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How to organise or plan a house move?
At first, you may think that moving is as simple as putting your possessions into a box and off you go. But you will often find the task daunting because you don’t know where to start.
So how do you organise or plan a home relocation?
Organisation
Establish a date range for your home move
Establishing a date range for your home move is essential because humans work better against a deadline. You set a target date against a task, and it will create a sense of urgency for you.
Plan a budget
Understand what your budget is for the move. You should have a budget because the packing and transport for your house move is a full service that costs money. If you plan to hire a removal service, use VanHelper first and get a no-obligation free quote for your move. Hiring a removal service to carry out the packing and transport for your home move can be more budget-friendly than you expect!
Create a To-Do list
We have created the ultimate house move checklist at VanHelper to help you navigate the most common aspects of moving home. Feel free to print out the checklist and mark off the tasks as you go along. In addition to that, start putting down tasks you need to complete and check them off one by one as you progress. It is because moving can be stressful, and having a checklist ensures that you won’t miss out on anything important during the move.
Start packing well in advance
What are you waiting for? Start packing now! If you have opted not to hire a packing service and would like to pack yourself for the home move, you should start packing immediately. Start small work through a section of a room daily to break down the whole task into smaller pieces.
Packing supplies
Get free moving boxes
Where do you get boxes for a house move? You can buy them, which will increase your moving costs. Consider also asking a nearby supermarket or retail shop whether you can take any Cardboard boxes available. You can usually pick them up for free from the store as it needs to discard anyway. You will increase your chance of finding available boxes when a shop restocks.
Avoid getting boxes from stores such as a butcher, fishmongers or frozen goods shops because the boxes might be stained or smell.
Rent the moving boxes
Suppose you are hiring a removal service without a packing service. In that case, you may ask the company whether they have reusable moving boxes for hire. Renting plastic reusable moving boxes is one of the most Eco-friendly ways to make a house move, and the costs can be cheaper than buying new boxes outright. The removal service you hire will often drop off the boxes well in advance and give you a set amount of time to unpack at your new home before coming to collect the boxes.
Original boxes and packaging for electronics
Electronics are very fragile and can be easily damaged during a house move if not packed correctly. If you have the original boxes or packaging for the electronics, it will reduce the possibility of damage during transport. The original packaging is explicitly made to safely and securely transport the electronics.
Buy the moving supplies
The last option is to buy moving supplies online or at a general-purpose shop. For a general house move, you will need the following:
- Small boxes
- Medium boxes
- Large boxes
- Wardrobe boxes / Vacuum storage bags
- Mirror boxes
Aside from boxes, you will also need:
- Bubble wraps
- Packing tapes
- Packing peanuts
- A marker
- Sticky labels
- Old newspapers, to wrap and protect fragile items
- Plastic bags, to prevent spillage from items such as detergents
When you take in the costs of buying the packing materials and the time it requires, it's no wonder we recommend you buy the packing service from a removal company.
Consider the packing service
A packing service's value is that they are efficient and quick at securely packing your home to move. In addition, You can claim any damages against the moving company as you will be covered under their insurance during the move.
Essentials and valuables
Store your valuables securely
Your jewellery or valuables should be secure. First, you may opt to have this on your person for safekeeping, or you can temporarily hire a bank’s deposit box and store these items.
Store your important documents securely
You should securely store documentation such as marriage and birth certificates in a folder or a binder. This ensures that you keep all your important documentation together, and you can keep it safe during the move.
Pack an essentials bag
Put essential items into a backpack. When you first move into your new home, you will need more time to unpack everything on the first day, so it is important to have an essentials bag ready. These items are:
- Phone charger
- A towel
- A single change of clothes, including underwear
- Essential medicines
- Toiletries
Additionally, you may put your valuables and important documents together in this essentials backpack to keep these things on your person securely during the move.
Packing
Make an inventory list
Make a list of your items, either using pen and paper or using a spreadsheet on a computer. Having a list of your inventory and its condition helps organise your packing. Unpacking becomes much easier because you can reference which box an item might be in after moving to your new home.
Label your boxes
Label your boxes so you know what is inside them and what room they should be in. This makes transport much easier as you can drop off the boxes in their intended rooms. Unpacking becomes more efficient because you know what you want to unpack first by identifying the boxes through the labels.
Begin with your less-used rooms
Begin packing with your less-used rooms, such as the closet, garage or loft. This is because items stored in those rooms are usually least used and can be a starting point to pack for your house move.
Christmas decorations and Garden tools can be packed away quickly before your other rooms, as you will only require these seasonal items from time to time.
Doing this will get you into a routine of packing. Like we’ve said at the start of the article, you have to start somewhere.
Donate and de-clutter first
Donating items you no longer need is excellent as it can help reduce the number of things you need to move and help those in need. Find a local charity or donation box where you can drop off your items; You can donate old clothes, shoes or linen, for example, to a clothes bank.
Use clothing to fill up spaces
You can use loose clothing to fill up spaces as you pack up. This allows you to protect fragile items and pack your clothes simultaneously, a double win for a house move.
Use Vacuum storage bags for clothing or duvet
Vacuum bags are great for getting your clothing and duvets as they reduce the bulk of the items into a more manageable size during a house move. Vacuum storage bags can be purchased online or in most general goods retail stores. They give you more space to pack your items and are a great alternative to a wardrobe box if you don’t mind the creases.
Heavy items go to the bottom
Avoid top-heavy boxes because they can be dangerous during the move. Always put heavy items at the bottom of the box, it provides the box with a more substantial base to carry, and you can avoid crushing fragile items inside the boxes.
Wrap your spill-able items in plastic bags
Suppose you are moving spillable or liquid items such as perfume or detergents. In that case, you should put these items inside a sealed plastic bag before packing to limit the liquid damage in the unlikely event of a breakage.
Children and pets
If you are a parent, speak with your children
Please talk with your children to let them know what is happening. Frequently, drastic changes will cause concern for children, and you should communicate to them why and where you are moving.
Ask them how they feel about the move and reassure them of the situation. Consider bringing your children to the new home if it is vacant so that you can set their expectations for the move.
It would be best if you respected the child's feelings no matter their age and provided assurances for their concerns and emotions during a house move.
If you have a pet, arrange for a pet sitter
Please arrange a pet sitter or a separate location for your pets during the move. This makes the house move safer and helps you secure the pet before introducing them to a new environment.
Unfamiliar environments are incredibly stressful for pets as they seek familiarity and comfort. After you have moved in and brought them to your new home, create a comfortable space where your pet can settle in. Give them plenty of attention after the move to reassure them of the new environment.
Tell your removal company upfront if you have any pets because they might need to bring in special equipment to move your aquarium pet enclosures!
Organise your transport
Hire removals for your house move
Hire removals and get the best quotes from local businesses through VanHelper. Hiring a removal company will make organising and planning your house move much more straightforward. Many of the points in this article become moot when you hire a professional removal service to take care of your home move.
There are many reasons you should consider when hiring a house move. Get a removals quote from VanHelper. You can ask the removals company to clarify any concerns you might have, whether it's the van size you require or how well they estimate the cost of the move. The process is transparent, and we’re confident you will get the best value for the removal services.
Rent a mover’s van for the day
Some companies provide vehicles for hire as a service. Within the UK, you can drive any van, including Luton vans, weighing up to 3.5 tonnes on a standard driving license. There are no specific requirements or qualifications needed to operate a Luton van.
Renting a mover’s van can work if you are on a tighter budget and have extra muscles to help load and unload your boxes and furniture.
Ask for help from friends and family
When it comes to moving, many people ask family and friends for help, whether for an extra pair of hands for loading and unloading or helping you with the transport. It never hurts to ask the question and see if you can get help from your loved ones.
TLDR
Organising a house move can be tricky. VanHelper recommends hiring a professional removal service and a packing service to remove most of the stress and tasks for a house move. However, if you choose to move without professional assistance, you should organise and pack methodically. Create a list of your items, label your boxes, donate or throw away unused possessions, make arrangements for your children and pets, and organise your transport as early as possible.
