Moving is commonly listed as one of the most stressful life experiences, along with divorce and the death of a loved one. If you suddenly need to move home, you’ll likely be feeling a significant amount of stress. Allied are the professional moving experts and we helped thousands of Kiwis move every single day! Here are our tips and tricks for moving house last minute.
Make a plan
The first thing is don’t panic! It’s easy to whip yourself up into a frenzy and start half-heartedly packing for the move which can end taking longer and create more stress down the track. Instead, take the time to sit down and write out a plan. Depending on how many weeks/days/hours(!) you have before you leave, begin breaking down what you need to achieve and set realistic deadlines. When it comes to packing, we recommend going room by room. You can follow our moving house checklist to ensure you get everything done.
Pack smart
If you’re under pressure to move out of your home quickly, it’s easy to rush your packing. However, a bad packing job can lead to things being forgotten, broken and ultimately slow down the entire moving process. As mentioned before, following a plan and checklist is the best way to pack methodically. You can also pack multiple things at once by wrapping fragile items in blankets, jumpers, socks and other soft materials. If possible, rent or purchase industry standard packing materials from a moving company to ensure your precious belongings will be safe for the journey to their new home. Hiring a professional packing service is the best way to get your home packed efficiently without cutting corners.
Create a moving kit
Things can be chaotic during the middle of a move, so we recommend making a moving kit. A moving kit will have all the necessary items to help you get packed and ready to relocate to your new home. We recommend having a permanent marker, tape, bubble wrap, your moving checklist, box labels, water bottle, and keys for your current and new home/storage unit.
Reduce perishables
As you lead up to your move, we recommend limiting the purchase of any perishable items, especially food. Instead, sort through your freezer and try to use what you have. If moving a fridge, you’ll need to factor time for it to defrost and have a chilly bin ready for colder items. Go through your pantry and dispose of any expired items. You can donate some perishable items to friends or family, and any non-perishable items to a local food bank.
Arrange pet and/or child sitting
Moving under pressure requires a lot of energy and focus. Trying to keep an eye on your pets and children while you pack can add another layer of stress and ultimately slow down the process. We recommend organising your children and pets to be looked after so you won’t need to worry when you focus on moving and packing. It’s also to keep in mind that pets and children are sensitive to change so keep in mind that they may be stressed, confused or upset during the move as well. If you’re worried about how you’ll transport your pet to their new home, enlist the help of pet relocation specialists.
Put items in storage
Putting your belongings and furniture into secure storage is a great solution for when you’re moving last minute. You’ll be able to store your items securely without the risk of damage and give yourself time to organise your new home. Some storage facilities like Allied give you the advantage of being able to transport your belongings to your new house, regardless of whether it’s on a different island or even overseas.
Set up the essentials
There’s nothing worse than spending a night in your new home without a bed and electricity. Set up or transfer your essential utilities such as water and electricity before you move to your new home. If you’re unable to move all your things in one go, pack a few bags of essentials such as clean clothes, toiletries (including toilet paper), bedwear, and some cooking and kitchenware supplies. This will ensure that you’re got the essentials while you put the rest of your belongings in storage or continue the move.
Ask for help
Nothing is as overwhelming as trying to move in a hurry by yourself. Asking for help from friends and family can make a big difference in getting your move done quickly. To make things efficient, delegate tasks such as assigning rooms to pack or helping carrying heavy whitegoods and furniture. If possible, give them as much warning as possible and arrange a little thank you gift or gesture, whether that be shouting a beer at the pub or promising to help out with their next move.