20 Expert Best Tips on Moving Houses: A Property Manager’s Perspective
Change is a constant in life. Even as our individual and family needs change, most of us will have to face the challenge of moving at some point. Considered one of the most stressful times in our lives, our Property Management team at Time Conti Sheffield, has put together a useful list to help you sail through the best tips for moving house.
PLAN IN ADVANCE
1. Plan way ahead so you have plenty of time.
A good rule of thumb is to estimate roughly how long it will take you to pack everything and then double that number. That will give you room to sell and discard things as well as to pack and organise your essential items. You may want to consider making a list of all your items as it could come in handy for insurance claims as well.
2. Organise your time-off.
Arrange time off work and engage help in caring for young children as well as your pets on the day of your move.
3. Prepare a one-week suitcase and a first-aid kit.
This trick will help you get through the first week at your new place and still look amazingly co-ordinated when you go to work. Having a first-aid kit is always handy when you need it most so it’s best to prepare one. Example of what to pack include pyjamas, toiletries, medications, clothes, pet essentials, kids’ school supplies and favourite toys.
4. Keep your important items/ documents in one place.
From your birth certificate to financial documents as well as precious items, keep them all together in one place. You could leave them with a trusted family member or friend a week prior to the move so that you have the assurance that your most important belongings are safe.
5. Engage professionals.
If you are moving a whole house, professional moving companies are worth the investment. They will help you move your items, even disassemble and assemble your furniture for you, have your things covered by professional insurance and may potentially save you from a sore back. The prices for moving companies could vary significantly so do your research and get quotes as early as possible. It is also highly advisable to engage professional cleaning companies if you are doing a final vacate.
Special focus (Tenants/ Renters)
6. Giving notice.
Ensure that you have given notice in writing to your Property Manager once you have decided to move. Notice periods are as follows:
- Fixed term agreement: 30 days’ notice in writing before lease expires
- Periodic lease: 21 days’ notice in writing
7. Notify relevant parties.
Make a list of all the people you need to inform of your new address. You can also subscribe to an address redirection with the local post office for a fee.
8. Contact your Utilities Service Providers.
Arrange for final readings with the utility companies as well as reconnection at your new address. Remember to disconnect your telephone, electricity and gas just before you move so that you can still enjoy these services until the final date. Keep reading on for more of the best tips for moving house.
HOW TO DECLUTTER
9. Try this out – make 4 piles of items – sell, donate, give away, throw away. Then take a photo of all your items that you want to sell and put them up on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace.
Generously donate to charities around you or give them to your neighbourhood groups. Charity groups would come to your home to collect donations to save you the hassle of moving them.
Upcycling and recycling certainly would help the environment. A useful approach is the KonMari method by Marie Kondo that inspires you to create a household that sparks joy. It encourages you to tackle your stuff category by category instead of room by room, and thanking each item sincerely for how they have served you before giving them away.
ORGANISE YOUR PACKING
10. Pack room by room.
As children, we may have come across this question – how can you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. When a mammoth task such as this face us, we need to take it one step at a time so it would be advisable to pack one room at a time and stay focussed.
An interesting tip is to pack all the clothes in your wardrobe, with hangers still on, into a large bedsheet. That way, unpacking the clothes can also be much easier.
11. Label, label, label.
Although this may seem obvious, it can be tempting to overlook this when the pressure mounts. Write down the content on each box on the sides (and top) and the destination room. Another great tip is to colour code your boxes (green for shed, yellow for the kitchen, blue for the study etc.). Use colourful markers to help you identify which room they belong to. If you can, at your new home, stick the colour code and room code on each bedroom so that it is easy to know where each box belongs.
12. Wrap breakable items with clothes.
You could use your towels to wrap up all your breakable items. Make use of bubble wrap where necessary. Remember to carry them separately and mark FRAGILE on the box.
13. Use clever boxing tricks.
You could get free boxes from your local neighbourhood social media groups or try supermarkets or Bunnings. Also, try to keep your boxes to no more than 20kgs to avoid injury. A good trick is to cut a triangle on the sides of your boxes to assist with easy lifting.
14. Feed your plants.
Remember to water your indoor and outdoor plants a day before your move so that you won’t have to worry about them for a few days.
ON THE DAY OF YOUR MOVE
15. Electrical Appliances
Defrost your fridge/ freezer (and put a towel to catch the drops).
16. Empty out everything.
Double check all the rooms, and especially the cupboards, have been emptied. It would also help if you could get rid of all the rubbish (skip bin if needed) before you move homes.
Special focus for Tenants/ Renters
17. It is advisable to move all your belongings the day before your final vacate date.
Make sure the property is secured and lock, then return the keys to your property management company. The final inspection will be carried out within 48 hours of the keys being returned. Rent will still be charge until all keys have been accounted for.
UNPACKING AND SETTLING IN
18. Cherish your rest.
When setting up, it would be wise to assemble your bed as a priority. That way, you can easily get some rest whenever you need.
19. Order eat-ins
Arrange for food delivery to be sent to your new home on the day of your move. It will help you save time and you can focus on unpacking the essentials as soon as you can. Keeping your meals simple prior to and after your move will also help in managing your energy levels.
20. Ask for help
Unpacking your home should be well and quickly executed so get all the help you can afford from family and friends. You can always throw them an Aussie barbecue as a thank-you gesture once you have settled in.
Our Property Managers in Perth have often been called upon to help provide the best tips for moving house so that when you move houses or homes, your move can be as less stressful as possible. We are here to help you throughout your property journey.
