10 Packing Does & 5 Do Not’s – When moving house in Oxford (or Anywhere else)
Is it an urban legend that moving house is one of the most stressful life events? Studies show that while moving house is touted as one of the most stressful things to go through, it is perhaps a bit of an urban legend. In other words, as moving professionals we are not totally convinced. While the process of buying, selling and all the insecurities involved are without doubt anxiety producing, it does not necessarily follow that moving is traumatic. Consider our tips for moving house, and the pitfalls to avoid and you should be set for a stress free relocation.
Five mistakes to avoid when moving
In a survey that measures the similar mistakes people cite after their move, we can see five common errors that people regret making from the data of 2,000 people who recently moved house.
1 – Leaving packing to the last minute
2 – Realising furniture will not fit in or into its intended room/space
3 – Not budgeting for moving expenses
4 – Doing it all on your own
5 – Delivery of newly ordered furniture delayed
Ten steps to take towards a stress free move
1. Use a professional removals team
This is undoubtedly the very first and most important tip. Though most people could argue that hiring a removals company is a costly affair, this is the best option you may have. They’ve got insurance to take care of any eventualities. On the other hand, if you use your buddies and family and an expensive gadget gets broken in the process, there won’t be any coverage. A professional removals team can supply you with packing materials, inventory guidance and a tried and tested moving schedule. They will have the expertise required to skillfully pack art and antiques and the correct vehicles to transport everything. A local removals team will understand the parking and traffic restrictions in your area and can help troubleshoot any problems that may arise on the day.
2. Create an inventory
To ensure you don’t lose anything, it is good practice to keep an inventory of all your stuff. You may find this quite laborious, but the benefits are definitely worth it. If you are moving items into storage it will be essential, and an inventory is a great organizational tool that can work with an efficient packing and labelling system. As a professional removals service, we would oversee and provide you with this, to make the process smoother.
3. Declutter
Ahead of time, have a big shake down and get rid of what you don’t need in your new place. Part of the stress of packing is bringing a lot of obsolete old tat with you, so get rid of it in advance. Sell or donate any old furniture which you won’t be taking with you, don’t leave this to the last minute. Find out which local places you can donate furniture and finally where you can recycle all the stuff you no longer need.
4. Make use of high-quality packing materials
Quality boxes can be extremely helpful when moving house. They help in packaging specific belongings appropriately and safely. It is also necessary to have the right materials for packing such as marker pens, zip tie bags, labels, bubble wraps, and packing tape. In addition, consider filling all the interior of the boxes with towels and pillowcases so that the boxes are full and without empty space. This will be helpful in the removals process and ensure the contents of your boxes are safe. Isis removals can supply all the packing materials that you need in accord with your moving plan, and we can advise with particular items like plasma TV’s.
5. Take photographs
Cited in the stress and moving house survey was that old chestnut of assembling or reassembling furniture. If you are taking apart furniture for the move, document the stages of the process so you have a guide when reassembling. Furthermore, with electronics and wiring, you will also want to have a visual guide to help you reconnect, trouble-free, when you are on the other side.
6. Essentials Box
The essentials box travels with you in the car to your new home. It contains your essential start up kit. From phone chargers, to tea, coffee, and milk it will supply you with what you need to get going on the first stint of unpacking. Cleaning products, toilet paper, kitchen towel are all qualifiers for the essentials box. Other wings of this treasury include bedding, toothbrushes, medications, and your moving plan, as well as any other items you deem to be essential.
7. Labelling and floor plan
As you pack, you are advised to pack per room and label accordingly. A good moving strategy is to unpack room by room, and it is much easier if you pack with this in mind. Clearly labelled boxes will mean that you minimize opening boxes and creating chaos in your new place while searching for one item only. Unpacking can take a long time, and initially, you want to tackle the essential parts first, so prioritizing certain boxes for certain rooms makes this more efficient.
8. Start the process early
If you know you are moving, you can begin the process by packing out of season clothes first and planning ahead. As you sift through your belongings you can get the decluttering underway. Eventually, as the day approaches, if you have been chipping away at it slowly, it will not be daunting, as you will not have made the mistake of last minute packing.
9. Pets and children and plants
It is worth factoring into your moving plan the potential issues that may arise from moving your pets and if it would be worth having the children around for the move or not. You are transporting your whole family, so you want to make sure they are all cared for during the process. It may be worth having the children join you for the later stages of unpacking. Remember to keep an eye on your animals as they find relocation stressful. In the process, make sure your houseplants are all handled with care and get adequate sunlight and water during the change.
10. Ensure you will have active utilities at your new place
To get up and running you will need to know you have active electricity, water, gas, and internet available at your next location. While this may seem obvious, it is something you will want to ensure, as connectivity issues could slow down the process on the other side. Similarly, to keep the operation going smoothly, stock up the fridge in your new place so you have everything you need to enjoy the process of moving into your new home. Stress free!
Isis Removals
Our tried and tested removals plan incorporates all these ten tips and more, this is why we are confident that moving house is not a super stressful life event. We can guarantee that our professional service can be relied upon to navigate away from these pitfalls, and into a very efficient removals process. With our Man and Van service up to International removals, we have a range of solutions for whatever removals need you may have. Get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements, and we can guarantee you a competitive quote. This is why we are the Master Removers of Oxford and beyond.
