Posted on Tuesday, 24th April 2018
Whether you’re moving to your dream home, getting your foot on the first rung of the property ladder or doing a little downsizing, chances are you’re probably not looking forward to the logistical side of moving house. Thankfully, with enough preparation and planning, moving house doesn’t have to be an organisationalnightmare, especially when paired with self-storage units that can take the strain out of moving day.
If you’re planning a house move, there are loads of resources you can use to get on track:
Moving house is stressful, but approaching it in an organised, bite-sized manner will make it a lot easier.
Getting a good removal company can make all the difference when you’re moving home. If you have a lot of stuff or are moving from or to an upper-floorproperty, they’re immensely valuable, saving you plenty of time and effort.
Finding a removal company you can trust can be difficult, but you can get a good one with the following steps:
A storage unit can be a godsend when moving home, allowing you to put away all the things that simply get in the way when we move, and if there’s an unexpected break in the housing chain, they can let you quickly store a lot of items on the fly. These are items and pieces of furniture that you won’t need during the first week, and that you can collect a week later once the dust has settled on the move.
Here’s how to make the best use of one.
At least a month before moving day, you need to start by creating an inventory of your items. Go through every space in your home, including the loft, garage and shed, and list everything.
Go through your list and start by crossing off all the stuff you simply don’t need. Take it to a charity shop, sell it, give it to your friends and family or throw it away – whatever you do, just get rid.
With the items left on the list, go through and decide which things you 100% need in your first week in your home. These could be kitchen bits, your bed, mattress and some chairs to sit on, but try and be ultra-conservative, especially if you have plans to decorate your new home. The fewer items lying around taking up space, the easier it’ll be to make the decorations totally perfect.
The items that didn’t make the cut can be put in a storage unit. Cheap, secure and climate-controlled, they’re a perfect short-term choice for any house mover, and thanks to their long opening hours, you can go and pick up your stuff whenever you want to.
In general, one-bedroom properties require around 50-75 sq ft of storage space. Two-bedroom homes need about 100 sq ft, three-beds around 150 sq ft, and four-beds between 150 and 200 sq ft. The space required can be reduced by packing items efficiently, and it’s good to be liberal with your storage unit size estimations – you don’t want to run out of space, only to have to move all of your items out of a smaller unit into a larger one!
Deep breaths! You can get through moving day – just make sure to do the following and you’ll be prepped for all those little upsets that may pop up!
The last thing to go into your car and the first thing to come out, your kitchen box is on hand to give you the energy to get through your day. Make sure to pack:
Having all the tools and other important bits and bobs in one place will make your move much smoother. Pack:
Unless your new house is tiny, chances are you won’t be totally unpacked by night time. Make sure to put your clothing and wash kit in one easy-to-find bag so you don’t have to rummage through lots of cardboard boxes.
Always pack as much as you can in advance, sealing the boxes and labelling them with information regarding the contents of each box and what room the contents need to go into – it’ll save you plenty of time.
Make sure everyone involved in your move, including you, your family and the removals company are 100% sure where your new house is so you can make all the tight moving day timings. Hard copy maps and written directions will ensure that everyone stays on schedule, even if they have a sat nav.
Make sure your vacuum cleaner is one of the last things into the car and one of the first out. The previous occupants might have been clean, but there might be one or two bits of dust that need cleaning up before you move your things inside.
By getting a family member to go and get the keys and open up the house, you won’t have to have your nerves wracked leaving your car and everything important inside it out in the open while you visit the estate agents.
Useful for covering up furniture or carpeting while you get the house in order, dust sheets are a must-have. Beware though, that some removal companies will refuse to use dust sheets you supply due to health and safety fears, but if they do refuse, most will supply their own.
Self-storage can help take the hassle out of moving. For a quote, click here, or to find a Space Station location near you, click here.
