Moving Tips

[LG]

What are some tips you have to make the moving process easier? After 20 years of this life, I still don't think I've got it right, so I'd love to hear your thoughts!

[0ddsidian]

@LG Does ANYONE ever figure it out? I've asked my parents to weigh in. Dad's first response when I asked him "Do you have any tips for moving?" was...
"Do it slowly. When moving on pavements, don't step on the cracks, cos you'll break your mother's back. Look left and right, and then left again when crossing the road"

His SECOND response was...

"Take photos of all your expensive and loved things in case they get damaged (including model numbers). Where possible make it enjoyable and an experience. Do a holiday….etc."

Mum would probably say to make sure the kids aren't around when you're packing, wherever possible. Or when it's time to pack up the kids' stuff, get them involved, so it doesn't negatively impact them so much, if it's super abrupt.

My tips...

• Collect bubble wrap and newspaper ahead of time, to wrap your stuff in.
• Start early
• Go through your stuff regularly and decide what is clutter and what is worth keeping. Keep stuff that are important memories, but don't keep those golf clubs that you've had for 30+ years just because you THINK they might be worth something (here's looking at you, Dad).

Do you have any tips of your own? Hoping to not need to move any time soon, but you never know 😬

[RiverSeal]

Hey @LG, great question and thanks for asking!! 

We had a big move from NSW to the NT back in the 80s, and sold our family home and put everything on a truck while we caught a flight. I remember we got rid of a lot of possessions and donated them to St Vincent de Paul and had a garage sale ( which were popular back then ). We packed everything else up really carefully in boxes for the removalists. Dad got payments for some items, such as the trailer that we used for camping and hauling stuff to the tip.

When we arrived in the NT we stayed in a hotel for a few weeks while we picked a house to rent out of the pool that the base had available. And we had discounted rent while we were there, which meant that it was more affordable to rent than buy another house. The houses were well looked after by the base and if we had any issues they were fixed pretty quickly.

My sister and I were enrolled in the local Catholic schools and started a new life with new friends and way of life. It was pretty hard for me as I mised our home in NSW and found were we lived pretty isolated and remote. We only had ABC on the TV and there wasn't a lot to do around our new area. My parents really loved it but my mother did say she found the first year hard but grew to appreciate the move.

Hope that provides some insight into my experiences!

Take care

RiverSeal 

[Meatball90]

I have moved house at least 30 times in my 35 years! One year even on Christmas day (I was not a happy teenager I can assure you!

- If you haven't used it in 12 months you probably don't need it
- Same as "I might fit it one day" (circumstantial, but I've never fit back into anything haha) 

- Sticky notes on doors of the new house! 1, 2, 3 etc
- Label boxes with contents AND the room it will be going in (as above!) If people are helping you move they can find its home without you having to manage everyone

- As you pack each box stack them in the garage or one room for moving day (no double handling)

- At the new place put all misc. boxes/furniture into the spare room or garage to organise later

- Pack moving weekend essentials and put them in the front seat of your car. PJs, toiletries, change of clothes and shoes, phone charger, a roll of toilet paper and a couple of towels (this saved me many times)

- Just rent a truck...trust me 😂

Hope this helps! 

[captainmorgan]

Biggest tip that I can give is the use of vacuum seal bags. 

Compresses your wardrobe down significantly. It meant mine and the ex wife’s were wardrobe could be moved in the back seat of my car