What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about
moving house? It wouldn't surprise most, if you regarded moving
home to be quite a challenging experience.
Research has revealed that 24% of homeowners confirmed that
buying a house was one of their most stressful life
experiences.1 This was compared to the stress of
starting a new job at 14%, having a child at 13%, and getting
married at a mere 9%!
Buying and moving house tops the charts as the number one most
stressful life experience for people of all ages, rising to as much
as 37% in younger homeowners from the ages of 20 to 29.
While stress when moving house may be a given, it doesn't have
to ruin your relocation. Careful planning should be the first order
of business if you want to ensure an efficient move to your new
home.
Four steps for a smooth house move
- Organise your belongings 6 to 8 weeks in
advance. This is the time to sort through your storage
spaces and throw out or donate any items that you no longer need.
The rest of your belongings should be packed into boxes and clearly
labelled for transportation by the relocationists.
- Gather packing supplies 6 weeks in
advance. In order to move house with the least amount of
hassle, start purchasing and gathering packing supplies far in
advance.
There's nothing worse than running out of boxes on the day of a
move. You can purchase all of your packing materials from a moving
supply company, or you can save money by gathering boxes from
supermarkets, liquor stores, and retail shops.
- Book travel arrangements 6 weeks in
advance. If you're moving home across country, then you
may need to book temporary accommodation, flight and possibly even
car rental as early as possible.
Even if you are moving from one neighbourhood to another, take the
time to book your moving service far in advance to secure a lower
rate. If at all possible, keep your travel arrangements flexible to
account for any delays or cancellations.
- Change your address 2-4 weeks in
advance. In the month leading up to your big move, it is
the perfect time to inform your change of address to organisations
such as credit card companies, utility companies, insurance
companies, banks and especially to friends and family.
It is also advisable to apply for a mail redirection with
Australian Post to ensure that your mail moves with you. You can
apply in store at any Australia Post retail outlet or online.
Also if you redirect your mail permanently, you can also take
advantage of Australia Post's
Notify Organisations service. They make it easier for you to
notify selected organisations of your new address. You simply
choose the relevant organisations online using their secure service
and they contact them with your new address details.
Updating your address in advance will ensure that you don't miss
any important documents or bills in the post after moving
house.
Top moving tip
On moving day, don't forget to do a final walk-through of your
home to make sure that no important belongings were overlooked. If
possible, oversee the relocationists as they load the truck to
check that valuable furniture and antiques are loaded safely.
Sources
- "Research Reveals Buying Property is the Most
Stressful Life Experience ." Press Release Distribution -
Submit Press Releases Online - PRWeb. N.p., 16 Mar. 2011. Web. 9
Aug. 2011.