The very idea of moving makes me shudder, even though I’ve moved many, many times. Not only have I moved 13 times in 12 years, I have helped my itchy footed friends and family through a ton of moves. I have learned loads of tricks to reduce the stress along the way. Especially if you are doing it in a time crunch (moving on a weekend and back at work Monday –eep!) or with young children or pets (trust me when I say moving 3 indoor cats requires strategy!). Chances are you need to get in to the new place and get yourself (and the family) sorted ASAP. I have put together the things that I have found to be lifesavers!
1. Clear Out The Junk
There is no point in packing things you just don’t need or want. Have a good clear out and donate what you can. If you have garbage you can’t donate consider a hard rubbish collection or hiring a skip. Don’t waste time carting around junk!
2. Hire a Pro
Oh how I’ve been there and done that! I swear I am semi-professional at moving house now. Not only have I moved many times, I’ve helped friends move too. I’ve gone the DIY way, with rented trailers, horse floats and vans and I’ve also had the pros in once or twice. It seems the older you get, the more stuff you have, the more people you have to let know and the harder it seems. Hiring someone to do the (literal) heavy lifting frees you up to worry about the family, you know the people and the pets. It also means you have more energy at the other end to get life back to normal.
3. The Box Of All Things
As moving day looms closer, it’s so easy to think that packing everything in a fit or frenzy is a good idea. Slow your roll a little and think about the actual moving day. When I move (or run a festival or event) I have ‘The Box Of All Things’. It’s what you need, right when you need it. Last things packed and first on the scene at the new place. Consider your version of….
- Two rolls or more of toilet paper. For its intended use plus cleaning and more. Don’t expect it to be there in a new place.
- Some sort of spray and wipe surface cleaner. Some people leave things beyond icky!
- Packing tape. Sticking down a multitude of sins.
- Scissors or two. There will be boxes to cut open and more.
- Tea/coffee/milk/sugar/kettle/disposable cups & spoons. People will be gagging.
- Biscuits if you want to keep your paid or unpaid helpers happy
- Lease documents for both old and new place. If you need to prove something you don’t want to tear through 50 boxes to find the docs.
- Cleaning wipes. It’s just easier, get a big lot.
- Dishwashing liquid. It’s a multipurpose cleaner.
- A large multipack of sponges/cloths. Other people’s filth should be chucked and not smeared over surfaces many times.
- Germ killing smelly spray. Sometimes things are …..less than fresh.
- At least three pairs of rubber gloves. If you don’t want to touch it, no one else does either.
- Large, strong bin bags. Lots of them!
- A sharpie or other marker. It’s always good to be prepared.
- A phone charger or three! It’s your mini laptop, pizza calling device, torch in the night and alarm in the morning.
4. One More Night
You’ll also need a personal care box that is last to leave but first on scene. It will be your survival kit for a few days. Less if you manage a moving miracle!
- Any regular skincare
- Regular medications plus Panadol and bandaids
- Can’t live without it makeup
- Deodorant
- A clean set of clothes, including shoes & underwear
- Toothbrush and paste
- Body wash
- Perfume
- A handbag with keys, wallet and ID
- Towels
If you are moving with kids, you’ll need a kidlet version of this. To avoid tears over the Dora cup or a lost binkie I suggest:
- A couple of outfits
- Pj’s
- Nappies/bottles/dummies
- Fave toy/blankie etc
- Fave plastic plate & cup
If you have pets, you’ll need a fluffy (or scaly or feathery) version of this. If your pet has a ‘house’ such a hutch, aquarium or cage, be sure you have it set to go with any cords etc that go with it. If your pet is microchipped, it wise to let the microchip people know about your move in case Rex gets out.
- Pet food
- Food & water bowls
- Toilet arrangements – from puppy pads to kitty litter
- A bed or blanket that has the familiar smell of the old place
- A lead for a dog or a crate for cats is helpful in keeping the fluffs out of harm’s way
5. Silicon Spaghetti
As I’m packing I try to keep cords with the items they fit, like stereos and tvs. But I separate all the double adapters, extension cords and power boards. You’ll need them ASAP at the new place and you’ll never find them if they are not together. I polled some friends and we all agree that no matter how many we have, there are never enough double adapters, extension cords and power boards. If you can spare the cash, buying a couple of each of those items is always handy. We also agreed we like to have music at the new place to unpack to but we still like having music at the old place when we clean. Keep that in mind as you get things ready to go.
Moving doesn’t have to be to chaos and stress! Just take a deep breath and follow my tips! I have a few more moving posts coming, so I’d love to hear your moving/packing tips so I can include them xx
This article was written by or in conjunction with Hire A Mover, a Sydney Removal company. This post contains excerpts from the book, The Girl’s Guide to Survival by Sarah Johannsen.
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