**Title: Tips for a Smooth and Organized House Move**
**Introduction**
Moving houses can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. In this article, we will explore some helpful tips to ensure a smooth and organized house move. Drawing on personal experiences and insights from an interior decorator with years of experience, we will provide practical advice on planning, decluttering, packing, unpacking, and setting up your new home.
**1. Organization is Key**
To have a successful move, organization is crucial. Here are some steps to follow:
– Prepackage Sorting: Before you move, take the time to declutter and get rid of items that are no longer needed. Donating to charities or selling unwanted items can help simplify the process.
– Plan Furniture Placement: Measure the dimensions of your new home and plan where each piece of furniture will go. Avoid bringing items that won’t fit or serve a purpose in your new space.
**2. Prepare for the Big Day**
To ensure a smooth moving day, make preparations in advance:
– Emergency Bag: Pack an emergency bag a few days before the move with essential items such as a corkscrew, toiletries, and phone chargers. This will come in handy, especially when items are packed in a hurry.
– Numbered Room Tags: Print multiple copies of the plan of your new house or apartment and assign numbers to each room. Tape the blueprints to visible surfaces and use numbered tags on room doors and boxes. This minimizes confusion and helps the movers know where to place items.
**3. Unpacking Made Easier**
Unpacking can feel like a race against time, but with a clear plan, it can be more efficient:
– Start with Essentials: Unpack the items you need immediately, such as bedding, kitchen supplies, and toiletries. Having these essentials readily available will make settling in more comfortable.
– Resist Micromanaging: While it’s important to have a vision for your new space, avoid getting caught up in rearranging everything at once. Focus on unpacking and organizing the essentials first, and refine the placement later.
**4. Dealing with Fragile Items**
Protecting delicate items during a move is essential:
– Professional Installation: If you have valuable mirrors or art pieces, consider hiring a professional to hang them safely. This ensures they are secure and avoids damaging your walls.
– Temporary Blackout Blinds: If the previous owner hasn’t left curtains or blinds, temporary blackout blinds can provide privacy and help ensure a good night’s sleep until permanent window coverings are installed.
**5. The Importance of Glass Cleaner**
Save the glass cleaning for after you’ve settled in:
– Wait for Progress: After the chaos of moving, give yourself a couple of days to settle down and organize your belongings. Once most things are in place, cleaning the sparkling glass can feel like a sign of progress and a fresh start.
**Conclusion**
Moving homes can be a challenging experience, but with proper planning, organization, and preparation, it can become a smooth transition. By decluttering, packing strategically, and enlisting professional help when needed, you can minimize stress and create a more enjoyable moving journey. Remember that unpacking and settling into your new home takes time, so be patient with yourself and focus on creating a comfortable living space.
**Engaging Piece: The Emotional Side of Moving**
Moving homes is not just about the logistics and physical aspects; it also has an emotional side. Leaving behind familiar surroundings and starting fresh in a new place can evoke a mix of emotions. It’s normal to feel both excited and nostalgic during this transition.
As we pack our belongings, we sift through memories and sentimental items that connect us to our past. The process of letting go and decluttering can be challenging, especially for those who find it difficult to part with things that carry emotional value. However, embracing the opportunity for a fresh start can help us focus on the future and create a space that reflects our current selves.
Moving also provides an opportunity to evaluate our belongings and what truly brings us joy. It forces us to confront the accumulation of possessions and encourages us to let go of the unnecessary. By decluttering, we create more space, both physically and mentally, and foster a sense of clarity and simplicity in our lives.
Additionally, moving can be an opportunity to explore new neighborhoods, meet new people, and discover new interests. It’s a chance to reimagine our living spaces and create a personalized haven that reflects our style and aspirations. Embrace the excitement and possibilities that come with moving, and remember that every step forward is a chance to shape a brighter future.
In conclusion, moving houses is a significant event that requires careful planning, organization, and emotional readiness. By following practical tips and acknowledging the emotional aspects of moving, you can create an experience that is not only efficient and organized but also emotionally fulfilling. Embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with moving, and make your new house a true home.
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My grandparents were serial movers. My grandmother had Humphreys Removals on speed dial. When the trucks arrived, my grandfather would greet the men by his name when he left for the office and later that same day when he arrived at the new house; my mother used to say that she didn’t realize that she was different. home since everything was in its place.
They say moving is one of life’s most stressful events and “they” are right. I certainly remember feeling this way as I looked at a large number of my possessions piled up outside the pub at the top of the street, the nearest place the removal company could park. They had grossly underestimated the amount of gear I had and at 11am told me that all the vans were full and they had no other available.
I called every man with a van I knew (and many I didn’t) and was very lucky to find someone who had an empty van and was 30 minutes away. I cried with gratitude, and happily the rest of my move went smoothly after this inauspicious start.
As an interior decorator with some 30 years of experience, I’ve seen my fair share of high-drama house moves. When things go wrong, they almost always go wrong for one of two reasons: you, or the movers, underestimate the amount of stuff you have; or you don’t prepare for the big day.
So how do you make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible?
Like so many things in life, the key to a successful move is organization. Prepackage sorting is vital. Now is the time to realize that no, you don’t need to save those old-school reports, race badges, or pieces of rope too short to be useful.
Moving is emotional, but it is an opportunity for a fresh start. As a
A self-confessed maximalist and a bit of a hoarder, I find it very difficult to part with things that I feel might be useful, although I can’t tell you why I still have the kids’ old school reports. However, the thought of packing up the clutter, moving it, and unpacking it in a new location is enough to focus even my mind.
I meticulously plan where everything will go with furniture designs so I’m sure what will and won’t fit. There is no point in being unrealistic and bringing in the big L-shaped sofa that has no home. It’s best to deal with it before you move.
In the UK, charities such as the British Heart Foundation, Sue Ryder and Age Concern often collect unwanted clothing, books and toys, while NK space will recycle old makeup and toiletries. There’s also Facebook Marketplace and eBay, and it’s so nice to know that parts you no longer want or need can go on to a new life with someone else.
Another tip: move things around instead of spending a fortune on storage. Out of sight and out of mind is an incredibly dangerous phenomenon, one you can only comprehend when you unpack the kettle you might have donated five years ago and realize it might have cost you £2,000 to maintain.
Prepare an emergency bag a few days before you move, including a corkscrew. Packers move like a whirlwind through the house once they start and even though they pack by the room, I have found the strangest things tucked into the corners of boxes. Before you know it, your toothbrush and phone charger are located with the shoe shine kit, so you may not be able to get your hand on what you need in a hurry.
On the day of the move, you want to have several hard copies of the plan of the new house or apartment and number the rooms. Tape the blueprints to anything that will stand still long enough and have numbered tags ready to stick to room doors. Boxes can be given room numbers to minimize confusion. The movers will probably call rooms by different names and it’s good for your blood pressure to avoid the number of times you get asked, “Where do you want this box, love?”
Then comes the unpacking. This is when you offer a Te Deum to marie kondo, eternally grateful that you cleared your mind before starting the whole process. For me, unpacking becomes a race against time as I am determined to empty as many as possible before the mover leaves so they can haul them away. This leaves a flurry of tissue paper and bubble wrap as I decant things left, right, and center.
It’s great to have help unpacking, but resist micromanaging, or you’ll end up wasting your time, as well as that of your movers. Just try to unpack the china and put the books on the shelves. Everything can be refined and rearranged later; Plus, it’s easier to see things when they’re not framed.
If you have the space, it can be helpful to designate one room as “storage” for all the items and boxes that don’t need to be unpacked right away. I like to fix my bedroom and bathroom first thing in the morning – knowing that you’ll be able to collapse into a beautifully made bed at the end of the day is extremely comforting. If you’ve been able to arrange the curtains or the seller has left yours in good condition, then temporary blackout blinds are an inexpensive way to ensure a good night’s sleep until the new ones arrive.
Pictures and mirrors take up a lot of floor space until they are hung and can be easily damaged. I booked an installer for the day after my move to install all the mirrors. At the same time (and this is an idea I’m incredibly proud of), I asked him to hang all the photos I didn’t know where to put on my warehouse walls, which meant I could treat this as a gallery and go from “ shopping” there once I had my furniture in its final positions.
And one last piece of advice: reserve the glass cleaner for two days after the move. By then, you should have corralled the dread boxes and almost everything will be (hopefully) in place. The sparkling glass will feel like progress.
The problem with house moving is that you are always trying to solve the problem of the last one. Still, I’ve found that getting organized and meeting a truck owner can get you out of most jams. We can’t all hope to be as good at it as my grandmother was, but anything less than having your boxes thrown outside the local pub should be considered a success.
Now all I’m waiting for is someone to develop an app that can transfer all the utilities to their new address with the touch of a button. That would really be a triumph.
Emma Burns is joint CEO of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler
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