Hunting for and finding a new home can be an enjoyable experience, but when it comes to actually moving, the stress levels have a habit of soaring sky high. Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to minimise the tension, and streamline the whole procedure for a smoother, happier move.
“The legal process of buying and selling a home can be stressful in itself,” says Bill Rawson, Chairman of the Rawson Property Group, “but using a good real estate agent and trusted conveyancing and bond teams should smooth any bumps on that side of things. When it comes to moving, however, the ball really is in your own court, and a little bit of preparation and planning can go a very long way.” Rawson advises starting to plan for your move at least two months in advance, if possible. “It’s the unexpected things that add the most stress to any situation, so the more you plan and prepare for your move, the less stressful it’s going to be,” he says.
Begin by putting together a moving budget – it’ll give you a good idea of how much you can afford to spend on luxuries like a packing service, and how much you’ll need to arrange for yourself. It may be helpful to contact a few moving companies and get some ballpark quotes to make sure your budget is reasonable. Don’t forget to cost in boxes, bubble-wrap and tape also find out where you can buy these at a reasonable price!
Once you know what you can afford to spend, it’s time to start getting formal quotes and reserve your moving day. “Good removal companies book up quickly, especially for weekend and end-of-month moves, so don’t leave it to the last minute,” says Rawson. When it comes to choosing a mover, he advises asking for recommendations from friends or family, or, failing that, getting a list of contactable references from the company itself. “It’s often worth spending a little more on a reputable mover than risking a bad experience with a cheaper team,” he says. “A packing service can also be a huge time-saver if you can afford it.”
If you’re not using professional packers, that’s the next step you’ll want to address. “Packing is tedious work,” admits Rawson, “so the less you have to do of it, the better. That means getting rid of all the unnecessary clutter that you’ve accumulated before you start boxing anything up.”
Once you’ve sold, donated or dumped the things you don’t need, start packing the items you seldom use, first. Always label your boxes with the type of contents and the name of the room they need to go into. That way, your movers can put them as close as possible to where they’ll be unpacked, and you’ll have less lifting and carrying to do yourself, once you’re in your new home.When it comes to kitchenware, try to avoid using newspaper on cutlery, crockery and glasses, as it tends to leave a dirty residue that will need to be washed off when you unpack rather make use of bubble wrap instead.
“It’s a good idea to set aside a box for important documents like passports, deeds and insurance papers,” Rawson adds. “It’s easy for these types of things go astray while moving, so having them all in one place from the start can be useful.” He also recommends keeping your valuables and any particularly fragile breakables aside to be moved in your own vehicle.
As your moving day approaches, consider stocking up on some easy-to-make or reheatable meals and disposable plates and cutlery. It’ll save you having to leave pots and pans for last-minute packing, and give you a little bit of extra time in the evenings to relax. You’ll also want to put together a survival kit for the moving day itself, complete with toiletries, food, water, snacks, clothing and - very importantly – bedding and pyjamas!
If you’ve done your planning and started early enough, by the time your moving day comes you’ll have very little left to do. “The day of your move should be about supervising, not about last minute panicking and packing nightmares,” says Rawson. “Take a step back and let your movers do their job – chances are they’re a lot better at loading and unloading a truck than you are, anyway.”
“There will be surprises,” Rawson continues, “but if all the big things are taken care of, handling one or two issues as they crop up should be well within your capabilities.”
Moving is a big deal, and it’s always going to be stressful, but if you follow the tips above, it shouldn’t be anything you can’t handle. Try to focus less on the process and more on the end result: a wonderful new home for you and your family where memories are waiting to be made.
Visit www.rawson.co.za for more information.
“The legal process of buying and selling a home can be stressful in itself,” says Bill Rawson, Chairman of the Rawson Property Group, “but using a good real estate agent and trusted conveyancing and bond teams should smooth any bumps on that side of things. When it comes to moving, however, the ball really is in your own court, and a little bit of preparation and planning can go a very long way.” Rawson advises starting to plan for your move at least two months in advance, if possible. “It’s the unexpected things that add the most stress to any situation, so the more you plan and prepare for your move, the less stressful it’s going to be,” he says.
Begin by putting together a moving budget – it’ll give you a good idea of how much you can afford to spend on luxuries like a packing service, and how much you’ll need to arrange for yourself. It may be helpful to contact a few moving companies and get some ballpark quotes to make sure your budget is reasonable. Don’t forget to cost in boxes, bubble-wrap and tape also find out where you can buy these at a reasonable price!
Once you know what you can afford to spend, it’s time to start getting formal quotes and reserve your moving day. “Good removal companies book up quickly, especially for weekend and end-of-month moves, so don’t leave it to the last minute,” says Rawson. When it comes to choosing a mover, he advises asking for recommendations from friends or family, or, failing that, getting a list of contactable references from the company itself. “It’s often worth spending a little more on a reputable mover than risking a bad experience with a cheaper team,” he says. “A packing service can also be a huge time-saver if you can afford it.”
If you’re not using professional packers, that’s the next step you’ll want to address. “Packing is tedious work,” admits Rawson, “so the less you have to do of it, the better. That means getting rid of all the unnecessary clutter that you’ve accumulated before you start boxing anything up.”
Once you’ve sold, donated or dumped the things you don’t need, start packing the items you seldom use, first. Always label your boxes with the type of contents and the name of the room they need to go into. That way, your movers can put them as close as possible to where they’ll be unpacked, and you’ll have less lifting and carrying to do yourself, once you’re in your new home.When it comes to kitchenware, try to avoid using newspaper on cutlery, crockery and glasses, as it tends to leave a dirty residue that will need to be washed off when you unpack rather make use of bubble wrap instead.
“It’s a good idea to set aside a box for important documents like passports, deeds and insurance papers,” Rawson adds. “It’s easy for these types of things go astray while moving, so having them all in one place from the start can be useful.” He also recommends keeping your valuables and any particularly fragile breakables aside to be moved in your own vehicle.
As your moving day approaches, consider stocking up on some easy-to-make or reheatable meals and disposable plates and cutlery. It’ll save you having to leave pots and pans for last-minute packing, and give you a little bit of extra time in the evenings to relax. You’ll also want to put together a survival kit for the moving day itself, complete with toiletries, food, water, snacks, clothing and - very importantly – bedding and pyjamas!
If you’ve done your planning and started early enough, by the time your moving day comes you’ll have very little left to do. “The day of your move should be about supervising, not about last minute panicking and packing nightmares,” says Rawson. “Take a step back and let your movers do their job – chances are they’re a lot better at loading and unloading a truck than you are, anyway.”
“There will be surprises,” Rawson continues, “but if all the big things are taken care of, handling one or two issues as they crop up should be well within your capabilities.”
Moving is a big deal, and it’s always going to be stressful, but if you follow the tips above, it shouldn’t be anything you can’t handle. Try to focus less on the process and more on the end result: a wonderful new home for you and your family where memories are waiting to be made.
Visit www.rawson.co.za for more information.
