How to ensure your moving day goes smoothly

Moving houses is one of those tasks that can send a shiver down your spine as you imagine all of the work, stress and chaos that has come to be associated with the simple act of moving. Yet there are those who have refined the moving process down to a finely tuned art. For them, moving can be a cathartic opportunity to declutter, reorganise and start fresh.

As one of the largest providers of relocation services in the world, we’ve seen every type of move under the sun. From the chaotic to the choreographed, and everything in between. The question that we get asked most often by our customers is how to make moving house easier. So in response we’ve done our best to distil our decades of moving experience into a few simple tips for ensuring your moving day goes smoothly.

1. Start the process early

Most of the stressful aspects of moving are directly related to time pressure. As the moving date looms and jobs pile up, the difficulty and anxiety of moving grow way out of proportion to the actual size of the task. To avoid adding unnecessary weight onto your shoulders, we advise starting the moving process as early as possible.

The first thing you should do is organise your movers. Regardless of whether you are moving down the street or across the world, you’ll need help from some experienced movers. Constantly in demand, it’s best to book your movers well in advance so you can move on the exact date you want. Majority of moving companies provide free estimates which makes it easy to compare prices and services, and Allied uses cutting edge technology to prepare your inventory list of furniture and other items either via iPad or a knowledgeable consultant can visit your home for an assessment. 

As a rule of thumb, we recommend that you calculate the number of days or weeks that you think you will need to move, then double it. The team at Allied recommends you request an estimate at least 8 weeks before your move. However, we can be more flexible if you have short notice up to 2 weeks in advance. Be sure to clarify that with our movers.

If possible, be flexible with your schedule so you won’t be thrown off the rails by a few unplanned setbacks. Our pre-move planning checklist is a great resource to get you started! 

2. Break big jobs into small steps

Any large task can seem daunting when looked at as a whole. When broken down however, it can be simplified into a series of smaller, easily achievable steps. Dividing multifaceted or imposing jobs into small tasks can alleviate needless stress, assist in effective planning and allow for a smoother moving process overall. 

We recommend applying a step by step approach to every stage of your moving process. Each room can be divided into sections, each section can be broken down into a few easy steps and each step can be an achievement to celebrate on your to-do list. Moving should be an event worth celebrating, so make sure your approach to moving reflects that. 

3. Remove before you move

Transporting anything you don’t use or want anymore is wasted labour and packing space. Use the days or weeks before your move to clear house, declutter and donate those things you no longer need in your life. Those with hoarding tendencies may find this step to be the largest and most challenging job of the entire process. Remember to use a staggered approach to divide this task into achievable steps if at first it appears daunting. 

For many, the process of shedding unwanted possessions before setting up in a new space can be one of the most satisfying parts of moving. Purging the excess clutter from your life lightens the load to be transported to your new home. It frees up space for other things in your mind, in your new space and in your packing boxes. You’ll also need to check what you can’t bring to your new home if you are moving internationally. Flammables and perishable goods are usually forbidden so ensure you confirm this with your mover before packing these items. 

4. Get your new home ready

Get your new home ready to live in before you move anything. Not only does this make sure that your new place is clean and comfortable as soon as you move in, but it’s also a whole lot easier to accomplish with an empty house. That’s why we recommend getting your new place professionally cleaned prior to moving any of your possessions in.

We also advise taking the opportunity of an empty house to carry out any other home services like painting, carpet cleaning and refinishing hardwood floors. There will never be a better time to perform these tasks. Set yourself up for success in your new home by ensuring it’s in the best possible condition before you move in.

5. Strategise

Just as cleaning is easier to achieve with an empty house, so too is planning your move. Take measurements, plan your furniture arrangement and interior design before you even begin to pack. This will enable you to get a better sense of the space available to you. With a good idea of the space you can plan out exactly where you want everything to go. By doing so you will be able to pack more strategically and efficiently by grouping things together based on where they will go, rather than where they began.

You’ll also need to decide whether you will relocate your pet and/or vehicle to your new home. In the case of Pet Relocation, use a professional service and be sure to acquire the proper documentation for your pets, which includes immunisation and vaccine papers, before moving them. 

Cars can be very expensive to move. Although if you’re moving internationally for a long period of time, it makes sense you may want to bring your vehicle to make it easier to get around once you arrive. Using an experienced vehicle transportation service is the best way to transport your car long distances so it arrives safely to your destination.

6. Change your address

Take care of the small administrative tasks like changing your address ahead of time. By doing this in advance you can minimise the chance of lost mail while also reducing the amount of work for yourself once you’re in your new home. Many countries have easy to use mail forwarding services, which will redirect mail to your new address, whether it’s in India or somewhere overseas.

7. Check guidelines for moving within India or internationally

We have been helping people to move safely both domestically and overseas for hundreds of years. As the world’s oldest and largest movers and packers company we have been using our experience and vast network to adapt to the latest information around the globe. You can rest assured that we are adapting to the latest health guidelines to ensure the safety of our customers and staff.

Whether you’re moving domestically or internationally, make sure you first check the latest health and travel guidelines to ensure your trip is safe and achievable. Using a professional moving service can remove a lot of the stress and uncertainty of moving. Take a look at how we can make your international move a smooth experience. 

Choose movers and packers you can rely on

Moving doesn’t need to be stressful or complicated. We keep things simple by providing a high quality, reliable service every time. Whether your move is overseas or local - the best way to ensure that your moving day goes smoothly is with Allied. 

Contact us today to find out how we can help make your next move a breeze.