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Studies show that moving is one of the most stressful life events. While relocating can be exciting, many people fear the endless to-do list that comes with moving to a new house, town, state or country. If you’re on the move, we’ve put together a handy list of steps to keep stress at bay.
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Explore your options
In an ideal world, you would have a new home lined up ready to move as soon as you’ve sold your house and contracts are exchanged. The trouble is that life isn’t always a walk in the park. Perhaps you haven’t found your dream home, you’re not sure where you want to settle, or you’re thinking about traveling more, for example. If you’re still looking for a new home, or you’re unsure whether now is the right time to buy, explore your options. Take time to research and get to know different locations, figure out your finances, and consider options like furnished short term rentals. Renting could be a great idea if you need to bridge a gap between moving out of your old house and into your new home, you’re still hunting for the right property, or you’re planning to be away a lot in the next few months.
Give yourself as much time as possible
One of the main reasons why moving is so stressful is that we tend to try to get through a huge list of jobs in a short space of time. Minimize stress by giving yourself as much time as possible to pack. Start putting away items that you won’t need or use before you move as soon as you set a relocation date. Write a list of tasks to do in the next day, week or month and work methodically. Take advantage of opportunities to declutter as you pack. This will enable you to get rid of anything you don’t want and you could even make a bit of extra cash. Try to avoid leaving everything until the last minute. Research reputable moving firms and compare quotes. Ask friends and family members to help out.
Prepare your new home
When you move, it’s natural to want your new pad to feel like home as quickly as possible. It may take time to get settled, but there are things you can do to prepare. Tie up loose ends at your old house in terms of paying bills and switching utilities and contracts over to the new property. Forward your mail to the new address and arrange for TV and broadband packages to be activated ready for your arrival. If the house has been empty for a long time, or it’s not in pristine condition, it’s worth cleaning before you start unpacking. You could do this yourself or contact a local cleaning company to save time and effort. Pack a bag of essentials for your first couple of days and label your boxes to make unpacking simple, quick and stress-free.
Research shows that most of us find moving house incredibly stressful. There’s a lot to do and often, there’s a deadline. If you’re relocating, there are ways to prevent stress. Explore your options if you’re not ready to move straight into a new house and give yourself as much time as possible to pack, tie up loose ends and get your new home ready.
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