Everybody knows that moving house is one of the most stressful and tiring things you can do. I always hear the horror stories of things going wrong on moving day. Scrambling to finish packing everything, getting stuck in traffic, or finding your items broken and shattered once you unpack—these are just some of the things that could go wrong. 

But with a few moves under my belt, I’ve learned that making sure everything runs smoothly on moving day is all about preparation. That’s why I’m sharing a few tips to help you get ready for your moving day. 

Make an inventory of everything

One of the first steps to take when getting ready for your move is to take inventory of all of your items. This sounds daunting but it’s absolutely crucial to being prepared and you’ll be thankful you did it later. Start by going through each room one by one and noting the items you’ll definitely be bringing with you. You can group items together by room and organise by size or category to make the list intuitive and easy to manage. 

This process will help you sort out your belongings before you start packing. If you decide to get rid of unwanted items, your inventory will be of great help. It’ll also be useful when you do begin to pack; you’ll know which box and room each item goes to.  

Share your inventory with your removal company and they’ll have more accurate cost estimations, meaning you’ll get your money’s worth. And probably most important of all, you can keep track of all of your prized possessions and use your inventory to make sure you have everything at your new home. 

Get cheap packing supplies 

Buying boxes, tape, bubble wrap and wrapping paper might be the obvious choice when moving. However, there are far cheaper and more environmentally friendly packing supplies out there. 

Pop down to your local shops and ask them for any unused boxes. They’ll be more than happy to offload them to you. Don’t forget to ask your friends, family, and neighbours for any extra boxes they might have lying around. Better yet, use reusable plastic containers as a better storage option. 

Use old newspapers, magazines, clothing, or linens to protect your items. Place pillows and blankets on top of items to protect them when you stack boxes. Use bin bags over hanged clothing for easy transport (without the need for folding)! 

Get the help you need 

During the chaos of preparing and packing for a move, you might start to feel overwhelmed with all the tasks you need to do. Don’t forget that you can ask your friends and family for help! Even if its just with childcare or your pets to help it go more smoothly.  

Reach out to them for assistance with packing or loading your items. They also have busy lives so make sure to ask them early. Of course, you’ll have to give them some incentive to help (beer and pizza, most likely) but that should be a small price to pay for such great help. 

Take measurements 

This might seem like a small detail and is often overlooked, but measuring your furniture is absolutely necessary before you move. By taking measurements, you’ll know that your sofa or dining table will actually fit in your new home. 

There’s nothing worse than arriving at your new house and realising that a piece of furniture is too big for your living room or bedroom. If this happens, you’ll need to think of what to do with your oversized furniture.  

With measurements, you can prepare beforehand and start to think of rearranging the room layout or even purchasing furniture that better fits your home. Don’t forget this step! 

Time your move right 

Schedule your moving day so that you can save money. Try to avoid the height of the moving season, which is in the summer months. Also, most moving companies are busy during weekends and bank holidays, so prices tend to be high and availability low.  

Instead, book off a weekday for your move. This will ensure that your movers are available at a reasonable price.  

Usually, a move will take the whole day so you’ll need to wake up bright and early. Your goal is to get everything in your new home before evening sets in. Get plenty of sleep the night before so you’ll be well-rested and full of energy for the long day ahead.  

Make sure everyone is on the same page 

It’s important to know that everyone involved with your move knows what is going on. If your friends and family are helping, allocate enough time and give clear instructions so that packing goes efficiently. Maintain constant communications with your movers so that everyone knows the plan for the moving day. 

This is not a time to be afraid to ask questions. Make sure that you know what time they’ll arrive, which furniture items and boxes should be loaded and unloaded first, how many trips will it take, and if they’ll help with packing and assembly.  

When it comes to handling your prized possessions, it’s absolutely necessary for everyone to communicate and have as much information about your moving plan as possible.