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Moving house is stressful enough at the best of times. Youve got so much to think about when it comes to packing, moving, unpacking and settling into your new home and neighbourhood.
Without careful planning, things could easily go wrong and the last thing you want is chaos on your moving day. With some forethought and clear organisation, you can ensure that you avoid these common moving house fails.
1. Not sorting your possessions beforehand
One of the first things you need to do when youve decided to move house is sort through all your possessions. Most of us accumulate more and more stuff between moves, so going through it all will help you decide what you really want to keep and what can be sold, passed on or donated to charity.
2. Not using specific labels
Labelling your boxes is crucial. Not only does it help your removalists know where things should go in your new home, but it also helps you find things when you need them.
Dont just label them with the room name either. If youre looking for your dinner plates and youve got 10 boxes that all say Kitchen, it could take you a while to sort through them all. If you cant write all the contents on the boxes, consider numbering your boxes and keeping a separate inventory list with the contents of each box noted.
3. Forgetting to redirect your mail
There are so many addresses you need to update when you move home. Make a list of everything you can remember and try to update them in advance of your move. These include things like bank accounts, driving licence, doctors, schools, insurances, mobile phones and your superannuation.
You can easily set up a mail redirect with Australia Post to ensure you have some time up your sleeve to update your details to your new address. You can even set it up online.
4. Overlooking your utilities
Dont leave your electricity and gas until the last minute. Remember to advise your retailer well in advance of your move date so they can take a final meter reading at your old home and make sure you are connected at your new property. After a hard day of moving you are going to want to enjoy a hot shower at your new address!
5. Not thinking about your pet
Pets are important members of your family too. Dont forget to plan how youre going to get them from your old home to your new one. Also, make sure they arent going to get under your removalists feet or escape while you are busy moving things out of your home.
6. Not planning for your first meal in your new home
When youve had a hectic day of moving home, the last thing youll feel like doing is trying to find enough kitchen equipment and ingredients to cook a meal. Make a plan in advance for your first meal in your new home.
