Moving into a new property can be exciting… until it comes time to actually pack and haul everything from one location to another.
Looking around your current home, you might start feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure about where to even start.
Moving homes is not only hard work, it also requires a lot of planning and coordination. Whether you use a moving service or get help from family and friends, there are many moving parts to the entire operation that you need to be aware of.
Depending on whether your new home is fully/semi-furnished or empty, you’ll need to plan ahead for installing things like a washing machine, sofa set, beds and other basic pieces of furniture, prior to moving into your new home.
So, how exactly can we make moving less stressful? We break it down into four steps, with useful tips and tricks to tackle each task like a pro!
Step 1: Declutter And Start Planning
a) Start early
The most important tip is to give yourself a good amount of time to start decluttering so you can determine what to sell, donate, or recycle, and avoid the stress of rushing as moving day approaches.
Facebook groups like Beli Nothing Project can be used to give your preloved items away, or you can even use it to look for preloved items for your new home!
b) Measure everything
Before you commit to accepting a preloved item or going ahead with a new purchase, remember to take precise measurements of your new home.
You wouldn’t want to be stuck with a king size mattress that can’t fit through the front door, let’s not even talk about it going up your stairs and around the corner into the bedroom!
Measure doorways, staircases, and angles at which you will need to turn and manoeuvre bigger pieces of furniture, to fit into rooms or through tight spaces.
c) Cleaning and fixes
Do you need to clean, fix or re-paint your current residence? If you’re planning to sell your old home, getting it ready for potential buyers means that your real estate agent can get right to it as soon as you leave.
If you are currently renting, you are obligated to return the house to its original state. Be sure to check, and schedule, any maintenance works well before your move. This ensures that you’ll leave with a peace of mind, and on good terms with the landlord.
Step 2: Start Packing
a) Important items
Organise important documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, insurance plans and precious items like jewellery, into their own respective storage for easy access.
Keep all important documents and precious items in a secure carry case, and make sure these items are among the last few things you transport by yourself to the new house.
b) Label all boxes
Label each box with a number, brief description of the contents, and take pictures of what’s inside each box. Create a list to identify which numbered box belongs to which room in the new house.
Share the list with your movers to ensure everything is organised. When it comes times to unpack, you’ll know exactly where to find your things. You’re welcome!
c) Finish your food
In the days approaching your move, use up items in your fridge or give them away to family and friends. Better yet, you can make some food for your neighbours before you bid them farewell.
If you’re moving your fridge and want to take your extra food, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on how long to leave your fridge disconnected after moving it over.
d) Pack a box of convenient comforts
Want to get a cup of coffee brewing and a bite to eat while you supervise the movers, or want to settle in a little more quickly?
Pack a box of essential items to carry with you like an electric kettle, coffee/tea, snacks, hand towel, plates and mugs, dishwash soap, toilet roll, and anything else you might need quick access to.
Step 3: Plan The Move
a) Check the weather
Ideally, you want to ensure you have enough time to move everything out of your current place and into your new home. The last thing you need is for a thunderstorm to flood all the roads!
Pick the right date and time to avoid bad weather using the resources available on the Malaysian Meteorological Department website.
You can take a look at the 7-day interactive map, or search for the weather forecast in a particular state, district, or town to help you decide on the best date and time to make the move happen seamlessly.
b) Book your manpower
If time is on your side and you want to save some money, you can get family and friends to help with the move.
With the promise of good food and drinks, or a special housewarming party for them, you can enjoy the flexibility of moving your items at your own pace.
Alternatively, hiring professional movers to take care of the process from A-Z can make it quick and seamless (plus it’s stress-free!).
With a variety of services for different budgets, you can choose to hire just the vehicle with a driver, right up to hiring end-to-end movers who will pack, label, and transport all your belongings.
It’s good to note that professional movers have the expertise and know-how required to navigate everything from dealing with building management, to loading and unloading your items safely.
c) Is your new home clean?
Check that your new home has been cleaned and prepare some rags or floor mats to keep the floors from getting too dirty or scratched on moving day.
Keep a broom/vacuum, pail, floor detergent and mop handy to quickly clean any dirt off the floors at the end of the day.
Step 4: It’s Moving Day!
a) Plot your route
Plan your move to get the most traffic-free route, and send the location of your new home to all involved. If you’re hiring movers, ensure someone is in the new property to meet them in case you run late for any reason.
If possible, get someone to be on standby as well, just in case someone takes the wrong turn and needs to be led. Sometimes, everything that can go wrong, will go wrong – yes, even with the best laid-out plans.
b) Last walkthrough
Make sure to walk through the old house one last time, after the final box has left the premises, to ensure you haven’t left anything behind.
Don’t forget to unplug and turn off everything if necessary, and make sure there are no taps left running.
c) Arrange accommodation for kids/pets
If you have small children or pets, you might want to consider leaving them with family for a few days, so that they don’t get in the way or accidentally get hurt!
This will help you concentrate on the move and give you some breathing room to unpack the basics to help everyone settle in nicely.
In the first few days and weeks after the move, there will be a lot of things (both big and small) that you may need to get for your new home.
To make things easier before you make your move, get familiar with the new area. Note down the locations of the nearest food stalls, grocery stores, and petrol stations, so you know where to go to get what you need.
Remember that it is best to start planning as early as possible, so you can consider all your options carefully and save yourself some time and money. Happy (and safe) moving!
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