House and office moving tips
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1: Your Calendar = Your FriendYou can start planning ASAP if you use this old-school tool. Set reminders for everything from canceling magazine subscriptions to planning ways to use up food from your refrigerator. It will keep you from scrambling to get things done at the last minute and help you work more efficiently along the way. All the tips to follow hinge on your master calendar, so consider it a “living document” and add to it (or cross off accomplished tasks) frequently. |
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2: Your TimelineClearly, some household moves take more time and planning than others. Apartment dwellers, for example, don’t necessarily have the added stress of trying to sell a home while purchasing a new one. But there are some common to-do items that many of us have to face:
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3: The Budget & PaperworkPlan a move without a budget and you might feel the pinch later. Expenses tend to creep in quickly and quietly, so keep a file for everything, no matter how small. Why is this so important? You’ll thank yourself next tax season when most of these items can be written off! Account for everything from the moving boxes and movers to the rug shampoo and packing paper (Ask us for a quote on packaging). Account for things you might have missed in your initial budget, such as:
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4: Don’t Move What You Won’t UseWhether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a company, there’s no reason to move anything you won’t need in your new home. Here are a few ways to get rid of that stuff quickly: Have a moving sale. Include everything from old kitchen appliances to clothing or toys the kids have grown out of. Get the most bang for your buck by taking the time to clean up items or organize them by category. Load up the car and donate to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or other local charities. Hit online message boards (such as Gumtree or OLX) or put an ad in your local newspaper to announce your freebies or used stuff. |
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5: Your TimelineYou’re about to put everything you own in cardboard boxes. There’s no denying it – it’s overwhelming. For this part of the process, it’s all about organization and simplicity. Use your calendar to determine how to pack for the least stress. For some, it might be an hour or two a day. For others, it might be three straight 10-hour days. However you do it, be realistic and provide yourself plenty of time. Consider buying your packing materials online. Better Moves will bundle boxes, bubble wrap, tape and packing paper and send it right to your home for at a reasonable fee. We also provide second hand boxes and much cheaper prices but this is subject to availability. Need extra packing materials? Hit your local storage place. Hint: Ask if you can sell back any boxes you don’t end up using. Save even more money by visiting local sites like Gumtree.co.za, where people are often looking to get rid of boxes from a recent move. Get creative with packing supplies: You don’t always need to use paper and bubble wrap. Use suitcases to pack clothes you’ll want to wear right away; use towels to protect breakables. Save space by packing unbreakable contents in tightly loaded drawers. Simply tape the drawers in place with strips of wide masking tape and then remove the tape as soon as the furniture arrives at your new home. Color-coordinate or mark each box by room, not by type of contents. This will save time for the movers (and you) when it’s time to unpack. Moving a refrigerator? Throw a couple of charcoal briquettes or newspaper inside the unit to absorb left-over odors. Pack ahead of time – but not too far! Inevitably, you’ll want that book in the bottom of that large (and heavy) box. |
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6: Hiring a MoverHiring a mover can take a lot of stress off, but it doesn’t mean there is rest for the move-weary. Know this: If you’ve hired a mover, you have basically taken on the role of project manager, and it’s your job to make sure they are accountable for the end result. Here are a few tips that may help:
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7: While in TransitThe time between leaving your old home and getting to your new abode can be difficult, exciting and stressful all at once. Here are just four things to keep in mind:
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8: The Big DayYou’ve planned, packed and moved, and you’re ready to get the furniture into the house. It’s the day to don your project manager hat one last time. It is so exciting to start on a clean slate and redecorate a new home! Stay connected with Better Moves on Facebook to see great house and garden ideas! |