- Buy or Collect boxes as much as you can - Retail shops or supermarkets will have unwanted boxes if you want to save some bucks. Also, get them in big, medium and small sizes, they are very useful for different sizes and weight of objects. For example, smaller boxes to store your books, they can get heavy and small boxes of them makes it easier to lift. Remember, get them as much as you can, you can always put unused boxes to recycle or give them to your friends or family who need them.
- Start going through your stuff weeks earlier than the moving date - You will be surprise what you find in your house and to realise you own that much stuff. It might not look like it but trust me, you need to start early to be prepared. You can start going through the rooms or sections of the house weekly, so you covered all floor. (Do not get distracted or jumping room to room)
- The label: Keep, Sell, Donate and Bin - This is the time to step your foot down. While you go through your stuff, have a box or bags by your side with labels on them. I've put two boxes aside (one for donate and one for selling) and a bag for the ones to bin.
- Sell - Join on-line groups like Gumtree, Ebay or even some community groups on Facebook that dedicated for reselling items allow you to resell your items online. I find this is the best options for furniture you wanted to get rid of. We sold our excess book shelves, retro knife stand, boxes of clothes and so on. That saved our time for hiring a truck to get rid of them. However, make sure they are still in good condition!!
- Donate - Donate stuff to salvation army opportunity shop or thrift shop, some people called them.
- Stop buying groceries - It's time to eat up all the food you have in the fridge and pantry so it's less to move. Cleaning products can be used up too to clean up the house before you move out.
- Zip lock bag/ sandwich bags are your best friend - These bags are handy to pack small items, keys, screws for furnitures or even cosmetics. Best thing is, you can see what's in the bag and label them so it's organised.
- Furniture shopping - Delivery takes time so unless you don't mind moving in to an empty house with no furniture, do the shopping earlier (not in rush) to ensure they arrived in time. This including appliances, the basic ones at least like fridge and washing machine.
- Electricity, water, gas and INTERNET - Get things organised. Activated them for the new place and deactivate them for your old place to avoid unnecessary fees.
- Mail redirecting - Sign up for the mail redirecting system to ensure all the newsletter and letter to be sent to your new address. We might be forgetful sometime, so redirecting mail is the best way to know what is going to your old address and to change them over.
- Label and group things accordingly - Unpacking and organising will get easier with labels on the boxes.
- Take picture - Pictures show how you left the place as it is for rented accommodation. It's handy to have them if you have problems like damages and so on. Aside from that, it's a memory.
- Hire a truck - It will save you time and effort in the one load of stuff to move to the new place. It's easier to have one day focus on moving everything, it would be ideal with some help from friends or family too (don't be shy on this, take as many help as you can).
- For moving overseas/to another country Get a removal company involve - They might be pricey but it's worth it. They pack the house properly for you (basically you just sit there and watch). They handle the customs, insurance, and shipping for you as well.
Love,
Carol
