We’ve recently moved house, in fact, it was only three weeks ago and I have to say it was probably our best move yet! Hubby and I have moved 4 times in 7 years of marriage and personally, I’ve moved, on average, once every 2-3 years of my life. Needless to say, I’ve packed and unpacked more times than I’d like to think about and the last 3 moves have been with small children all around me.
Packing and moving can be a stressful time but I’ve learned that pacing yourself and trying not to accomplish everything at the last minute is much more beneficial. It also helps if you and your spouse have clearly defined responsibilities for the move. For our move I was responsible for the packing, unpacking and cleaning and my husband was responsible for moving day; he had to organise help, a truck and the actual moving of furniture.
Here are my tips for packing:
- Aim to pack only a couple of boxes per day and if you get more than that done it’s a bonus
- Pack non essentials first like books, board games and trinkets
- Wrap fragile items in towels and other linen instead of newspaper
- Label boxes additionally with essential or non-essential to help expedite unpacking
- Pack, early on, the seasonal clothes you are not currently wearing into suitcases and overnight bags
- Pack all excess linen and just wash and reuse the towels and sheets you are currently using
- De-clutter as you go (read Beverley’s post on decluttering here)
- Refrain from buying much food and instead try to use up what’s in your cupboard and fridge
- Dust and clean as you go – as you empty cupboards wipe them out with sugar soap so that on moving day you’ve cut your work down dramatically
- Set your children the task of cleaning the walls – set them up with a diluted and safe cleaner and give them cloths to remove their graffiti and scuff marks
- If friends offer to help – accept their offers
The day of the move:
- Use laundry baskets to move clothes still in wardrobe and unpack them straight into new wardrobe
- Put all fridge and freezer items into an esky
- Get your children to ‘help’ pack your car so they get the idea that they are moving today
- Set up portacot at ‘new’ house and while baby is sleeping start unpacking essentials
- Organise some cleaning volunteers to arrive at ‘old’ house a few hours after the movers and delegate tasks to each
These are just a few things that might help the move become a little less daunting for you!
Originally posted 2015-02-23 12:00:04.