5 Tips to help make moving easier

Be smart and plan ahead. Everybody underestimates how long packing and organizing will take.

Use a moving checklist to help you keep track of everything you’re moving and also as a step-by-step guide in the lead-up to the big day. To prevent unexpected delays, find out early whether you will have access issues like low hanging trees that will block a truck, restricted use of lifts in apartment buildings or reserved parking areas.

You may need to submit applications to body corporate or local councils to avoid these issues.

The less you have to move, the faster and cheaper your move will be. Use this as a time to de-clutter your life.

Sell or donate anything you haven’t used in the past year. Garage sales, eBay and Gumtree are all great resources to help clear out unwanted items and make a few extra dollars too.

Remember, with fewer trips to and from the truck, you will save money.

Bundle things like brooms and mops together with tape, pack small items in boxes and stack chairs into manageable groups.

Proper removal boxes are the best way to pack belongings. They are easier to move, stack and store which will save time and money on moving day.

At least a week before the move, start packing anything you can live without for awhile such as photo frames, extra plates and glasses, books and toys. People frequently forget how much stuff they keep in the garden shed and just how messy it can get.

Pack it up before moving day to have time to dispose of as much as possible and clean up the items you will be taking with you.

Label the boxes for each room so you know where it goes at the next house. This will save a lot of hassle when unloading the truck and unpacking the rooms.

Nobody likes moving, but if you are lucky enough to have family and friends who will help, it will make the big day much easier and cheaper. The promise of a few pizzas and drinks will usually be enough to keep them happy.

However, for safety and convenience, be sure to leave the big heavy items, like your fridge, in the hands of the professionals.

Children and pets can get in the way and slow down the process, so try to arrange for someone to look after them for the day so you can focus on the move.

Have a good breakfast as it will be a long day.

Also have an emergency kit within easy access. This should have basic first aid supplies, water bottles, easy snacks and toilet paper.

Keep the keys to the new property in a safe place. Movers often arrive at the new property only to find that they can’t unload the truck because the new keys are packed away in a box.