Moving Made Simple

The documents have all been signed and it has become official. Soon you will be a homeowner, but now the headache of all the admin and packing up all your belongings has dawned on you. Fear not! We have some simple tips and tricks that will make packing and all the admin around moving easy. You never know, you might even enjoy it. Moving from one home to the next is exciting but there are plenty of nitty-gritty elements that need to be taken care of on top of packing up your house and moving.

First things first. All the legalities regarding buying a home and having it transferred and registered to your name can be stressful. Place your trust in the professionals dealing with your transaction. The lawyers and agent dealing with your transaction will communicate timeously with you regarding the process and what is expected to happen next.

Besides having to pack, another element that will take up quite a bit of your time is the admin of having your address details changed. You will need to inform the following people about the fact that your home address will be changing:

• Let your employer know
• Inform all utility companies, banks, loyalty card companies, and Dr's
• Ensure your insurance company has all your new details.

Admin over and now packing begins! Over a period, individuals can collect a lot more possessions than what they expect. The question you need to be asking yourself is, "Do you need all the belongings you currently have?" Should your answer be no, then the first tip is for you. Further, we provide 12 tips that will surely make your packing experience run swiftly and smoothly.

1. Decluttering before packing
2. Create an inventory
3. Label and take photos of furniture or electrical parts
4. Remember where cables go and tape cables to the suited electronic device
5. Ensure that you pack a little bit each day
6. Start by packing the rooms that are least used
7. Pack one room finished and then move onto the next
8. Repurpose household items for packing
9. Wrap open bottles in plastic
10. Put clear labels on the boxes
11. Mark screws accordingly to avoid losing them
12. Avoid big grocery shopping
13. Place heavy items in suitcases

The excitement is finally kicking in because all your items have been packed and moving day has arrived and you are about to embark on your new home adventure. Individuals however forget that moving day is usually quite a whirlwind and an amalgamation of emotions. There are a few essentials that come in handy while moving that many movers do not consider. Packing a moving day essentials box could save you from getting irritated or fighting with those assisting you. This box should contain the following items to ensure that your day can and will run smoothly: clean bed linen, toilet paper, snacks, water, disposable cups, coffee, all-purpose cleaner, bucket, cloths, broom, measuring tape, bin liners, scissors, paper plates, hand soap, tools to help assemble furniture, toiletries and a first aid kit. Many unexpected things can happen during moving and having a few essential items on hand will allow you to feel more in control and prepared.

Take the time to settle into your new space and do not feel pressured to unpack everything at once, this is unfortunately not realistic. Like packing, unpacking can also be stressful. Unpack necessity's first and then move along to unpacking one room at a time. By working systematically, the process could be fun and most definitely a lot less stressful.