JOY / / City Living

Movers and Shakers — How to De-stress the Moving Process

06.11.18 By Bhartiya City

Moving house is an experience that’s equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking, with so many things to pack and unpack that you’re often left completely overwhelmed. But moving out can be a breeze, so long as you know how to go about it the right way. So let’s take a look at a few simple tips that will keep you from tearing your hair out come moving day.

Tip #1: Make a list, check it twice

The number one way to smooth over the moving process is to make a packing plan before you start. Go from room to room and create a checklist of all the things you need to take to your new home — then make sure you stick to it. This helps you streamline the normally chaotic process of packing. After all, you wouldn’t want to tape up the last box only to realise you haven’t packed the little things — like those precious family heirlooms.

Tip #2: Ditch the junk

Moving day is great opportunity to finally get around to the spring cleaning you’ve been meaning to do. Whether it’s your wardrobe or your collection of online impulse-buys, you need to figure out what’s essential to your new home and toss out or donate everything else — with the obvious exception of seasonal or sentimental items. The best way to go about this is to segregate your things into three piles based on how often you use each item. If it’s something you utilise at least once a month, then it stays; if you haven’t used it in six months, it’s a maybe; and if you haven’t used it in more than a year, then it’s definitely time to trash it. Using this process, you can clean up your current space and give your new home a clutter-free start.

Tip #3: Perfect padding

Bubble wrap and packing peanuts can be expensive and wasteful — but you can’t afford to pack away your glassware and valuables without adequate padding! Luckily, there are a few alternative ways to make sure that all your precious cargo arrives at your new home in one piece. One way is to simply wrap your items in (or stuff them with) crumpled newspaper, fill any gaps in the box to prevent disasters in transit, and you’re good to go. However, if you want a little extra security and are looking to kill two birds with one stone, consider using clothes and towels instead. Spreading your wardrobe out among various boxes may be a little inconvenient, but thick, soft clothes make a great protective layer for glassware and can free up space in your suitcase for your lightweight, less bulky attire.

Tip #4: One room per box

When you’re moving, packing is only half the hassle — the real work begins when it’s time to unpack. So make the job easier on yourself by following the golden rule of ‘one room per box’. Simply put, this means that you shouldn’t pack items from different rooms in the same box, even if it means leaving a carton half-filled. This way, come unpacking time, you can just unload the right boxes in the right rooms and get started — without having to go from room to room every two minutes.

Tip #5: Last in, first out

If you really want to make unpacking a breeze, you need to keep in mind how you load up your boxes. Realistically speaking, you’re not going to get all your packing or unpacking done in a day, so you need to make sure that your essentials are within arm’s reach. So, for your own convenience, load the most important boxes into your vehicle last. This means boxes containing your pots and pans, bedding, and clothes are the final items to go into the moving van, so that they’re the first ones unloaded. That way, you don’t have to dig through an ocean of boxes to find your bare necessities.

While moving day can be daunting, with some careful planning and clever packing, you can face it without fear. To make things even easier, rope in a few friends, order some pizza, and turn this chore into a party. So what are you waiting for? Grab your tape and boxes of all sizes and let’s get moving!