5 tips for a stress-free house move

House hunting is an exciting time, especially if you are a first-time buyer.

You’ve been saving for a while and making plans that are just about to come true – you will soon be able to call yourself a house owner. How great does this sound?!

But regardless of whether this is your first home or you have been on the property ladder for some time, moving can also be quite stressful… You might be relocating to a new, unfamiliar area, have a long list of suppliers to sort out, institutions to update your address with and of course… you need to pack.

Don’t stress out… we put together 5 tips to help ensure your house move goes as smoothly as possible.   

1. Start packing early - You might not have your completion date yet, but getting yourself organised nice and early will help avoid stress and issues down the line. Start by packing rooms and things that you need least. Labelling your removal boxes with their contents and original location will help you unpack more effectively once you’ve moved in. You can use plain white labels, a colour-coding system or simply write directly on the box.

2. Prepare – Delicate items such as dinner sets, glasses and TVs require extra protection, so make sure you have the right cushioning material such as bubble wrap or packing papers at hand. Using fragile warning labels will make it easier for you to identify boxes that contain breakables. Once you know your completion date, book a removal van (or a removal company) and consider hiring a skip. Don’t leave it until the last moment as they may book out. When packing a removal van, make sure you put heavy removal boxes at the bottom and light ones at the top to prevent fragile items getting crushed in the move.

3. Declutter – You might feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff that you own. Moving house can be a great opportunity to get rid of things that you no longer need or use. Unwanted items (such as clothes, shoes and books) can be donated to a charity, provided they are still in good condition.

4. Prioritise – Unpacking will take some time. Don’t try to do everything at once as this will only cause extra frustration. Instead, think what you need the most and set your priorities accordingly. Getting your kitchen stuff out and arranging a place to sleep are more important than unpacking office items, that you can do at a later date.

5. Have the right packaging – When moving house, it’s good to have different removal boxes at hand. Larger, sturdy removal boxes are ideal for packing heavy items such as books and kitchen appliances, while smaller boxes are perfect for lighter objects, including bathroom items and mugs. Make sure, however, that you don’t overfill your removal boxes, as this will make them too heavy and they can burst during handling as a result. You will also need a strong packing tape as well as some packing papers and bubble wrap to fill empty spaces and cushion your breakables. 

At Macfarlane Online, we have all the packaging you need to help make your move as easy and stress-free as possible – from removal boxes, and moving house kits to chair and mattress covers and wardrobe cartons and rails.

Check out our comprehensive range of moving house packaging or contact us today for more information.