Moving house is one of life's most pleasurable but also stressful experiences. The trick to moving house without any problems is to prepare a plan well in advance and execute the plan when the time comes. Arrangement, efficiency and calculations will relieve you of the stresses that may come your way. If you want to know how to temporarily move house while maintaining your sanity and even having fun in the process, follow these steps.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Preparing to Move
Step 1. Get rid of things you don't need
First, you must determine what items to bring and what to leave. There are many reasons to leave your belongings. Maybe your new place is smaller, maybe you're moving in with someone with nicer stuff, or you're just ready to throw out the old junk you don't need. Here's how to do it:
- Check the room in your new place. Calculate the dimensions of each room in the new house and then measure furniture You to find out what fits and what doesn't.
- Sell your stuff on Craigslist. You should start doing this at least a few weeks in advance to ensure that potential buyers have enough time to pick up your item. When you have great photos and useful items, it's very easy to sell them, and you might be surprised how quickly people buy them. Therefore, you shouldn't advertise your items on Craigslist too far in advance of your move, as you may not have a table to eat for a month.
- Understand about selling mattresses. You may have mattresses and mattress pads in great condition that you want to sell, but know that people are careful when buying bedding from complete strangers. You can prepare yourself by setting low prices, or advertising to friends, family, and people who know you.
- Sale of used goods in your yard. This is a great way to get rid of a lot of stuff in one step.
- Donate your items. You may not like old clothes or shoes, but they will work for a lot of people.
- Have a housewarming party and put things you don't want in the corner. You'll be amazed at how quickly guests grab it.
- Sell your old books to a secondhand store.
- In the weeks leading up to your move, eat as much food as possible in your refrigerator, cooler, and pantry, so you can avoid moving with heavy cans or thawing and scattered groceries.
Step 2. Pack up to move
Although packing your things will take a long time, but as long as you are organized and have a good plan ahead, it will not take up your life. You should start packing at least a few weeks in advance so that there's enough time to pack everything, but not so far ahead that you'll be surrounded by clutter, starting to pack up the things you'll need. Here's what to do:
- Prepare a cardboard box. You will need more cardboard than you might think. You can get them for free from the grocery store, find them under the "free stuff" label on Craigslist, ask from a friend who just moved in, or just buy them if you want to save time.
- Label your cardboard carefully. You'll need to write each box which should be facing up and which one is sideways, so you'll know which one even if they overlap each other.
- Pack a box containing important items. You should do this the morning or evening before moving on. The box contains toiletries such as toothpaste, shampoo, soap, shower sticks and curtains, and towels, as well as overnight necessities such as sheets, blankets, pillows, and nightgowns. Also, if you can't live without caffeine, pack a coffee or tea maker and a kettle.
- Pack all the items that will be placed in the same room in one box. Don't worry about separating books and notes, if they will be placed in the workspace. Put everything that will be in the same part of the room in one box so you can unpack it more easily.
- Assign a "packaging location" within your home. Instead of filling each room with several boxes, choose one place to store all of your packed items.
- Store your tools in a visible place. Make sure you take your toolbox with you when you move so you can start assembling the furniture right away. You can put it in a box of essentials, or place it in the cab of your moving truck or car.
- Hold important documents. Hold all the paperwork related to your old house, new home, or moving process. Don't pack with things to put in the workspace, or you won't be able to find them in an emergency.
Step 3. Ask trusted friends for help well in advance
Whether your friends are heroically helping move all your boxes, or they're just there for moral support, you should let them know when you're moving well in advance. Email or call them for help on moving day.
Don't forget to thank your friends for helping. Even if they offer help out of kindness, you should still take them to a restaurant after the move, or order a beer and pizza
Step 4. Organize utilities in your new home and coordinate important services and places before you move
Call ahead of time to make sure there's heating and electricity in the new home, or your move will have an unpleasant start.
- Utilities include gas, electricity, telephone, TV subscriptions, internet, as well as home security, water, and garbage disposal.
- Services you'll need to coordinate after you've moved include insurance, banking, vehicle registration and licensing, and address changes.
- Places to look for include the nearest hospital, fire station, police station, meeting hall, local government office, post office, regional park, animal hospital, library, public transportation, and school.
Part 2 of 4: Moving Alone
Step 1. Rent a moving truck
If you're handling the move yourself, you'll need to arrange for the truck to be picked up on the morning of the move. Make this arrangement a few days in advance, or it will be difficult to rent a truck the day you need it at a reasonable price during the busy moving season.
Compare prices with several companies before making a decision
Step 2. Pick up the truck on the morning of the move
Come early to avoid queues on busy days.
Step 3. Load the cardboard in the truck
Loading the cardboard into the truck won't be a challenge if you plan ahead and have the help of a few trusted friends when doing it. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you load the boxes into the truck:
- Remember that you need at least two people to handle tasks other than lifting and loading. They have to organize the things that have to be arranged by placing the cardboard close to the door for easy access.
- Disassemble your furniture assembly. Disassemble the lamp, table with removable legs, bookshelf and entertainment system.
- Protect your furniture. Wrap all items in wrapping paper and tape when you load them into the truck.
- Load the heaviest items first, into the back of the truck. This includes refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and other appliances, as well as the heaviest boxes.
- Load the largest boxes. Arrange like bricks to form a layer of wall that fills the back of the truck. Use stacks of T's to make the boxes more stable: make each vertical arrangement form a T and a horizontal layer underneath, like bricks in a house. Avoid vertical stacking of cardboard of the same size. To maximize space, it's important to create a tall, stable arrangement from scratch.
- Next, load the longer items into the truck. This includes a bed and shelves. Lean on the side of the truck.
- Load the other boxes in the truck. Make three layers of cardboard consisting of the heaviest cardboard on the bottom, medium size on the middle, and the lightest cardboard on the top. After each layer is finished, tie it with packing tape.
- Enter the remaining items. The trick is to get everything snug, but not so tight that it looks like it's ready to explode.
- When using the ramps on a box van, such as the van in the picture, make sure the ramps fit into place; once you pull the track from under the truck, you'll find two gears that will fit into slots in the lip of the van's cargo hold. This will ensure that the track is flush with the lip of the van, and make the lorry easy to use. This step is often overlooked.
- Make sure that the lorry is the last one loaded in the truck, so you can pick it up as soon as you get to your new home.
Step 4. Drive the truck to the new location
Drive the truck carefully towards your new home. Be prepared to drive slower and more carefully than a regular car. Driving a moving truck requires major adjustments.
Remember to go slow and stay calm, because driving a truck is stressful
Step 5. Unpack your stuff
If possible, backtrack the truck into the new house so the ramp will extend all the way to the patio. Take advantage of all the crew to give you the cue to get yourself out of the way. When you're close to the terrace, stretch out the ramp and snap it into place, and have a crew pick up the other end. Most ramps won't fit snugly unless the ends are above the ground. Once you're done setting up the ramps, here's how to unpack your stuff:
- Have a plan where you will place the bulky items in each room. Get into any room with a carrier, and show them where to put large items, such as sofas, TVs, cupboards, beds, dressers, desks, etc.
- Choose a place to put cardboard and small items in each room based on the method above. That way the boxes won't get in the way when the big furniture comes in. And you don't have to move the boxes again. You can post notes on the wall if necessary.
Step 6. Return your moving truck
You need to set whether to return the truck the same day or the next morning.
Part 3 of 4: Moving with Moving Services
Step 1. Research to find the best companies
If you want to move with a moving company, you'll have to spend more money, but you'll be free from the stress of having to load boxes, drive a moving truck, and unload. Finding the right moving service company is a big commitment so you need to do your research carefully before making a decision.
- Avoid starting a search on the internet. This is the easiest way to get caught in a moving scam. Better yet, check the list in the phone book, call a local real estate agent, or ask a friend for a recommendation.
- Choose a place that will do the overall estimate. Otherwise, hang up.
- Make sure the company will do the work themselves, and not pass the contract on to someone else to do it.
- Make sure the company can provide you with the "Your Rights and Responsibilities When Moving" booklet.
- Get as much information as you can about the company. Try to choose a company that has been in business for at least ten years. Ask about the services included, and a list of references.
Step 2. Once you've narrowed your search down to two or three companies, search the internet to find out if their companies are legit
You will need a Department of Transportation permit number and driver's license to do this. Now you can make sure that the company is not only legal to carry out your move, but also has insurance.
- First, check SafeSys.org. Enter the driver's license number and the Ministry of Transportation permit and see the results.
- Next, make sure the company checks the Insurance and Licensing link at the bottom of the report you get.
- Finally, check the business report site to read about the company.
Step 3. Ask the company to come to make an assessment
The company will send a representative to check all your items and give you an estimate of how much it will cost to move everything. The company will give you an estimate based on what they see in your home.
- Don't use a company that only gives you estimates based on cubic meters.
- If you really want to find the best company, you can arrange for two or three companies to come and make an assessment, then you choose the company with the best service and price. But this will take more time.
Step 4. Make a deal with a moving company
Decide on a fee that is suitable for both parties, and sign a contract with sufficient detail and according to your needs. Never sign a blank contract. When entering into this agreement, you must decide on the date of the move.
Step 5. Move with transfer force
Now that you've selected a company and decided on a date, it's time to prepare for the move. Even if you won't be lifting heavy items, you will need to stay in place while the movers carry and unload your items. This is an exception if you move things to a new place when you are not around.
- When they unload your stuff, stay away. Don't offer to help unless they have a question.
- Reward them extra. After they've finished the chore, or even while they're at it, order lunch for them if you want to be kind. And be sure to give them a generous tip.
Part 4 of 4: Enjoying a New Home
Step 1. Open your boxes
Now that your belongings are in your new home, chances are you're feeling overwhelmed. Be patient and don't force yourself to unpack the box right away. Focus on working a little and your new place will be ready in no time. Here's what you can do:
- Unpack the important stuff first. Unpack things from cardboard "important items". Install a shower curtain in case you need a relaxing shower and also put on and make the bed when you feel like laying down.
- Try to unpack your kitchen utensils early. While you should relax and eat out the first time you come to a new place, you can't do that forever. The sooner your kitchen is ready, the sooner you can start living a normal life.
- Assemble all the large furniture. Make sure you assemble in the room where the furniture should be..
- Do as much as you can only do each day. While you shouldn't wait months to unpack, you may be exhausted after the move, so unpack only as many boxes as you can until you need to rest. Remember to take time to enjoy your new surroundings.
Step 2. Shopping
Once you start the unpacking process, it's time to shop for items you may need. These include going to the grocery store to stock the fridge, buying whatever furniture you need, or replacing something you can't find.
Take one step at a time. If you really need a lot of new stuff, set aside a special day for it, but if you only need a few things, you don't have to do it all at once
Step 3. Get to know your new environment
Once you're deep in the disassembly process, or just needing a break, it's time to get to know your surroundings. This is a great way to feel more comfortable in your new surroundings and feel that the stress you felt when you moved will pay off. Here's what to do:
- Strolling. Not only will this relieve stress and exercise, but you'll have a better sense of your surroundings, what your neighbors are like, and the shops and parks that are close to you.
- Look online or in local newspapers for cultural shows, bars or restaurants. See what your new neighborhood has to offer.
- Tell your Facebook friends that you're moving to a new place. Ask if they have any recommendations on where to go or even where to shop. Even people you barely know will be happy to give advice on this topic.
- Get to know the neighbors. Be friendly to the people in your neighborhood. You will later make friends with local people and in the process will get tips about your new community.
Tips
- Take a deep breath. No matter how hard you try, moving will be very stressful for you. While it helps if you are organized and have the support of friends, be prepared to wipe away a few tears. Many people make the move and are surprised how difficult it can be, so adjust expectations ahead of time to protect your own sanity. Remind yourself that things will get better. You'll be stressed out at the initial move, but think about how amazing you'll feel when you set up your new home!
- If you have young children, remember that the first night in a new house can frighten them. New sounds, new rooms, lots of confusion. Make sure you pack a nightlight or his special blanket in your suitcase so you can find it.
- Empty items from your refrigerator into the cooler. If necessary, 2 kilos of ice is enough to keep everything frozen for transport and until the fridge is installed.
- If possible, see if you can carry fragile items by hand. No matter how slow it goes, moving trucks are a threat to fragile items. Wrapping these things in newspaper has helped a lot.
- If you have a cat and have had the opportunity to return to an old place after moving and it's not too far away, stay with your cat until the last minute. Carrying a cat in the middle of a messy move will frighten her, and she might hide under the bed for days!
- The more people who can help you, the better. If necessary, to clear the way, ask a few people to come back and get things out of the basement, if possible. And always, ask the most competent people to load the truck.
- Furniture such as: wardrobe, dressing table, bed, etc. You can avoid damage by wrapping it in a plastic bag. When loaded into moving trucks or other vehicles, these items are less likely to be scratched by other objects. Plastic advice will avoid such scratches.
Warning
- Always research moving services thoroughly to avoid scams.
- The water mattress is very large and breaks easily. You have to be very careful! It would be worth it if you rent a small suction pump to make sure the mattress is as empty as possible.
