Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Preparing for the move
• Part 2 of 4: Moving yourself
• Part 3 of 4: Moving with a moving company
• Part 4 of 4: Enjoy your new home
• Tips
• Warnings

Moving can be one of the most exciting and one of the most stressful experiences of your life. The secret to a painless move is to draw up a watertight relocation plan on time and implement it when the time comes. Organization, efficiency and preparation will help you through the relocation challenges that will come your way. Follow the steps to get through a move unscathed and maybe even have some fun doing it.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Preparing for the move

1. Get rid of items you don't need. You have to sort out your belongings first to get an idea of ​​what is going with you and what you are leaving behind. There can be several reasons for leaving things behind. Maybe you're going to live with someone who has nicer versions of certain stuff or you just want to get rid of your old junk that you don't need. That's how you do that:
   • View the space in your new home. Take the measurements of each room and then measure your furniture to get a better idea of ​​what fits and what doesn't.
   • Sell ​​your stuff on Marktplaats. Start doing this at least a few weeks before the move, so that people have enough time to pick up the items. With a few good photos of useful utensils, you can easily get them off your hands. You will be amazed at how quickly people buy your stuff. Therefore, do not put your things to for sale long in advance, otherwise you might be without a dining table for a month.
   • Remember that it is quite a challenge to sell your mattress. Your box spring mattress that you want to sell may be in excellent condition, but people are always a bit suspicious when it comes to second-hand mattresses from complete strangers. Sell ​​it for a low price or let friends and family know that you have a mattress on offer.
   • Hold a garage sale. This is a good way to get rid of your stuff in one fell swoop.
   • Donate your stuff. You may not like your clothes or shoes, but there are many people who can benefit from them.
   • Have a "moving party" and put all the things you no longer want in a corner of the room. You will be amazed at how quickly your guests take things with them.
   • Sell ​​your old books to a used bookstore or donate them to a library.
   • In the weeks leading up to the move, empty your fridge, freezer, and pantry so you're not left with cans or melting and rancid food.
2. Packing for the move. Although packing can take a long time, it is doable if you have a well-organized plan in advance. Start at least a few weeks in advance to have enough time to pack everything, but not so far in advance that you're in the mess and the things you need are already packed. That's how you do that:
   • Have cardboard boxes ready. You will need more boxes than you think. You can pick them up for free from the grocery store, search the Internet for used moving boxes to pick up for free, ask friends who have just moved, or just buy them to save time.
   • Write what's inside on all the boxes. Write on the top and on the sides where the boxes should go so that you know, even if they are all stacked on top of each other.
   • Pack a box with essential items. Do this on the morning of the move or the night before. This box contains bathroom items such as toothpaste, shampoo, soap, shower curtain with rod, towels and sleeping items such as a bedspread, blanket, pillows and pajamas. If you can't start the day without caffeine, put in the coffee maker as well, or a kettle for tea.
   • Put all the things that go to the same room together in a box, you don't have to pack them separately. You can put books and exercise books together in a box when they all go to the study. That way unpacking is easier.
   • Choose a "packing place" in your house. Limit a cluttered look by choosing a place in the house where you keep all the packed boxes, instead of putting boxes in every room.
   • Keep tools handy. Make sure to keep your toolbox handy during the move so you can put the furniture back together quickly. Put them in the essentials box or keep them in the front of your car or moving van.
   • Pay attention to important papers. Keep papers pertaining to your old home, your new home and the move. Do not pack them with your office supplies, because then you will not have them at hand.
3. Ask a few close friends ahead of time to help. Whether your friends are doing a heroic act of helping out or just letting them know you are moving, let them know in time that you are moving. Send an email or call them to ask if they can help on the big moving day.
   • Don't forget to thank your friends for their help. Although they love to help you, you still have to thank them by inviting them to dinner at a restaurant or ordering beer and pizza after the move.
4. Arrange connections in your new home before you move. Call in advance to make sure the heating and electricity are connected in your new home, otherwise the move will be an unpleasant start to your new home.
   • Provide water / gas / electricity connections (often bundled), telephone / TV / internet (also often bundled), security and waste collection.
   • Once you have moved, you must notify a change of address to address-related services such as insurance, banking, driver's license and car registration.
   • Find out where the following nearest service providers are located in relation to your new home: hospital, fire station, police station, town hall, post office, park, vet, library, public transport and school.

Part 2 of 4: Moving yourself

1. Rent a moving van. If you take care of the move yourself, you will have to pick up a moving van on the morning of the move. Arrange this well in advance, otherwise it will be difficult to get a car for a reasonable price in the middle of a busy moving season.
   • Compare the prices of a number of hosts before making your decision.
2. Pick up the moving van on the morning of the move. Make sure to arrive early to avoid waiting in line on a busy moving day.
3. Load the car. Loading a moving van is not a big challenge when you have a schedule in advance and you are helped by a few good friends. Pay attention to the following points when loading the moving van:
   • Remember that you need two people who are involved in things other than the actual loading. They ensure that the boxes to be taken with you are arranged at the door, ready to be loaded.
   • Disassemble your furniture. Take apart lamps, tables with removable legs, bookshelves and digital equipment.
   • Protect your furniture. Wrap your things in wrapping paper and tape before they enter the car.
   • Load the heaviest items first, in the back of the car: the refrigerator, washing machine, dryer and other appliances, as well as the heaviest boxes.
   • Load the heaviest boxes. Stack them like bricks to build walls in the back of the car.Make sure you have a stable construction: place a box on the vertical seam between the two boxes underneath, so that it forms a T-shape, like bricks in a wall. Avoid vertical stacks of boxes of the same size. To make the most of the available space, it is important to build high and stable walls from scratch.
   • Then load long items in the cart, such as your bed and closet shelves. Place them against the sides of the car.
   • Put the remaining boxes in the moving van. Make three layers of boxes: the heaviest on the bottom, the medium weight boxes in the middle, and the lightest boxes on top. Stick each layer together with tape.
   • Put the leftover items in the car. The trick is to make everything fit together, but don't push everything together so much that it looks like it could explode anytime.
   • If you are using a loading ramp, make sure it is properly in place. When the bridge is unfolded, the two hooks should click into slots located on the edge of the cargo area. As a result, the bridge connects well with the cargo area and you can drive in with a loading trolley. This step is often overlooked.
   • Make sure that the charging trolley is loaded last, so that you can reach it immediately upon arrival at the new home.
4. Drive the moving van to the new location. Drive the car carefully to your new home. Drive slower and more carefully than you do in your own car. Driving a moving van requires great adaptability.
   • Don't forget to drive slowly and stay calm as the ride can be stressful.
5. Unload your stuff. Park the moving van with the back as close to the door as possible. Let everyone watch if you hit nothing. When you lower the ramp, have someone hold the end. Most loading ramps will not fully extend if they do not hit the ground properly. When the loading bridge is in the right position, you can start unloading:
   • Make a plan in advance where the large objects will be placed in each room. Walk around the house with the movers and show them where the large items will be placed, such as sofas, TV, cupboards, beds, chest of drawers, bedside tables, etc.
   • Based on this, determine where to place the boxes and smaller items in each room. This way the boxes do not get in the way when the large pieces of furniture are brought in. And you don't have to move the boxes again. You can stick post-its on the wall if you want.
6. Return the moving van. You must agree with the landlord whether you will do this the same day or the next morning.

Part 3 of 4: Moving with a moving company

1. Find out which moving company is best. Using the services of a moving company will save you a lot more money than doing it yourself, but you will save yourself worrying about moving the boxes, driving the moving van and unloading. It's important to find a good moving company, so take the time to look up enough information before making your decision.
   • Avoid the internet in the beginning. It's the easiest way to get ripped off. Check out phone book ads first, call a broker, or ask friends for recommendations.
   • Choose a company that will make a quotation at home. If they don't, hang up.
   • Check that the company is carrying out the move itself and is not outsourcing it to others.
   • Note that the company can provide you with a booklet on "Your rights and responsibilities when moving".
   • Gather as much information about the company as possible. Try to choose a company that has been active in removals for at least ten years. Ask which services are included and request a list of references.
2. When you've narrowed down your search to two or three moving companies, then check online to find out if they are legitimate businesses.
   • Look for the registration number at the Chamber of Commerce on the website of the moving company. Then check the website of the Chamber of Commerce to see if the number corresponds to an existing company.
   • Also check whether the company is a recognized removal company, indicating that it has signed the industry code.
3. Make an appointment for a quote at your home. The company sends a representative over to review the items and estimate the moving costs. The moving company will make a quote based on what they see at your home.
   • Do not work with a company that only provides an estimate based on cubic meters.
   • To find the best moving company, you can call two or three companies to get a quote and choose the one with the best service and price. However, this takes more time.
4. Make an agreement with the moving company. Agree on a price and sign a detailed contract that meets your requirements. Never sign a contract where data has not yet been entered. Determine the relocation date in the contract.
5. Ride with the movers. Now that you've picked the moving company and set the date, it's time to prepare for the big day. Although you don't have to lift heavy boxes, you do need to be there when the movers are transporting and unloading your belongings. Only in case you cannot be present at the destination, an exception will be made.
   • Do not get in the way during unloading. Don't offer to help unless the movers have questions.
   • Reward the movers. When they are done with the arduous task, or even during the hard work, you can order lunch for them out of favor. And don't forget to tip them generously.

Part 4 of 4: Enjoy your new home

1. Unpack your things. When you unpack your things in your new home, you can feel overwhelmed. Be patient and don't pressure yourself to unpack everything right away. Make sure you unpack the boxes a little at a time and before you know it, your new home will be decorated. A few tips:
   • First, unpack the essential items. Unpack the box that you have written "essential items" on. If you need a relaxing shower, hang up the shower curtain and make your bed to fall on it.
   • Try to unpack kitchen utensils first. While you can take it easy at first and order food, you can't keep doing that. The sooner the kitchen is set up, the sooner you can resume your normal life.
   • Reassemble large pieces of furniture. Make sure to assemble them in the room where they will be placed.
   • Don't do too much in one day. Of course you shouldn't wait months to unpack, but just after the move you are probably a bit overwhelmed. So stop unpacking when you need a break. Don't forget to enjoy your new place.
2. Go shopping. When you start unpacking, it is also time to buy things you still need. You can go to the supermarket to stock your fridge, buy furniture you still need and items you can't find.
   • Proceed step by step. If you really a lot of need new stuff, make it a day out. But if you only need a few things, you don't have to buy it all at once.
3. Explore the new neighborhood. When you've already unpacked a lot, or when you need a break, it's time to explore the area. This way you will soon feel at ease in your new neighborhood and you will see that your stressful move has been worthwhile. You can do this:
   • Take a walk. This is not only good for exercise and against stress, but you also get an impression of the neighborhood, your neighbors and which shops and parks are nearby.
   • Search the internet or a local newspaper to see what cultural attractions, bars and restaurants your new neighborhood has to offer.
   • Inform your Facebook friends that you have moved. Ask if they have any tips on what to do and where to shop. Even people you hardly know enjoy answering questions like this.
   • Meet the neighbors. Be nice to people around. This way you make new friends who live nearby and you also get good tips about the neighborhood.

Tips

• Breath in breath out. Whatever you do, moving is one of the most stressful experiences of your life. While it helps to be organized and have helpful friends, it is still an emotional moment. Many people don't think about how difficult a move is, so adjust your expectations in advance to protect your mental health. Don't forget it gets better. The move itself is stressful, but think about how nice it feels when you have furnished your new home!
• If you have young children, remember that the first night in a new house can be scary. New sounds, a new room, it's all confusing. Have a night light and your favorite bear handy so you can find them easily. This is important.
• Put food from the refrigerator in a cool bag. If necessary, half a kilo of ice cubes will help keep everything frozen until the refrigerator is plugged back in.
• Try to carry easily breakable items yourself. In a moving van, fragile items can be damaged no matter how carefully you drive. Also, wrapping in newspaper cannot always prevent objects from breaking.
• If you have a cat and you have the opportunity to return to your old home after moving, leave the cat there until the last minute. If you take him into the move heck, he can get scared and hide under your bed for days!
• The more people can help, the better. To make better use of the space, you can ask a few people to walk up and down to empty the basement. Leave the loading of the moving van to the people who are most skilled at it.
• You can protect furniture such as drawers, chests of drawers, bed legs, etc. by wrapping it in plastic foil. When you put these objects in a moving van or other means of transport, they often get scratched by colliding with other objects. Plastic film helps to prevent scratches.
• Use bubble wrap to wrap fragile items such as glasses and dishes.
• Don't forget to clearly write on the boxes what's in them and which room they belong in. Write this on the top and on the sides. If there is something fragile in the box, put a sticker on it that says "fragile", or write it yourself.

Warnings

• Always check a moving company carefully to avoid scams.
• Waterbed mattresses are large and prone to tearing. Be very careful! It is worth renting a small pump so that the mattress is as empty as possible for transport.