Moving home is both an exciting and stressful time for most families that requires careful planning and research to get right. Whether you’re moving locally or regionally, there are a number of helpful ways to reduce stress and ensure your next move is a success. From booking essential services to unpacking on the day, we share our top tips to help with your next move in New Zealand.
Planning your move ahead
When moving home, it is important to get the right advice as early as possible, especially if it is your first time moving as a family or relocating to a new city altogether. Deciding on an expert removalist early should be considered as they can help discuss ways to prepare your home for moving, how to move with children and teenagers and even provide alternative storage solutions if you cannot move in straight away.
During this stage it is important to ask as many questions as possible as this will help inform the plan for your move. Common questions to get your plan started can include:
- What sort of training and experience does the removalist have?
- How far in advance do I need to book the removalist?
- What should you expect to happen on moving day?
Moving with pets and vehicles
If you are moving with pets and vehicles it is important to include these tasks within your moving plan. This step is often overlooked and thought about at the last minute, which can add additional unnecessary stress to your move. Therefore, before deciding on a removalist ask about their vehicle transportation and pet relocation, as this will ensure you have one key contact throughout your move, and reduce additional costs.
Packing for your move
Packing your belongings is a task that requires plenty of time and thought to get right. We generally recommend to start packing as early as two months prior to your moving date, or as early as possible. During this process it is important to use high quality packing materials to protect your items during transit, remembering to label your boxes as you go.
This will make the packing and unpacking process easier in ensuring your items are safe and quickly accessible. Also, don’t forget to label your most delicate, expensive and fragile items as this will help communicate to the removalists which boxes must be handled with delicately.
Household admin before moving day
Before moving day arrives it is important to do the necessary admin work. This includes changing out your old address, notifying your utility providers, cancelling any domestic services, and contacting the post office to redirect your mail and subscriptions.
Next, find out where the pharmacies are if you need a refill of your prescription, and get a hold of a first-aid kit for your new home in case of any emergencies. Additionally, having insurance is important, so make sure you have insurance cover in place to protect your health and your property.
Sell your unused belongings
Once you have packed all your major belongings, you may have additional items left over that you no longer wish to keep. This presents a great opportunity for an early spring cleaning as furniture, kitchenware and clothing can be sold second hand if they are still in good working condition. Selling these items online can be a great way to earn extra money on the side instead of going to waste.
Moving day checklist
The day of your big move can be daunting with all the coordination work that needs to be done. Following your moving house checklist is vital to ensure nothing is missed throughout the move on the day. Communicating clearly with your removalist on the list of items to be shifted from your old home, and giving them a detailed home tour will help provide them with clear directions on the move. Setting aside high priority boxes with clear indications labelled will allow your removalist to know which ones to load last.
Next, check thoroughly that all belongings have been loaded by ticking it off your inventory list and walk through your house once more to ensure that nothing important gets left behind.
Unpacking and settling into your new home
At your new home, inform your removalist of the access points to easily unload your belongings. Give clear instructions to the team on where you want your furniture placed and locations in the house to unload specific items. Ensure that all utilities have been connected and that your water heater is working. Give priority to assembling your beds and unpacking of toiletries to spend your first night in your new home.
Once you’ve unpacked your belongings and settled in, schedule a day out to explore the neighbourhood, nearby malls and parks to get yourself acquainted with your new home.
Finding a suitable, professional removalist in New Zealand that fits all your requirements can ensure a smooth transition to your new home. At Allied, we understand the stresses of moving house and have experience working on a range of local and regional moves. We provide the full scope of moving and packing services by our dedicated team of professional removal specialists. Call 0800 255 433 to arrange for an inspection or to have our informative brochures sent to you.