How can you reduce the stress of moving house?
So, you’ve successfully navigated the various stages of moving home.
You looked for houses online and in person, you’ve successfully organised your finances, obtained a solicitor, and had an offer on your new dream home accepted.
At this stage, it may feel as those the tricky stuff is done and dusted.
However, you could still be in for an unwelcome surprise!
Whilst purchasing a property is never straightforward, countless people find the stress of relocating far worse than the buying process.
Don’t fret, we are here to give you some top tips to reduce the stress of moving!
We are sure you will be happy to learn all the best practices that will help you to reduce the stress of moving house.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran, or this is your first move, these tips and tricks are sure to help you with your upcoming move!
Here are 11 tips to help reduce the stress of moving house.
Why do people get stressed when moving house?
Some of the main factors that lead to stress during a house move are:
- Not having the time to dedicate to the move
- Other aspects of the move take up too much time to focus on the actual relocation
- Worrying about the effect of moving house on your family and pets
- Uncertainty about the specific aspects that come with moving
- Not knowing where to obtain the equipment you need to move house
All of these issues are typical dilemmas people face when moving house, with all of them contributing to the stress of the move.
If you are feeling the pressures of moving it is good to know that you are not alone.
Your stress is certainly more common than you would think!
A study by Yopa conducted in 2019 asked to 2,000 UK property owners what the most stressful event they have encountered was.
A staggering 40% of people said that moving home was the most stressful event!
If the idea of relocating is causing you stress or anxiety, you are not alone.
There are various steps you can take to help alleviate the pressure of moving house.
Decluttering
One top tip to reduce the stress of moving is certainly decluttering!
Relocating provides you with a great chance to start over.
When packing to move house you have the opportunity to prepare all of your household items in a convenient and organised manner.
Decluttering is a vital aspect that contributes to ensuring your house move is as manageable and stress free as possible.
We are by no means asking you to live a minimalist lifestyle!
There are certainly going to be lots of belongings that you hold dear.
However, when you start packing for you move you should take the opportunity to get rid of any items you no longer need.
A top tip is to ask yourself if you need to take each of your belongings to your new home?
Any items you no longer need can easily be given to friends or family, donated to charity, thrown out or perhaps sold.
Decluttering before your move can help to reduce the stress of moving.
Planning Ahead of Time
Planning well in advance is a great way to reduce the stress of moving.
There are several things you may need to plan ahead of time when moving house.
Top of the list will be picking a moving day as soon as you can.
Knowing when your moving date will be allows you to get lots of other aspects of your move in order.
Those requiring time off work on their moving day will find this tip especially helpful.
Setting your moving date as early as possible will also allow you to contact several removals companies, acquiring prices well in advance.
Getting a few different quotes will allow you to easily assess which company is the best for you.
Whilst it is appealing to select the cheapest offer, this does not always represent the best value for money.
It is important that you are happy with your chosen removals company, so always select one you think can do the best job for you.
Packing Equipment
Selecting the most appropriate and best quality packing equipment is another great way to reduce the stress of moving house.
We are very aware that moving house is not a cheap process.
Whilst it is always good to save money where you can, the cost of damages to your belongings far outweighs the cost of packing equipment.
The stress caused by damage and breakages is huge!
However, safeguarding your belongings is easier than you may think.
Be sure to make use of trustworthy boxes and storage solutions during your move.
If you have already chosen your removals company, they will be able to recommend the best materials to use.
Another top tip when preparing your belongings is to not overpack!
Overpacking boxes makes damage far more likely.
Following these simple steps will help to reduce the stress of moving house.
Task Checklist
Creating a checklist of everything you need to do can greatly reduce the stress of moving house.
Organisation is a common theme in our top tips.
A checklist of outstanding task certainly falls into the bracket of organisation!
By having a clear outline of the steps you need to take when moving, you will be able to clearly visualise the task at hand.
There is also something particularly satisfying about ticking off tasks as you watch your list grow ever shorter.
Be sure to create a task checklist to reduce the stress of moving house!
Ask for Assistance
Moving house is evidently a stressful task for so many of us.
You can be sure that your friends and family will sympathise with the stress you are under during your move.
One great way to reduce the stress of moving house is asking for help!
Hopefully, you have already employed a removals company to hep with your move.
However, your friends and family are also an excellent source of assistance.
Not only will their involvement make moving more fun, but they will hopefully be able to help look after your children or pets.
Asking for help can certainly help to reduce the stress of moving, so be sure to reach out to your loved ones if you can.
Clearly Label Boxes
Another great tip to save time and reduce stress when moving home is clearly labelling boxes.
Be sure to make a note of the intended room for each box.
Doing this will allow you to picture where your belongings are going thereby making unloading at your new home far easier!
Manage Your Paperwork
By now you are probably very aware of the mounds of paperwork that amass during a house move.
With so many documents, agreements, and notices to keep track off, it is clear too see why the stress may build.
A great way to reduce the stress of moving house is to ensure these documents are safely kept.
Make sure they are stored in a place where you can easily access them.
If you need any of these documents, your organisation will ensure the stress of such an event is reduced.
Moving Day Essentials
Another great tip to reduce the stress of moving house is making a moving day essentials kit.
The hectic nature of moving day means there is very little time to pause for breath.
Being well organised and putting together a kit of moving day essentials will ensure you are as prepared as you can hope to be.
Some mainstays in your moving day kit include:
- Medicine and toiletries
- Phone charger/ electrical device chargers
- Toys to entertain children and/or pets
- Snacks and drinks
There is certainly plenty of room for you to adjust your moving day essential to best suit your needs.
Clearly, having easy access to these sorts of items will reduce the stress of moving house.
Last Walkthrough
On the day of your move you are sure to be eager to get out of your old property into your new home.
However, there are a number of things you should check prior to your exit.
Be sure to go through your old property, ensuring that you haven’t left anything behind.
Make a note of the final meter readings, and give your keys to the necessary party.
Before you leave it is also important to ensure all the doors and windows are secured.
Conducting a last walkthrough of your property is a great way to reduce the stress of moving house.
Keep Going!
Upon arriving at your new property, it is very easy to want to put your feet up and relax a little!
We can certainly understand this mindset.
However, this could actually add to the stress of your move.
We suggest unpacking as much as you can, with the essentials being on top of the list.
This helps to reduces the likelihood of items remaining in boxes for the week following your move.
Whilst it may seem very unappealing, unpacking in arrival will help to reduce the stress of moving house.
