Buying a
new home in Ottawa is exciting. But, the process of
packing up your belongings and moving from one home to another is usually less
exciting. Moving can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be.
Real estate professional Marnie Bennett offers some tips on
how to make your move to your new home as stress-free as possible.
Pick the Day Wisely
A lot of people choose to move on a weekend, particularly on
a Saturday. While a weekend move makes sense, as you'll likely be off from
work, it can actually be an inconvenient time to move. A lot of businesses,
such as your bank or the post office, are closed on weekends or, if they are
open, close early those days. If you have a last minute issue that requires
urgent or personal attention, you likely won't be able to get to those
businesses during a weekend.
It's also usually less expensive to move on a weekday than
on a weekend. If you're using professional movers, they might charge you less
to pack up and transport your possessions. If you're renting a van, you might
pay a lower flat fee or less per-mile rate on the weekend.
Lists and Labels are Your Friend
If you have ever said "I must have lost it in the
move," you have probably learned the hard way that creating a list of your
possessions and labeling each box clearly can help you considerably. As you
pack the items, record in a notebook or on a spreadsheet what goes into each
box. Number the boxes and assign the numbers to each list. It’s also a good
idea to write on the outside of the box the room in which the box is to be
placed.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Even if you have a small home, you will want to give
yourself a few weeks to pack up your items. Start packing items you use
infrequently and start three or four weeks before the move. You don't want to
leave everything for the day before, as things are likely to get lost or broken
if you rush to pack.
Gather Supplies
When you're moving to your new Ottawa home, almost
invariably you will need more packing supplies that you thought you would need.
It is frustrating to run out of boxes or tape or newspaper (for wrapping
fragile items) when you're in the midst of packing up a room. Moving supplies
are available at an array of places. If you're on a budget, you can find moving
boxes for free by asking politely at a liquor store or a supermarket. People
who have recently moved will sometimes offer their boxes for free on Craigslist
or other classified websites.
Trimming Your Possessions
Moving gives you a great opportunity to trim your clutter.
You probably don't want to pay to haul items you'll likely never use again. As
you pack, take the time to purge yourself and your new residence of items you
don't need, such as toys your children have outgrown, books you know you won't
read again, and broken objects which you will probably never get around to
repairing. You can either donate or discard these items. What is really
important though is that you don't bring junk into your
new Ottawa home and
start the clutter all over again.
Some
folks simply leave what they don’t want behind – BUT this is neither a
considerate, polite nor recommended course of action as how would you like it
if someone left your new home filled with their old garbage?
Last Minute Packing
There are some things you will want to hold off on packing.
Keep any important documents, such as your passport, closing documents,
valuables and any personal papers with you while you move.
