Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale

Moving house can be a very stressful occasion, especially if you own lots of stuff....have kids....pets....Stay calm and take on board these top ten tips to make the transition a breeze.

1.       Lose any hoarder mentality.  The less stuff you have, the less you have to move!

2.       Treat yourself to a cleaner.  Alternatively, call in long past favours.  Or bribe friends with the offer of beer and pizza.  Whatever it takes!  It'll be one less thing you need to worry about.

3.       Get movers to do the legwork. (If you can't quite stretch to paying for professionals to do everything.) Be sure to get at least three quotes since prices can vary (sometimes wildly!). When packing, mark your boxes clearly with their contents and the room they belong in. And scribble down a master list of what’s in what box. Otherwise it could be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

4.       Think about moving early in the week. Many removal companies will offer you a discount, as this is their off-peak time. Also, if you leave it till Friday, they are more likely to be held up on other jobs.

5.       Check the fine print on your contents insurance. Does it cover damage and breakage while your belongings are in transit? If not, organise cover with your insurance provider or removal company.

6.       Tell everyone you're moving. New Zealand Post will redirect your mail for a small fee, depending on how long you want to use the service. ChangeMyAddress is a free online service also offered by NZ Post, which passes on your details to organisations that mail you, like your phone/electricity provider. Don’t forget to leave your forwarding address and phone number for the new residents of your old place too.

7.       Grab your final readings. Write down your electricity, gas and water readings on moving day. Likewise, get contact details for the previous occupiers of your new digs, and take utility readings as soon as you arrive.

8.       Make sure you’ve got access to the house before your moving day.  Also, try not to move in on the same day that the previous owners leave. You may be an organisational genius but can you say the same for them?

9.       Set aside some moving day essentials. 
 - A torch, first-aid kit, pencil, paper and tool-kit,
 - The kettle, tea, coffee, mugs, snacks and bottles of water,
 - Your mobile phone and charger,
 - Bed linen,
 - A change of clothes; pyjamas, 
 - Toilet bag (incl any prescription medicine and toilet paper),
 - Cash for takeaways, and
 - A bottle of wine to celebrate (don't forget the bottle opener).

10.    Create a separate ‘valuables’ box for important documents. Things like birth and marriage certificates, passports, deed and title documents and the contact details for your real estate agent, bank and solicitor.

Source:  www.iwantahome.co.nz

Posted: 19 Mar 2008

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