Avoid moving day blues
The transition from one home to another can be the stuff of nightmares. Caroline Botting tells you how to get a dream run.
After almost a decade in the same house, I’d forgotten how painful it can be to move. The sort, the pack, the kids circling around your feet – and in our case, a stressed cat who marked his territory somewhere (but smelt like everywhere) – and clearing out the last household dross before a manic clean.
We would have loved to have outsourced every aspect of the move but budget constraints came into play so we were forced to take on the task ourselves. In a few months we have to do it again, and this time we will do things differently.
I learned a few lessons and have gleaned good advice from colleagues. This is what we learned:
1. Hire movers early (or rope in friends, bribing them with beers and pizza)
We found many of our preferred moving companies were already booked. What’s more, research their costs and reputation. Ours charged an hourly rate – but once the big hand passed the hour we were pinged for the full 60 minutes.
2. Change your address details in advance
Contact insurers, the bank, the council, and so on. Embrace NZ Post’s mail-forwarding service, which will notify some parties, including the Electoral Office and Fly Buys, of your new address.
3. Assemble your packing kit
Hoard boxes in many sizes. We were lucky to have a friend who’d recently moved but try supermarkets and liquor stores, which often have spare boxes. Cheap but large bags – the type you find at $2 shops – are great for big, soft items such as linen, pillows, clothing, and rugs.
You’ll also need packing tape, a tape dispenser, bubblewrap – or just as good and more environmentally friendly – old newspapers for wrapping breakable and fragile items.
We sorted our linen cupboard fairly early on and found towels, pillowcases and flannels great for wrapping things like wine glasses and plates. Make sure you have a few permanent markers to label boxes.
4. Marie Kondo the hell out of your home
Tackle packing and sorting your belongings with this room-by-room approach almost the moment the house contract is signed.
Even if you pack just one box a day during this process, it will ease the pressure on moving day. This is the perfect time to donate or sell that chest of drawers and rid yourself of excess kitchen equipment or unwanted clothing.
Start with things you don’t really need day-today. Books and trinkets can be packed early. And you’ll be surprised how little your kids will miss their toys.
Tackle the kitchen at the beginning. How many wine glasses, mugs, utensils and cooking gadgets do you really need? Think like a motel owner and leave the bare minimum to make your meals for the next few weeks.
5. Colour code the boxes relating to your rooms
If only we had done this, it would have made things so much easier to find our iron, hair dryer and Alexa – they are still missing.
6. Remove boxes immediately
If there is space, start placing the packed boxes away. This clears the house, and stops the urge to break into them to hunt for something later. If this isn’t an option, pack a full room, or clear a large space, where boxes can be left untouched.
7. Clean as you pack
Vacuum behind the beds, give the doors and cupboards a wipe down – this will save time and effort on moving day.
8. Pay someone to clean the oven
If your budget stretches to any outsourcing, let it be for this. Cleaning the oven is an awful job at the best of times, let alone at one of the most stressful. I can think of little worse than wiping the oven clean and scrubbing metal racks on your last evening in the house.
9. Eat your way out of your home
Refrain from big grocery shops in the weeks leading up to your move. Try to use whatever you have. It will make the move, plus the cleaning of the fridge, freezer and pantry, that much easier.
10. Stuff, seal and shut drawers
There’s no need to empty your clothing drawers. Get as much in them as possible, then simply seal them shut and ship them off.
11. Avoid an electrical assemblage nightmare
Place electrics in their own separate box. Take a picture before disassembling these items to see how the now jumbled cords are plugged in when you arrive at your new abode. Resealable sandwich bags are great for screws and small parts.
12. Pack ‘the next day’ essentials
Invest in some large, clear boxes with lids. These are great for those essentials you’ll need on the first night at your new home, including toiletries, breakfast for the next day and tea and coffee. It’s a good idea to include two changes of clothing for you and the family, one work outfit and the school uniforms (including shoes), bedding for your first night, some towels and details of a good takeaway joint – cooking is the last thing on your mind.
13. Make a place for your keys
Be vigilant about putting them back there during the shift. My set ended up in my son’s school bag.
14. Hire a babysitter
If that’s not an option, ask friends and family to mind the kids on the day of the move. We are forever grateful to our friends who took our young children for this stressful day.
15. Leave cleaning equipment and supplies somewhere handy
You’ll need them on shifting day and at your new house – we now have two of everything.