Moving day Tips to make it a lot easier
Planning ahead is everything, says Chelsea Wood, the woman who has moved more than 100 households. She talks to
You’ve probably heard it said that moving house is one of the five most stressful things a human will ever experience (others to make the list include death, divorce, job loss and major illness or injury).
That research apparently came from a moving company, which does slightly dent its credibility, but the fact remains that whether you’re moving across the street or the world, relocating yourself and your worldly possessions is a trial that most of us will face at some stage.
And, like visiting the dentist or doing your taxes, it’s not exactly fun, but it will, hopefully, lead to a better outcome.
Google ‘‘tips on moving house’’ and the search engine will spit out millions of suggestions, some more helpful than others. But what everyone seems to agree on is that being prepared is the key.
‘‘Planning ahead can help make the move so much smoother,’’ says Chelsea Wood, founder and managing director of The Moving Planner.
Wood should know: Not only has the Aucklander moved more than 100 households since starting her boutique removal company in 2020, she also has a background in organisation and logistics.
‘‘The first step with any move is to declutter,’’ says Wood. ‘‘I tell all my clients, before a single box is packed: Do a disciplined purge of unused and unnecessary items. That means you’ll have less to pack [and] less to move, and you’ll start life in your new space with a clean slate.’’
‘‘My biggest moving tip is colour coding or using masking tape as an easy identifier for which box goes into which room. That makes it easy for the movers with less double handling.’’ Chelsea Wood
Another moving tip that those of us who like making lists should enjoy is compiling a moving folder. This is a collection of new addresses, rental or purchase agreements, moving contracts, receipts and power and internet agreements.
‘‘I’d suggest having a hard copy, as well as a digital one, in case your phone or laptop batteries die during the move,’’ says Wood. ‘‘That way, if any questions pop up during the move, you’ll have the answers handy.’’
Booking in your movers – or renting a vehicle and roping in willing helpers – should be done as soon as possible to ensure you can get the day and time you need.
Wait too long, particularly at peak moving times when resources might be stretched,
and you risk missing out.
This goes with the generic ‘‘being prepared’’ vibe, but starting to pack earlier rather than later is also recommended.
‘‘It’s not always possible, but the earlier you know the actual move date, the better,’’ says Wood. ‘‘If you’re not using professional movers, and even if you don’t know the date, start by ordering supplies such as boxes – we prefer reusable moving boxes such as those from EcoMove, which can be stacked – as well as rubbish bags and marker pens.
‘‘Then start packing offseason items and things you don’t need at the moment.
‘‘That includes items such as winter coats, if you’re moving in summer, and books, ornaments and photos you won’t need. That gives you less to stress about as moving day draws closer.’’
Make sure you have the right size of boxes and follow the general rule of packing books and other heavy items in smaller boxes, while keeping lighter items, such as bed linen and pillows, for larger boxes.
‘‘Professional movers often complain about large boxes being packed with heavy items,’’ Wood says. ‘‘That not only makes our job harder, but it also means that items can more easily break.’’
Other packing hacks include not leaving empty spaces in boxes (fill them with clothing or towels) because movers generally don’t like moving boxes that are loosely packed or unbalanced. And avoid mixing items from different rooms in the same box – which also makes the unpacking process a lot easier.
‘‘My biggest moving tip is colour coding or using masking tape as an easy identifier for which box goes into which room.
‘‘That makes it easy for the movers with less double handling. At the new house, my first job is to stick a little of each colour tape on the door so that everyone knows exactly where things are to go.’’
Numbering and labelling each box with the room it’s destined for, as well as a general description of its contents, is also a good idea.
It probably doesn’t need to be said, but your brain might be so fried by the big move that we’ll say it anyway: Schedule utilities for your new place before move-in day.
‘‘Once your date is finalised, contact your power and internet providers to schedule service at your new home,’’ Wood says.
‘‘Keep records in your moving folder and don’t forget to let your providers know when you want to stop service at your current residence.’’
The same goes for insurance – you don’t want an issue to arise and then find you aren’t covered for it at the new (or old) house.
Wood also suggests not watering indoor plants the week of the move. ‘‘That makes them heavier, and water could be sitting at the bottom of the pot.’’
That also applies to outdoor plants and furniture – try to move them under shelter/cover if you can in case of bad weather.
Finally, this one’s an oldie but a goodie: Keep the essentials with you.
‘‘The night before you move, pack a change of clothing, toothbrush, your kids’ favourite soft toys, dog leads, medication and paperwork, along with the kettle and tea bags/coffee [and] even wine.
‘‘Keep this with you in the car so that if the moving truck is delayed, you’ll have what you need on hand.’’