Moving house is widely regarded as one of life’s most stressful events. In fact, it is often cited alongside major life events like divorce or a relationship breakup, the loss of employment and serious illness or injury.
But, as with many things in life, forewarned is forearmed and simply knowing that it is going to be stressful and putting plans in place to mitigate that can go a long way in ensuring things run more smoothly.
This is the view of Chante Venter, Co-Founder and CEO, Wise Move South Africa – a startup supporting over 500 small to medium sized moving companies, who draws on a network of expert movers who know just how to make the process slightly less stressful.
Plan ahead
“Whatever you do, never underestimate the move! If there’s one thing you do, make sure to start planning for the move well in advance,” says Venter.
Planning means not leaving everything until the last minute but taking it up a notch and creating a timeline and checklist to stay organised and on top of things. With the timeline, work backwards from the moving day and organise accordingly. On your checklist you want to include things like notify people and companies of your change of address, right through to making plans to get hold of boxes in which to pack your things.
“The more you do ahead of time, the smoother the process is likely to be. Planning – as opposed to just dumping everything in boxes and onto a moving truck on the day – may seem like extra work but it’s one of the most effective ways to make the whole thing less stressful,” Venter shares.
Make sure to have a plan for decluttering your belongings as part of the planning, even before you start packing. Moving homes is the ideal time to assess and evaluate our possessions, and to make rational decisions about what’s worth keeping. Consider selling or donating things you no longer need, love or use. Donating is always a good idea as there are hundreds of organisations across the country that welcome donations – be it clothing, garden furniture or anything in between – as they distribute it to those in need.
Pack smartly
There’s packing and then there’s packing smartly – the main difference being how you’ll feel when you unpack on the other side!
“Avoid the temptation to just chuck things into boxes. Rather do it systematically, either by room or category, as this will allow things to unravel more smoothly when the unpacking process starts in your new home,” says Venter.
Her advice is to start by packing non-essential items, or the things you don’t use on a daily or weekly basis, as this can be done well in advance. Make sure to label all bags and boxes so that it is clear what’s inside. You may even want to put it’s destination on the box tool, for example “Books – Living Room”, as this then also makes it easier for the movers helping you to place the right boxes in the right rooms.
Venter has a variety of top tips for packing:
- Pack a first-night box with the things you’ll need to make moving day night as pleasant as possible
- Take photos of your electronic connections before you disconnect it as this can help with the reconnecting in your new space
- Take special care with precious and/or fragile items – wrap it protectively and label it accordingly. Also kindly ask the movers to be extra careful with these items
- Make sure the boxes are sturdy and tape the bottom if necessary. Make sure to pack heavier items at the bottom and not to overfill a box as this increases its changes of breaking, which could of could lead to major damage
Moving day zen
“Many hands make light work”, the old adage goes, and this is certainly true when it comes to moving house. Working with professional movers is one of the best ways to ensure the move is as efficient and hassle-free as possible. The Wise Move platform offers access to professional movers across the country. Search the website for the movers in your area and get a quote instantaneously on the website.
Depending on the nature and scale of your move, it can be tempting to simply get a friend with a bakkie to help you move but bear in mind that professional movers have the experience and equipment to handle moving more efficiently. They know how to pack, load, and transport belongings safely and quickly, as well as how to best protect your things in transit.
After the fact
In many ways the real work of moving starts after the actual moving day. It’s when you need to unpack and create a new home – both in terms of finding a space for everything but also arranging and styling things so that your new space is functional and welcoming.
“It’s a new beginning, which is exciting, but it can also make one long for the past. Just know that it’s ok to experience a range of emotions in this regard,” Venter shares.