Chaotic & Stressful! That is what the process of moving home is like for most families. That is why, even though moving to a new home can be an exciting time, the actual day of the move isn’t one that many people enjoy. In fact, it can be tough on everyone involved, especially the kids! Luckily, there are some strategies can help you make the entire process go much more smoothly. Read on to find out what they are.

Start planning the move as early as possible

One thing that it’s easy to forget, especially when you have found a property for sale that you like, and had your offer accepted, is that it’s never too early start packing up your current home.

This is because packing if done correctly, can take a great deal of time. In fact, most families have a considerable number of items stored in spare rooms, sheds, and attics that they will also need to sort through and get rid of before the true packing process can even begin!

Then there is all the cleaning and final tweaks to the home to ensure it’s in the best possible condition for when the new owners or tenants move in. To that end, it’s well worth getting a head start on the packing process, so don’t sit back on your laurels once your offer for a new place has been accepted, but start the process right away.

Ask for help

Next, another issue that many families forget about when moving home is that they will need some extra help when it comes to moving day. Especially, with regards to lifting and positioning larger items of furniture.

Of course, there are various sources that you can tap to get this help from,  including friends and family, professional removers, and some people even use a ‘man with a van’ service to save money while ensuring the moving process goes as quickly and efficiently as possible.

No matter who you ask for help though, what is vital is booking them in well in advance. OK, so you may not have a definite moving date until you exchange contracts, but having a rough idea of who is free when you expect this to happen, mean you know who to call on to get the move rolling as quickly as possible when you do get a definite moving date.

Write or print out a checklist

While it may seem a tad retentive to write out a plan and schedule for the move, it can actually make things run a lot smoother and save you a lot of stress in the long run.

Especially if you integrate your packing strategy with this plan, as then the right boxes can be placed in the correct rooms straight away. Something that means you don’t have to expend a lot of extra time and effort moving items around the home when it comes to unpacking.

Keep your toolbox handy

While it would be nice to expect that when you move into your new home, everything will perfect, it is quite likely that they will be small alterations, and repairs that need to be made. Especially if you are unloading and attempting to fit furniture into a new space that was bought for your old home.

Pack your essential tools for moving day

To that end, it’s crucial to ensure that you have a toolbox to hand that contain basic essentials such as a small hacksaw, a hammer, screwdrivers, picture hooks, nails and even cleaning products such as carpet cleaner. Then, you can deal with any issue you come across instantly, something that should allow you to get unpacked and all of your own item in place a lot quicker.

Pack immediate use boxes

Lastly, when moving with a family, it is well worth packing some ‘immediate use’ boxes and keeping them at the front of the removal van so they can be unloaded first. Such boxes should contain kitchen basics like coffee, tea, mugs, spoons, and even snacks so everyone can have a break when they need it.

It’s also worthwhile packing up some boxes with the kids’ item in inducing their bedding, favorite toys and pajamas. Then they will not only have something to keep them amused while the grown-ups get down to the serious business of unpacking, but you can make their beds quickly as easily when it comes to bedtime. Something that can help them to settle into the new home much quicker, and will generally make the transition more relaxed for your little ones.

We’re very proud to bring you this feature in association with The Property Guru and Dulux. For more inspiration for your home, please pay a visit to our interiors page.