6 Steps for an Organized and Stress-Free Move

Six out of ten people move for personal reasons, such as divorce, marriage or moving in together. Moving is one of the top 10 most stressful events in a person’s life. Of course, this is not ideal when the reason for moving is marriage or starting a life together. So how can you make your move organized and stress-free? The key is to create a detailed moving plan and checklist, leaving nothing to chance. With these six steps, your move is guaranteed to run more smoothly.

1. Create a moving plan

Create a plan for your move and include the following elements:

• Your moving budget
• A schedule for packing, cleaning, transportation and unpacking
• Decide what you will do yourself and what you need help with
• A list of belongings that will go to your new home
• A list of belongings you want to keep but cannot take with you
• A list of belongings you want to sell or donate to a charity shop
• A room-by-room plan, including the number of moving boxes and packing materials required

2. Decide: do it yourself, ask for help or outsource it

Decide whether you are going to move your belongings yourself or whether you need assistance. You could choose to outsource the entire move to a professional moving company. The downside is the cost. Hiring a certified moving company in the Netherlands can easily cost more than €1,500.

Choosing to move most of your belongings yourself can save you a significant amount of money. You can rent a moving van for an average of around €80 per day, and with some help from friends, the job can be completed quickly.

Some storage providers, such as ALLSAFE, even offer tenants a free moving van as an additional service when renting a storage unit. This is useful when you also want to store some belongings externally, helping you keep your new home tidy and organized.

3. Sort your belongings

Over the years, you collect a lot of belongings, including items you do not use every day or perhaps only use once a year. Start your move by sorting through everything. Create three lists and divide your belongings into the following categories:

• “Never needed again”
• “Occasionally needed”
• “Frequently needed”

You may decide not to take items you only need occasionally to your new home and instead place them in an external storage unit. Examples include books, photo albums, camping equipment and Christmas decorations. Whenever you need these items again, you can simply collect them from storage.

This allows you to begin your “new life” with a clean, organized and clutter-free feeling.

4. Use sturdy moving boxes and packing materials

Make sure you have enough moving boxes. The number of boxes you need depends on the size of your household and the number of rooms in your home. For an average move, you will need approximately 40 to 50 moving boxes.

It is often best to order moving boxes and packing materials online because of the wide selection available. Do not make a moving box heavier than seven to ten kilograms. Otherwise, it may become too difficult to lift and is more likely to tear.

If you are moving dishes or other fragile belongings, wrap them in bubble wrap and packing paper. For hygiene purposes, it is best to move your sofa and mattress in protective plastic covers.

5. Create a room-by-room plan

Pack your belongings one room at a time. Write the contents on each box or place a sticker on each piece of furniture. It is also helpful to write down the new destination of each item.

This could be a room in your new home or office, but it could also be storage, an online marketplace or a charity shop. This way, you will still know exactly what needs to happen to each item.

Place boxes and belongings with the same destination together. Record the categories and quantities in your moving plan. You can use this list to easily brief your friends, moving company or storage provider. So, what are you waiting for?

6. Unpack

Once all your belongings have been moved, it is best to start unpacking immediately. The longer you postpone it, the less likely you are to get it done. The sooner you begin unpacking, the sooner you can enjoy your new home or workplace.

Need more tips? Visit ALLSAFE on Pinterest for moving inspiration.