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moving home overseas
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Moving Home - Organisational Tips That Really Work
By Bronia Suszczenia
Worried because you're moving house soon? This really doesn't have to be a stressful, chaotic time. Here are some proven tips to help you achieve a successful, organized home move.
USE A MOVING CHECKLIST Make yourself a moving checklist outlining everything that needs to be done before, and after, your move.
LEAVE IT BEHIND Avoid moving anything you don't really need. It is expensive, time-consuming, and physically unnecessary to move things you won't be using. If you don't use it now, you most likely won't use it later.
THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT STORAGE If you must put household items into storage be sure you really will want them when they come out. After a year in storage you will wonder why you've been paying someone to look after stuff that you no longer want. It is obviously really, but make a detailed list of what is in storage to avoid lengthy pointless searches in your new home.
IT’S CURTAINS FOR YOUR CURTAINS Decide whether curtains are any use to you in your new house otherwise sell them to the buyer of your old home. If you are taking them they’ll probably need to be re-sized. Unless they are expensive material, custom made or virtually brand new you’d probably be better off getting new window dressings for your new home; call in professional help before you move so they are ready to fit as soon as you have moved.
get rid of clutter Dispose of broken tools, old toys, old clothing and other items that you no longer need, before you move. Give usable items to charity or hold a garage sale or visit a boot sale.
DON'T SKIMP ON YOUR REMOVAL SERVICE Choose an experienced moving firm with an established reputation for good service and reliability. Choosing someone that is unreliable or inexperienced will waste more time and money than you can imagine.
ENLIST ANY HELP YOU CAN GET You will get a lot more done, with some family members and friends helping you pack and/or unpack. If your children are old enough, they should be helping too. And someone can keep the crew served with tea and biscuits to keep them going!
BOX IT Get boxes in assorted sizes. Be sure they're clean, in good condition and have covers so they can be closed and sealed with tape. Start collecting them from your local merchants, or purchase them from your moving company. Wine or spirits boxes are excellent. They are sturdy and contain dividers making them ideal for packing glasses, goblets, vases, etc.--but make sure these boxes have lids. By the way, an easy way to store boxes so they do not take up storage space is to open both ends and flatten them out. Cartons can be resealed with strong packing tape as you use them.
MARK IT Felt pens are ideal for marking boxes with information such as its contents, destination room, fragile or this side up.
USE THE A PRIORITY SYSTEM Everything you pack does not have to be unpacked the first day in your new home. If it contains essential items, mark it PRIORITY 1. If the contents are important, but not crucial, mark the box PRIORITY 2. If the box contains out of season items, holiday items and other things you won't need right away, mark the box PRIORITY 3. Then, unpack in 1, 2, 3 order.
WRAP IT You will need plenty of wrapping paper and heavy-duty packing tape. Anything wrapped in newsprint will most likely be soiled from the ink and will require cleaning after unpacking. Movers use unprinted newsprint. For items you prefer to keep clean, you can purchase this packing paper from your mover. Kraft paper, tissue paper and shock- resistant corrugated paper make excellent wrapping materials and may be purchased at most major department stores, craft stores or your mover. These papers also make excellent cushioning and lining material. For really delicate items get yourself a supply of plastic bubble wrap.
LABEL IT As you're packing, place removable, coloured, circle stickers on your boxes to easily distinguish kitchen items, from bedroom items, from bathroom items, etc. Use a different colour code for each room. If necessary, make a master list so you'll know what is in each box. If you can go to your new home ahead of time, you may wish to stick a corresponding coloured sticker on the door, or door frame, of the room that the box will be delivered to. This can guide the crew from the removals firm so they leave items in the correct room.
LIGHTEN UP Cartons can be handled
easier if they do not exceed 50lbs / 30kg, fully packed. Keep this in mind when you're packing.
ROOM BY ROOM Pack on a room-by-room basis, keeping the contents of each room in separate boxes. This will eliminate confusion and save time when you're unpacking.
PACK EARLY Even if you only pack two boxes a day, in thirty days you will have packed sixty boxes. Start in areas where the goods are not in frequent use such as the cellar, attic, garage, etc.
ORDER ADDRESS LABELS Order address labels before you move into your new home. They will be great to have on hand when you need to indicate a change of address on anything. Leave a few behind with the people who move into your old home or apartment so they can forward anything that gets delivered to them for you. Give them some stamps to cover any postage costs.
GET YOUR METERS READ Tell the electricity, water, gas and phone companies you are moving & get them to read the meters.
REDIRECT YOUR POST Set up a mail redirection service with the Post Office for at least three months to automatically divert your post. But don’t use this as an excuse for not telling people you’ve moved, unless you are trying to avoid a stalker or debt collectors!
CREATE A SURVIVAL KIT Make a survival kit for your first night in your new home. This should include items that will get you through the night if it's too late to unpack or the movers didn't show up. Helpful items to include might be: non-perishable food, can opener, paper plates, plastic utensils, bottled water, a flashlight, a few towels, sheets, toiletries, a blanket, toilet paper, pen/paper, a few small games or magazines and a change of clothes for everyone.
HAVE SOMEONE WATCH THE KIDS If you have children, especially young children, it might be a good idea to have someone baby sit them while you are doing anything that involves your move, such as packing, unpacking, etc. Your kids won't be interrupting your progress and you'll accomplish more with less stress.
MAKE IT PET FRIENDLY If you have pets, be sure you have a plan for them when the movers arrive. Perhaps keep your cats in the bathroom with the litter box, or put your dogs in a fenced in yard. Also, take care to do what you can so your pets feel comfortable in your new home. Bring their favorite toys, give them attention, and don't leave them alone for long periods of time for the first few days.
USE THE ONE ROOM RULE Set-up one room in your new home as quickly as possible. This way, you'll have a quiet retreat, free of boxes. You and your family will then have a place to go when you need a break from all of the unpacking activities.
DEVISE A PLAN Before you begin unpacking randomly sit down with your family. Discuss a plan, including where things will go, who is responsible for what, etc. It will help things run smoothly and avoid arguments.
HAVE A TOOL KIT ON HAND One of the most important things to have on hand when you're setting up your new home is a basic toolbox that includes simple tools and hardware, such as a hammer, screwdrivers, nails, hooks, light bulbs, electrical fuses, etc. And don't forget to have a fully charged battery in your mobile phone.
FUNCTION BEFORE FORM It is best to first arrange your furniture, and then unpack accessories and personal items.
MAKE THE FIRST NIGHT SPECIAL Make the first night in your new home as special as possible. It can be take-out Chinese food, or pizza, but you may sweeten the evening with flowers, candles and music. It will really make a big difference and will help you to unwind and de-stress.
GET READY FOR BED As soon as the bedroom furniture is delivered, set it up and put the sheets on the bed. You'll be grateful that everything is ready for sleeping later on tonight when you're really tired.
LET EVERYONE KNOW Inform everyone that you've actually arrived at your new home with simple postcards, or e-mail for those family members who can receive it.
GET ACQUAINTED Once you arrive at your new home, schedule some days on your calendar to meet the neighbours. This is a great time to figure out where the supermarket, bank, post office, etc. are and will give you a chance to get familiar with your area. If there is a tourist bureau in town, stop by and see what events and opportunities your town will be offering.
Finally, enjoy your new life in your new home!
Bronia Suszczenia is co-founder and Creative Director of York interior design company Art from the Start Ltd based in England. She designs projects ranging from dressing a single window, designing interiors for new homes, right through to refurbishing whole hotels. Visit www.art-from-the-start.co.uk to get more FREE design tips.
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