Moving home soon?
We know that feeling well, the excitement of it all, coupled with the slight (which may not be so slight) stress of packing boxes, decluttering years of “stuff” and then setting up in a new place. Let’s be honest it’s a roller-coaster of emotions, isn’t it?
Moving home is mostly very exciting but always, at least a little bit, it is stressful. Research suggests it is one of the most stressful life events you experience, right up their with getting married and diving headfirst into a new career. And from someone who’s been in the thick of it – pregnant, with my husband starting a new job and moving to a new area, I really do GET that mixture of excitement and stress.
Navigating through the maze of legal and financial hoops, and answering a barrage of never ending questions is a thing in itself. Before the decluttering, packing, arranging transport and then unpacking it all again and trying to settle in your new home .
But guess what? You don’t have to do it alone.
We are going to take you with us, in this blog, and talk you through step-by-step how professional home organisers are the house moving fairy godmothers you didn’t know you needed when moving house.
Step1: Pre- Move- ‘The Art of Decluttering’ a.k.a. get rid of the “stuff” from your home
Before you even thinking about packing, let’s talk about decluttering. Imagine moving only what you love and need into your new space. Sounds refreshing right?
And here’s a thought- why not start way back before your home is even on the market?
Why, you ask? So that your home can be shown in the best light for marketing photos and during house viewings. When a prospective buyer walks into your home or sees it online it is much easier for them to assess the space and imagine themselves living their life there, if there is less of you and your family there (that can trigger emotions we know, but it is an important part of the house move process).
Step 2: Completing the sale: considering your logistics and your budget
Ok, so you have had a result and you have sold your house. You have found your dream home and you are excited to get settled in your new place and make it your own. So let’s just move all your stuff from the old to the new? Wrong! Let’s not do that! And we also don’t want to be those people who still have boxes lurking in the corner of the garage that haven’t been unpacked 5 years after moving. If you haven’t opened a box in 5 years you don’t need it and it was a waste of time, space and energy to bring it with you.
Moving house is expensive, but decluttering can also save money. The less stuff you have, the less you will have to pay for more packing materials or even a bigger removal vehicle. If you declutter things that you can sell, then you might even make a little extra money, and every penny counts with house moves.
In summary decluttering can save time, energy and money – of course you can do this yourself, but you can let a professional organiser take care of it for you in a way that works for you and your family.
Step 3: Space Planning: a fresh start
When you are so consumed in the house moving process, it can be hard to think about your new space with a fresh perspective. This can be due to how you have seen the new space being used by the existing owners, or by being limited by how you use your current home. For example, you might be lucky enough to have a fabulous utility room in your new house, that could house appliances that previously were stored in your kitchen. And just like that, you’ve freed up some cupboard space, winner!
That is where we come in, working with you to think about how you can best utilise the space in your new home. This might include some recommendations of how to make use of some awkward spaces or storage options that work best in different rooms with different functions, and for different family members.
Step 4: Moving Day: a seamless transition
Most professional organisers are able to coordinate with your removals company to ensure that everything goes according to plan, overseeing the process of items arriving at the new home, with furniture and boxes ending up in the right place in the new home.
But the real magic is the help with unpacking and setting up in your new home (don’t just take our word for it, check out these reviews). Professional organisers are able to quickly unpack boxes and arrange furniture and organise your belongings making best use of your new space and putting in place organisation systems that will set the family up for ongoing success. The main focus tends to start on essential areas like the kitchen. Picture this: stepping into your new kitchen, everything already unpacked and organised in a way that just feels right, ready for you to whip up your first family meal in your new home.
How it works in practice – what can you expect from us at every stage
1) It all starts with a chat (Initial consultation)- any professional home organisation company should sit down with you hash out the nitty-gritty of your move, specific needs, challenges, and dreams for your new space because let’s be honest it is always a little different in each case. This would then lead into an estimate plan and cost.
Depending on what you have opted for the below is the typical process.
2) Decluttering and Sorting- before packing begins, sorting through belonging to categorise into keep, donate, sell, discard. With the support of professional organisers providing guidance, it what can be an emotional and challenging process. They are your belongings so the decision on what to keep and pass on is yours.
3) Space planning- thinking about the new home and the space there so that you can be prepared for the room. For some people this will be parting with items and furniture because it’s a downsize, for others it might be two children no longer sharing a room, for others they are incorporating a work space into their home for the first time.
4) Unpacking and organising in your new home to get you settled as soon as possible in agreed areas. We want to ensure the house feels like your home as soon as possible and seamlessly fit in with your moving day team to bring calm to the experience.
5) Follow up- once you have lived in your new space for a while, you may want to organise follow up visits to tweak organising systems, based on how you are using the space or additional decluttering sessions.
Whether it's decluttering, sorting, space planning, or the final orchestration of moving day, professional organisers are all about easing your load, saving you time, and diminishing the stress of moving. After all, shouldn't you be focusing on the fun parts, like choosing the perfect spot for your new favourite piece of art or deciding on the colour of your living room walls or shopping for sofa cushions?!
If you're on the brink of a move and any part of the process feels overwhelming, or if you just want to ensure a smooth transition, we at Morganised are here to chat about your needs.
Whatever your decluttering and organising challenge, just remember we get it and we’ve got your back.