Packing up all of your worldly possessions and moving to a new home can understandably be a stressful process. On the one hand, it’s exciting to move to a new place, a new neighbourhood, or a new city. On the other hand, it can be emotional putting a close to a chapter in your life, and stressful having to pack everything up and get out before the deadline. You have to pack, sort, transport, unpack, and reorganize every last item before you can even think of settling into your new home. Here are some tips to help ease some of the stress of moving:
Tip #1: You Don’t Have to Do it Alone
Ease some of the stress of moving by handing the heavy lifting over to Ottawa movers. Some people are skeptical about hiring movers because they are worried about the cost or would rather have control over their belongings. Saving money is all relative. Once you factor in the cost of renting a moving van, buying packing supplies (don’t forget the specialty boxes and bags for TVs, pictures, mattresses, and couches!) and of course beer and pizza for your family/friends who help with the move, the cost starts to add up. You may want to be in control of your belongings, but the stress only mounts when your goofball friend mishandles a fragile box with your Grandmother’s china set in it, or you put a dent in the wall trying to carry a couch up from the basement. Then you put your back out trying to lift the barbeque – no fun. Professional movers do this every day for a living – they know how to move your belongings safely from one place to the next.
Tip #2: Give Yourself a Break
Coming home after a long week of work on Friday only to spend your evenings sorting items and packing boxes is exhausting. Then spend your weekend hauling boxes and furniture up and down stairs, setting up rooms etc. only to return to work a scant 48 hours later. No wonder you feel moving stress! Give yourself a break by taking a few days off around the move. You can organize and pack at your own pace, and actually relax when you get to the new place. If you’re moving to a new city, even better! The time off will give you and your family a chance to get out and explore what the new area has to offer.
Tip #3: Declutter First
Have you ever found yourself packing up old People magazines that you will never read again? Delicately wrapping clothes from the back of your closet that aren’t only ten years out of style, but don’t even fit you anymore? Stop! Use the move as an opportunity to pare down. You’ll have an easier move if you don’t have to haul 30 extra boxes of useless junk to your new house. Call a junk removal service, donate good items to charity, or hold a garage sale to make a bit of extra cash.
Enjoy a smooth, stress-free transition to your new place.
