Have you made the rather big decision that the time has come to downsize your home? Perhaps your kids have now grown up and moved out, maybe you’re looking to reduce the cost of your living expenses, or maybe you’re just tired of such a large home to care for and maintain? Today, there is a huge list of reasons that people are now looking to downsize and live a more streamlined lifestyle. And while your end goal to live a more simplistic lifestyle may be appealing, getting to that point can be a bit overwhelming.
So, how do you go from a large home to a much smaller one with ease? These tips are designed to ensure that your move day goes smoothly, no matter how much of a downsize it is.
Rent a Moving Van
Here’s a tip that can save you a lot of hassle and time; rather than making multiple trips back and forth taking small loads at a time in your own vehicle, why not rent a proper moving van and get it all done in one go? One trip will make things so much more organised and less stressful. Just be sure to rent the van well in advance, especially if you plan on moving at the end of the month, or on a weekend.
Hire Professional Movers and Leave the Stress to Them
If you want to take the idea of a moving van one step further, you could actually hire professional movers. They will load all the boxes and items into the lorry for you, and then unpack it on the other end. This is ideal for those who can’t easily lift boxes and furniture, and for those who worry about tight spaces and corners where they might have a hard time getting things in and out.
Use a Self-Storage Unit
Just because you know a declutter is needed and that you can’t take all your belongings with you to the new home, doesn’t mean you’re ready or have enough time to part with it all. A great option can be to move all your non-essentials to a self-storage unit, even on a temporary basis, and then take your time going through the items. Renting out a self storage in London or wherever near you is a good idea while you’re still in the process of transition.
You can consider Jennings Storage either on a temporary or a more long-term basis, whatever your needs are. This Oxford storage company offers affordable self-storage units that are meant to take a lot of the stress of moving day off your shoulders. You can visit your storage unit any time, going through each of the boxes on your own schedule without feeling rushed.
Label Your Boxes as You Pack Them
Another tip is to make sure you’re labelling all your boxes as you pack them. This will help you when it comes time to unpack from the moving lorry or your vehicle as you’ll know which boxes go where in the new house. It can also help you determine what needs to be unpacked right away, and what can wait.
Send Kids and Pets Off to the Sitter
If you do have young kids and/or pets at home, make sure you find a place for them to go on the move day. The last thing you want to be worried about while moving boxes out of the house is the kids and the pets escaping out the door or getting into mischief.
Create a Moving Day To-Do List
Finally, if you’re the type that has a hard time keeping everything organised in your head, moving day is an excellent day to use a list. You can place everything in order of completion and keep track of what’s been done, and what still needs to get done.
Each of these tips will help ensure that moving day is a smooth day.