Reducing Moving Stress

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Moving house is said to be one of the most stressful things you will ever do. Made even more so if you are moving with children and pets or moving to a new country. Yet, now so few of us can afford to buy a home until later in life, we are moving more often. Many people move between rental properties every few years until they settle with a family. Even then there can be a few moves along the way.

People move to find work, to be closer to partners, for a change of scenery, to find a nicer house, to get more space, to run away from a problem or to get a fresh start and sometimes simply because they fancy a change. Despite doing it much more frequently than previous generations, we still haven’t perfected it, and a house move can cause an awful lot of stress and anxiety. Here are 10 great tips to make sure your home move is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Find a Great House

The first thing you need to do is find a great home. Being unsure about your decision, having doubts about the house or leaving finalizing the deal until the last minute is guaranteed to add to the stress of moving.

When it comes to looking for a new house, whether nearby, or halfway across the world, the first thing you should do is look online at places like http://rumahdijual.com/makassar/perumahan-murah. Viewing properties online lets you get lots of information, see the properties and their floorplans and get an idea about costs. You can also use the internet to look at local schools, the safety of the local area, healthcare facilities and other amenities. This was, you’re not wasting time going to view every property that looks nice. You can narrow down your search quickly and efficiently.

That said, it’s important that you view a home and ask any questions that you may have too. Go to viewings armed with a list of what you are looking for, in order of importance and another list of questions you need to ask, so you don’t forget anything.

Sort Your Finances

One of the most stressful parts of moving is the financial aspect. If you are renting, make sure you’ve got enough money set aside to cover the deposit, administration fees and the first few months’ rent. But don’t forget that moving itself costs money. You’ll need a moving van, boxes, stationery and cleaning equipment at least.

If you are buying, start looking at mortgages, preparing your finances and learn more about the costs, to make sure you can afford it. There’s a lot more than having a deposit saved to think about. Either way, check out http://ericsanjuan.com/tidy-finance-clearing-your-money-clutter/ for advice on tidying up your finances.

Whether you are renting or buying, you will need to have found providers for all your utilities (electricity, gas, water etc). You want these set up ready for when you move in, but you also need to make sure that they are going to be within your financial constraints. In terms of making things affordable, a trusted electricity & gas comparision suggests “comparing electricity plans makes a lot of sense” and will save you lots of money.

Lists

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When it comes to making moving to a new house less stressful, lists are your friend. Make a list of everyone you need to tell about your move. Some things to include are:

• Utility providers
• Local councils or government offices
• The tax office
• Work
• Mobile phone company
• Doctors
• Dentist
• School
• Driving Licence office
• Postal service to arrange a redirection
• Subscription services
• Bank
• Credit card providers

It’s a good idea to watch your post for a month and add to your list anyone that sends you anything as well as anyone you have contact with online or pay bills to. Keep adding to your list every time you think of anything, and you’re less likely to forget something important.

You should also make a general to do list. This will include things like setting up accounts for your new house, canceling old accounts, checking the pipes, cleaning both properties and any particular moving targets you may have. Keep ticking things off and adding new bits you think of to keep yourself on track.

Label

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Labels are another friend you need to make. Label everything! Don’t just write “kitchen” on boxes. Be more detailed. A basic contents list can make finding things you need, either before or after the move, much easier, reducing stress massively.

Give Yourself Time

One mistake people make is trying to do everything in one day. Give yourself more time. In some cases, this may mean paying rent on two homes for a month. But if you can afford it, it’s well worth it.

If you’re moving somewhere close by, having time means you can move a bit at a time. Make a few trips in the car with non-essential items and things you won’t need before moving day to get things started. Then, you may just need to hire a van for one day to move the larger items. Alternatively, moving some of your non-essential personal belongings into nearby self-storage units, like the storage units pueblo co based, before the move makes it easier than shifting equipment all in one day.

If you are moving further afield, it’s still a good idea to give yourself as much time as you can. So you can pack in your own time and feel less pressured. As well as to conduct any research or work that needs to be done for the long move earlier, for instance, there can be many different possessions that people think could become an issue and stressful to move, their personal vehicles for example, due to not wanting to drive a long distances because of the time it takes, as well as fuel expenditure. Instead, researching into your options early is a safe bet, there are the likes of these classic car movers that offer transportation for all vehicles, so finding an option best suited to you that you can organize around your time schedule and other needs can be done.

Just remember, if you’ve got possessions in two homes, it’s a good idea to have home insurance to cover both properties just in case. Especially if people can see you’re not yet spending nights in your new home. You can never be too careful.

Have a First Night Box

Packing a separate box, filled with things you need for the first night and morning in your new

home is an excellent idea. You’ll have everything you need to hand without having to rush around going through all of your boxes to unpack bits. Include things like:

• Breakfast and coffee
• Pajamas
• Clothes
• Toothbrushes and paste
• Other toiletries
• Medication

Think about what you use on a typical morning and add it to your box.

Keep Documents Separate

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You should also keep important documents separate. Have a box just for these, so they don’t get lost. Make sure you include passports, birth certificates, school awards, medical information, insurance documents and bank details.

Have Supplies Ready

If at all possible, go to your new house beforehand and leave a few things there. It’s a good idea to have a kettle and coffee making supplies, snacks, other drinks and a radio. Basically, things to make the move easier that can be kept there safely. UHT milk is an excellent option if you haven’t got a fridge yet. If you can’t get there beforehand, keep these things separate with your first night box for easy access.

When buying new furniture or appliances, it’s also a good idea to have them delivered before you move. So, they are ready when you arrive. If you can’t get there, consider leaving a key with a neighbour or sending a trusted friend to let them in.

Prepare the New House

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If possible, spend some time in your new home before the big day. It’s a good idea to start preparing the house. Check the taps, make sure they work and that no pipes are frozen. Make sure you understand how the heating, boiler and oven work as they can be vastly different to what you are used to.

Another good tip is to measure the rooms and make a little room plan. Then you’ll know where all of your furniture fits. Then, open some windows for a little bit. Houses can quickly get musty when they are left empty. You could even take some air fresheners.

Move in Order

Moving room at a time makes things much easier to organize on the other side. If you’re moving in one go, put things in the van in room order as much as possible.

To make your move easier, create a checklist including all of these things. Print it out and start ticking things off. Do everything you can as early as possible to avoid stress on moving day. If you are moving a long way away, some of the logistics may have to be a little different, but there is still a lot that you can do to make your move easier.