My 5 lessons from moving house

Council pick up for bulky items

Last November, I moved house locally with my partner. We lived in the old house for about 5 years.

I have done many house moves internationally and locally. One thing is for sure.

Preparing one to 2 months before the move definitely helps in reducing your stress.

You can easily search online for a checklist for a house move. In this article, I wanted to share my 5 lessons from the house move that I’ve done. This is to remind myself next time I move, but also to help anyone moving soon or in the near future.

My 5 lessons from moving house

Lesson 1: Make decisions on the items in the garage early.

We had a lot of inherited items from the previous owner in the garage. We left them until the end because I needed to ask my partner what he wanted to do with them. He was on a business trip before the move... We ended up discarding most of them through the council* pick-up for bulky items after the move.

Lesson 2: Check and decide on items stored externally.

My partner had an external storage unit with numerous boxes in it. We ended up moving these boxes ourselves using a van just before the main move. We could have organised the timing better, because it added to our stress.

Lesson 3: Book the pick-up for hazardous materials and chemicals through your council* early.

We missed out on the council pick-up for hazardous items and chemical waste before the move. The move was towards the end of the year, so the bookings were all full. I ended up taking them to a recycling facility further away that accepted them any day.

Lesson 4: Research where you can recycle items that cannot be donated.

I was unsure where to recycle clothing or bath towels that were not worth donating. Some retail shops take them, but I wanted to make sure that they get recycled. In Australia, Upparel sorts and recycles these items at a  small price. I sent them one box after the move when I had time to do some research. My local council now recycles textiles, so I’ll be taking them there next time.

Lesson 5: Start packing collectibles early. You won’t use or need them before the move.

We had a collection of glassware and ceramics. I had to wrap each item, but this took much longer than I anticipated because they were fragile. I wrapped them during lunch times when I was working from home and in the evenings.

*Local councils in Australia usually manage waste and the disposal of bulky items. This may be different in other countries.

Remember, preparation is the key to the house move!

It can significantly reduce your stress throughout the process.

If you are thinking of moving but need help in decluttering or tidying up, book an online consultation to hear more about the process.