If you plan on moving by yourself, you could save money. However, it’s essential that you plan for this process, so you don’t end up short on time. It can be stressful if you’re unsure how to move, and you’re usually on a strict timeline.
But you’re not alone — every week, dozens of people take on this task by themselves using a host of tips for moving to help smooth the process out. There are tons of DIY moving tips available to help make the process smooth and easy from start to finish. Here are some of them:
1. Give Yourself a Head Start (Pre-Move)
One of the biggest gifts you can give yourself is a head start and plenty of time to organise everything well ahead of your move. At a minimum, give yourself four to six weeks. To start, pick out a removalist company in Melbourne, and arrange for an early packing material and box delivery. When you have spare time, start packing up things you don’t use regularly. If you think you’ll need to throw a lot away, book a skip.
As you pack and donate or discard items, make a running inventory of everything. Note any fragile items that need extra care, and take pictures of any dents or scratches in your furniture. If you have access to your new home, measure your doorways and rooms to make sure your items fit.
You may need to use a balcony lift if you cannot fit some items through the door which would make things complicated and you may need to engage professional movers. Thus, this is one of the most important DIY moving tips.
Around three weeks before your move, notify the Australian Electoral Commission of your new address. Have the post office hold or redirect your mail, update your licence, and get medical records for your family and pets.
Ensure that you get time off from work. This is also when you can arrange for child and pet care on the day of the move. It’s easier to have them safe somewhere else while you move, and you can go and get them back when you finish.
2. Enlist Moving Day Help
Even though you’re moving by yourself, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have help in the form of friends and family. You also don’t want to try and take everything on yourself since this is a massive task. Instead, get two to four capable friends or family members who are willing to help you pack up your stuff and move.
It’s a good idea to give these helpers a few weeks’ notice, so they have time to take off work or arrange childcare. Also, since they’re not professional movers, understand that there is an increased risk of things going wrong. Reward your helpers at the end of the day by taking them out for food or drinks, or order in and host them.
Ready for more DIY moving tips? Read on!
3. Pick a Moving Method
One of the most important decisions you’ll make is to pick a moving method. There are several for you to choose from, and it’s best to decide early on and stick with it to stay on track. You may need to be over 18 and have a valid licence. For fewer items, you could rent a trailer or use a container service. The goal is to find the moving method that works best for you and how many items you have.
Obviously, having more things will require you to rent a moving truck. If you have next to no items, you could just use your friend’s truck or van if you don’t have far to go.
Once you pick a moving method, you can set up a realistic budget for your move and see whether it would be beneficial to use a professional company.
4. Rent Moving Equipment
If you plan to rent a moving truck, you’ll also need to rent the items to help you move your bigger pieces. You can rent plastic moving containers that come in a variety of sizes. You could need a furniture dolly, four-wheel dolly, appliance dolly with straps, furniture pads or blankets, and extra straps with tie-downs.
These items are necessary to help you move not only quickly and effectively but also safely. It’s better to transport a heavier item on wheels than to carry it with you. Take the bigger pieces first and then put them into your moving truck and pack the boxes around them. Make sure everything is secure before you start to move to avoid a big mess or spill that can damage your items.
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5. Donate or Toss Unwanted and Unused Items
One nice thing about moving is that it’s the perfect time to inventory your home and donate or toss any unused or unwanted items you have. The more items you get rid of, the less you have to move. This can save you time, stress, and money. If you start going through your stuff early, you could even sell some and use the money to help cover your moving costs.
Also, consider how much space your current house has versus how much space you will have in your new location. Are you upsizing or downsizing? If you’re moving into a smaller home, you’ll have to consider which items you want to keep and which ones you don’t have room for. If you don’t plan on storing them, donate, toss, or sell them.
6. Give Yourself Time to Clean
You don’t want to leave your old house a disaster when you move, so this DIY moving tip involves giving yourself enough time to clean. One easy way to do this is to clean as you pack. That way, when you have almost everything out of the house, all you have to do is give it a quick once-over. You may have to mop, sweep, or vacuum the floors on the way out.
Ideally, you’ll have friends or family around to help you with this stage. Some can help you get everything out of the house and neatly packed to go, while the others can concentrate on cleaning. This can make the whole process faster, and you can finish up and get to your new house in good time.
7. Label Your Boxes
Working out an organisational system, including labelling your boxes, is essential if you’re moving by yourself because you want to be able to find things right away when you get to your new place. Even if you decide to hire professional removalists instead of pursuing DIY moving, labelled boxes will save them time and you’ll save money.
One easy organisation system is to designate colours for each room in your home. For example, your kitchen could be red and your family room blue. If you have kids, each kid could get a colour. Put this colour on the doorway of each room in your new home.
Take the boxes for that specific room and add a strip of coloured tape or marker to it. When you get to your new home, match the box colours to the colours on the doorways of the different rooms. This DIY moving tip can easily save you a lot of headaches. It’s a great way to be organised and find your items quickly so you can settle in faster.
8. Create an Essentials Kit
Unpacking and sorting your items can take weeks after a move, and you’ll need a way to survive in the meantime. To do so, create an essentials kit. There should be a master essentials kit for everyone in your household to use, and each person should have their own smaller kit. The master kit should contain medical records and important documents, medications, first-aid supplies, and any necessary paperwork.
Each family member should prepare a smaller kit containing enough clothing and toiletries for at least four or five days. If you have smaller children, have them pack a toy or stuffed animal if they like to sleep with one. Consider including small snacks in each pack as well to keep them from going hungry in case something comes up and you can’t feed them right away.
9. Schedule Utilities
Finally, don’t forget to take final utility readings at your house and schedule them for disconnection. You’ll want to transfer service to your new home, ideally before you move in. It’s a good idea to contact your utility company a few weeks before the move and ask what you have to do to transfer your service. If you have a balance, some companies may require you to pay it off before they transfer anything.
You should keep good records of every interaction with your utility company handy in case something goes wrong. Note the dates you contacted the company, whom you spoke to, and what they recommended for their process. If you can, schedule a disconnect and reconnect date as soon as possible, so you’re ready to go in your new space.
Loved Our DIY Moving Tips? Contact Easy Peasy Removals Today!
If you’d like more tips for moving and you think you’d like to hire a professional removalist company in Melbourne, contact us for a 100% free quote. Our experienced and dedicated staff are ready to address your concerns, answer your questions, and lock in your moving date!
