Colourview Ontario Real Estate

Archive for the ‘Moving - Relocating’ Category

Most rooms take around two days to pack, but sometimes you also have to do other ‘chores’ such as repairs, painting, or replacing old or worn items before moving. Some people do that whilst planning to move, others move out and leave their house for a landlord or landlady – others still move from one housing association house to another.

It’s important to also remember that you will NOT want to pack your whole house in a week, given the choice. Packing is dull for most people – it takes a lot of time that you might want to spend elsewhere. And while it, and de-cluttering while you go, is an essential aspect of moving, there are a few things you can do to make the time go faster.

Clear out your biggest cupboards first – you can store boxes and other packed items in there – and those cupboards may just be full of clutter too – once you’ve cleared the cupboards, sweep and wipe down the surfaces and then use those cleared spaces for the boxes you’re not using now and won’t use until after your move. Pack items you know you won’t need first – it might seem obvious, but packing up and pouting away your winter clothes in summer, or putting away your hobby stuff stored in the bottom of your closet is a must.

It means you’re not living out of boxes for the duration of your packing, and it also means that you’ll be able to store those boxes. Get rid of your children’s old clothes and toys BEFORE you pack – its easy to pack around small children, harder to sneak their favorite outgrown things into the bin whilst they aren’t looking.

It’s important to remember though that space wins over sentimentality, every time, and if you’re going to keep something ensure its for the right reasons. Packing might take a while, but remember, if you’re organized and mark your boxes while packing, your unpacking won’t take nearly as long.

Moving when you work from home is a slightly more complicated – the home office is doubly hard to move – you’re moving your work place AND your house.
So what can you do to make the move easier?

Moving your home office, like any other move, is all about packing the non essentials – if you aren’t using your printer much, go ahead and box it, and some paper up – keep it handy so that you can pull it out and use it if you need it.  If you do use it, but not your USB, or other parts of your computer often, consider packing them away as soon as you can.
You can also take this chance to clear out or decide whether anything is needing renewed.  Got cartridges of ink that you want to recycle? Take them back or get them refilled as soon as you can – then pack em away – its one less job to deal with – and it will save you money if you use them to be refilled (if your cartridge supports that)

You’ll also need to consider how you’ll fulfill your duties whilst working from home – will you be able to work on your laptop?  Or will your Internet connection be completely non-existent for the next month, whilst you close down one house and settle into a new one.

You’ll also have to consider shipping issues – if you collect items regularly, you’ll need to make arrangements for them – if you’ve got stock that’s regularly sent to you, what will happen in the ‘grey’ area between your old house and new house, if there is one?

Moving your home office can be frustrating, and tiring, but well worth it in the long run – that corner you claimed in a rush when you started working from home could become a well planned nook in your new house, with a little imagination.

The first few days in your new house will feel just as if you’re still packing – just you’ll be unpacking and making a mess.  Its impractical to even try to consider being organized and unpacked within one day, unless you have very few belongings, so you should try to unpack in the order you packed, or as close to it as possible – placing boxes in or near the room you’re planning to unpack may be impractical, depending on the size of the house, but makes things easier.

Its perfectly acceptable not to unpack everything in the first few days – if you’ve moved to a new area, you may want to (or need to) explore and familiarize yourself with any public transport, local facilities, or shops in the area.  You’ll need to go out and buy at least the basics – saving the ‘big shop’ until you’ve unpacked your kitchen.  You’ll probably unpack that and your living room, and if you’re not taking long off work, your home office first.

Unpacking takes place over six to twelve weeks, depending on your family, and you may find that you have to permanently store items in a garage, basement or attic, because there just isn’t the room for them.

Most of your utilities should be on and connected for moving – but you may find that your Internet and phone, cable or satellite take several weeks to be reconnected.  In these cases, you should make the most of the change, and unpack as much as you can.  After a month or two, your life will be back into its work/life/sleep pattern so consider any break from it, if you can, a holiday of sorts.  Once your utilities are all reconnected, you may find you have less time to unpack, so its good to get as much of it out of the way as possible.
If you are returning to work, outside the home, after a move, ensure you know your new route to work, and allow some extra time for the journey….just in case.

At three weeks to go, you’ll hopefully have finished packing your cupboards – you’ll be able to start packing any non essential belongings and put them away too. If you’re painting any rooms, its a good idea to try to do so in the next few days, so its all ready, and order any packing supplies you want or need. Ordering as far in advance is important because you’ll have the supplies on hand.

You can start investigating schools in your new area and list any questions you may want to ask. While considering which the best school in the area is, you also have to consider how accessible it is, whether there’s a school or public bus route to take your children there and whether you need to pay for this.

Your quotations should be coming in now too, from those that you’ve requested them from, and they should be making appointments to evaluate your belongings, to decide what size of van you’ll need and how many men you’ll need to help you move – or just the size of van you’ll need. You should have chosen your new utility provider by now, and have any forms you need to fill out for your bank, so that there’s no delays in changing your details to your new home. If you’re letting, you should also have a lease by now, with details of what you are going to have to take care of on moving in.

Your Internet is also something you should start closing down, and let them know when you’re moving – if they have to come pick up (or move) your equipment, now is a good time to arrange this. Internet service providers have a minimum notice clause, so its good to make sure that you meet this, or you may be over billed, or fined.

The last few days before your move will be a blur of final packing, cleaning, touching up, organizing and sleeplessness.  You’ll probably want to take time off work, if you haven’t done so already, and devote all of your time to finishing your preparations for the move.  Everything should be in place for you by now – if not, you should follow up on any loose ends that will affect your first days in your new house as soon as possible.

At two days to go, if you haven’t got a van with power points, you’ll need to start defrosting your freezer.  Easier said than done, but it saves you having to clean up water in the van, or worse, damaging your boxes and bags because your freezer has leaked.  Any food you’re using now should be as minimal prep as possible, so that you can pack any tins, cans, pots and pans you have left over.
Final checks with your utilities should also be made – hopefully, you’ll have managed to either transfer or connect a new phone number at your new house, so you can start updating contact details.  You should also phone your doctors surgery/local health care provider, or church group to let them know you’re going to be at a new address.

Many people appreciate personalized notices that their friends and family have moved – so you should send out the last of those items now.  You may also want to consider a ‘house cooling’ party – use paper plates and disposable cups and make an adventure of it – you could even talk your family and friends into some last minute packing/painting help.

You can also ensure that any schools, health practitioners or other regular visitors or places you regularly go to have your new contact details, if necessary.  Some schools require an address of a new school to release children’s records to, so its important, if you can, to give them.