The handy moving checklist and moving plan: no more moving stress!

Moving house is stressful for many people. A lot needs to be arranged within a relatively short period, from carefully packing your belongings to notifying organisations of your change of address. Did you know that moving house is one of the three most stressful life events? Creating a checklist and a clear schedule is important if you want to prevent as much moving stress as possible. Below, you will find some useful tips.

Three months before moving

• Arrange your electricity, gas and water supply for both your old and new home.
• Arrange your telephone, television and internet connection.
• Request time off work for your move. Many employers offer a paid day off for moving, so be sure to check.
• Request quotes from moving companies if you want to outsource the move.

Two months before moving

• Ask friends and family in advance who will be available to help you move your belongings.
• Decide which belongings will go to your new home and which will not. The easiest approach is to divide your belongings into three groups:

1. Items that will definitely go to your new home
2. Items that can be thrown away, donated or sold
3. Items you want to keep but are not yet sure where to put

Tip: Rent an external storage unit

An external storage unit can be useful before, during and even after your move.

Do you need to leave your current home before your new home is ready? Or would you like to keep certain belongings while maintaining a tidy home? Renting a storage unit can be the solution.

At ALLSAFE Mini Storage, you can rent a secure, climate-controlled storage unit on a weekly basis to store your furniture and other belongings safely. Do you want to avoid all the heavy lifting? ALLSAFE also offers moving assistance. A moving assistant will come to you with a moving van and help transport your belongings to and from the storage facility.

One month before moving

• Are you handling the move yourself? Reserve a moving van or trailer. When you rent a storage unit from ALLSAFE, you may even use the moving van free of charge for several hours. People who do not rent a storage unit can also hire a covered trailer from ALLSAFE for €15 per day.
• Purchase moving boxes. You can buy them from a DIY store for approximately €2.20 each, but you can find more affordable boxes at Goedkopeverhuisdoos.nl from as little as €0.94 each. This can save you a considerable amount overall. You can also purchase other moving supplies there, including bubble wrap, packing paper and mattress covers.

Tip: Rent your moving boxes

At mrBOX.com, you can rent practical and environmentally friendly plastic moving boxes from as little as €0.98 for two weeks. The boxes arrive ready to use and can be delivered to your home and collected again after the move.

Using the free mrBOX.com app, you can also record what is inside each box by scanning the unique QR code attached to it. Simply fill the box, take a photo of its contents and register it in the app.

This solves one of the most common frustrations during a move: forgetting which belongings are stored in which box. The app also allows you to record which boxes have already arrived at your new home.

Another advantage of renting moving boxes is that you will not be left with a pile of empty boxes after the move.

Three weeks before moving

• Start packing everything you can already do without.
• Order a new nameplate and/or house number.
• Make a list of all the organisations and people that need to be informed of your change of address. You can send your friends and family a fun digital moving announcement so that everyone is informed.
• Start cleaning your new home. It is still empty, which makes it much easier to clean thoroughly.

One week before moving

• Make sure all important documents and valuable belongings, such as jewellery and keys, are stored carefully and securely.
• Defrost and clean your freezer.
• Pack all remaining belongings. Keep the items you will still need during the final week separate.

The day before moving

• Empty and clean the refrigerator.
• Secure the drum of your washing machine using the transport bolts.
• Make an overview of which belongings need to be loaded into the moving van first and which should be loaded last.
• Reserve a parking space in front of both your old and new home for the moving van.

Moving day

• Record the meter readings in both your old and new home.
• Turn off the gas, water and electricity in your old home.
• Check that you have not left any belongings behind. Remember to check the shed or garage as well.
• Make sure all windows and doors are properly locked.

Shortly after moving

Yes! All your belongings have arrived at your new home. Make the living room and bedroom comfortable and usable as soon as possible. This will give you peace of mind and make unpacking the rest much easier.

After moving your refrigerator, leave it upright in its new position for at least 24 hours before plugging it in. This allows the coolant to settle properly.

Register your new address with the municipality and check that all your address changes have been processed.

Six months after moving

Everyone recognises this situation: six months after moving, there are still unopened boxes in the attic. Perhaps you have not needed their contents yet, or the items have significant emotional value. You may also plan to sell certain belongings in the future but have not yet had the time.

All these boxes and belongings take up valuable space that you could probably use more effectively. Did you know that you can store twelve moving boxes at ALLSAFE from as little as €1.40 per week? This keeps them out of the way at home while ensuring you can still access them whenever you need to.

With this moving checklist, your move should be as stress-free as possible. Have we missed any important steps or tips? Let us know in the comments below!