool!) are essential. As is toilet paper, tea and coffee (plus mugs), a sandwich maker maybe and some pre-made ham and cheese sandwiches, and some other snacks. Some cleaning products, cloths, paper towels and garbage bags will also come in handy for cleaning shelves and rooms before you unpack into them. Keep track of the vacuum cleaner, mop and broom as they are in transit too.
Plan a reward meal for everyone involved: you can pre-book some groceries in advance to be delivered on moving day or order a bunch of takeaways when everyone looks like they need a break. This is an essential part of the process, giving everyone a break, as well as thanking all those who chipped in to help AND getting some good communal eating and sharing vibes into your new home. Nobody likes moving so if people helped you, they deserve gratitude as well as food and booze and coffees and all the things!
Checklist 3: The Unpacking
Comforts first: try to unpack the essential home comforts first – plug in the fridge so it can get cold enough for groceries, set up the beds, tune in the TV, connect the modem, and get the Wi-Fi up and running. Get the washing machine positioned and connected and get the kitchen sorted so mealtimes, school lunches and essentials like coffee and beer and wine can happen. You’ll need kitchen stuff in the first days after moving so unpack the plates, cups, cutlery, pots, and pans first so you can cook. Make sure the kids and pets’ spaces are done first so they can be settled quickly and seamlessly.
Prioritise and delegate: Focus on unpacking first and organising later – getting the boxes empty and out is the priority, then you can take your time to arrange things how you like and settle in properly in the coming months. If things are roughly where they need to be, life can get back to normal as soon as possible. Delegating ownership to the boxes also means one person isn’t left with all the work. Teenagers are more than capable of unpacking their stuff so if the 5 boxes with their names on them are still in their room 6 months after moving day – bad luck for them!
When unpacking, focus on getting things out of boxes first, then you can take your time to psychologically ‘move in’. Understanding the dynamics of a house - where the light falls during the day, how loud your neighbour’s TV is through the shared wall, or exactly which corner is the best for your prized fiddle leaf fig – all take time. Unpack instinctively, to begin with, and make a To-Do list as you go, for things like installing picture hooks, adding shelving, and replacing things that don’t fit or don’t suit. In the months after moving, you’ll gradually start to move things around, add personal touches with pictures, plants and décor and connect to the house as your own, in small but joyful ways.