5 steps to avoid getting overwhelmed by the moving process

Moving house can be an incredibly stressful time. There are so many moving parts that sometimes don’t quite go as planned, and that can make the whole experience feel more chaotic. We put together 5 steps to avoid getting overwhelmed by the moving process.

Planning

The biggest possibly most obvious-sounding way to avoid chaos when moving house is planning. There are a few things that you can do before the big day but making sure you feel organised is one of the best ways to combat stress. List out all the things you would like to do before you move. Then put that list in order and break it down into smaller more manageable jobs. For example:

Pack boxes
Deep clean everywhere
Get rid of unwanted and unnecessary items
Sort out moving paperwork

Becomes:

Have a clear out of each room
Remove unwanted items (sell, donate or recycle)
Put boxes in each room
Label boxes with coloured paper and room name
Pack boxes
Deep clean each room as you finish packing them
Make a list of address changes.

Giving yourself smaller tasks not only feels great when you tick them off but also helps break jobs down into more manageable steps.

De-cluttering

De-cluttering is another great way to relieve stress from house moving. Going through your possessions, making sure you are only packing and therefore moving what you want to your new house. This can have a positive effect in several ways. It means you spend less time packing the stuff that you aren’t planning on keeping and means you spend less on packing materials. Your house will be easier to keep tidy for house viewings too!

You can donate your pre-loved items to a charity shop, sell them via a second-hand website or recycle them.

Bit-by-bit

Once your house has been sold and the paperwork signed, it’s time to start serious packing. Taking it one room at a time can help to alleviate stress. Start with the least used parts of the house. The loft, storage cupboards and sheds can be the first to be sorted, packed and cleaned. Save the most used rooms in the house for last, but if there are spaces within those rooms that can be packed then do these too. Ornaments and photos can be packed first. Although this will start making your rooms feel a little bare and empty, it’s one less thing to have to remember down the line.

Deep Clean

Deep cleaning doesn’t have to be a huge struggle. Most people make the mistake of trying to deep clean when their stuff is still in the rooms. This not only makes cleaning physically harder but also makes it feel like more of a mammoth job than it needs to be. Start off by packing the least used spaces. Storage cupboards and areas like porches are a good place to kick off your packing. Sort through the items, putting anything to recycle, sell and donate into separate boxes. Then use another box to start packing.

Once everything has been removed from a space it’s time to clean. Start from the top of the room. Brush down ceilings, wipe down the walls, clean the windows etc. . Use a damp cloth for painted or treated skirting board, and a duster for bare wood. The last thing in every space is vacuuming. This can be left until you are waiting for confirmation of the keys for your new place being handed over. Once a room or large space has been completely sorted, make that your designated packed box space in order to free up other rooms.

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