Moving in December? Here’s how to make sure it goes smoothly

We were flabbergasted at just how many people move houses towards the end of the year. No, seriously. Apparently November to January are the most popular months in which to take all your stuff and put it into another house. There are a bunch of reasons for this, some random and some thoughtfully considered. For example, some people move in December because their lease happened to end at that time and they didn’t want to extend their agreement. Others are going to use their December holidays to move. And then there are those who have kids and want to settle them into their new environment before they go back to school, even if they’re still going to the same school.

You know how it is with kids (and some adults)… The new house has a ‘weird smell’ and they miss their old door handle. That’s a thing, hey. Missing ‘door handles’.

Whatever the reason is, moving is stressful. There’s lots to do and lots to plan, and we’ve got your back with a royally handy list and practical tips. The top of the list is a reminder from the king to make sure you change your address on your royal home insurance policy, because this could impact any future claims.

Don’t have buildings and home contents insurance? No problem, we’ve got super cheap cover for you to right here.

Now, back to the king’s handy list to help you move house.

Have a good clear out

Do this a few weeks in advance… Go into each room of the house, armed with paper and pen (or your phone) ready to launch a military precision strike. Whatever you find in each room that’s broken, doesn’t serve a purpose (looking pretty is a purpose, guys) or doesn’t bring you joy, must go. Either bin it or donate it and pack the rest into boxes that are clearly labelled.

We’ve put this tip first because you don’t want to leave it too late and end up with extra bags and boxes you don’t know what to do with come moving day.

Minimise the panic on moving day

Actual moving day is just pure chaos. The good news is that you can make it less hectic with a little planning, like making sure you have all the necessary things on hand. Make sure you have enough cheap blankets (to cover fragile items) scissors (more than 1 pair to avoid fighting) packing tape (again, more than 1 roll) and marker pens (do we have to say it a third time?)

Scout out the neighbourhood

Speaking of moving day… On the day itself and most likely a day or 2 afterwards, you’ll need to know where to get quick access to bread, milk, and takeaways. Be the hero and do some scouting around beforehand so that you can quickly run back and forth for supplies.

Label the darn boxes

You can’t imagine all the fights, tears, and snipes that you can avoid just by labelling your boxes and bags. We suggest numbering each room in your new (new not old) place and labelling your boxes and furniture with the corresponding info. This way, the movers will know exactly where to put each box and make it easy for you to unpack and find things. Especially that specific item that you need right away… You know, like the towels so that you can have a much-needed shower after a long day?

Stay cool

You don’t want to be lugging around cooler boxes and risk spoiling your fridge foods. We suggest that you throw a packing party for your nearest and dearest before the move so that you can feed those helping you, with everything leftover in your fridge. It’s a win-win for every 1.

A thought for the first few days after moving

Let’s say that you’ve moved in and done what you can for that first day. What you probably want to do is have a shower and dry yourself off with a towel that you could easily find, tuck into a well-deserved pizza that you had delivered because you knew who to order in from, and then kick back with something on in the background. For that last part to work, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve packed and labelled your remote controls and user manuals so that you can easily find them and set-up your TV or sound system.

Oh, and don’t forget to arrange for the installation of your satellite TV or Internet. No 1 will thank you for forgetting about that.

We hope that these tips help you become the king or queen of moving in December (or any time of the year, really). Good luck!