Moving home at any time of the year is often cited as one of life's most stressful events, so it's a little surprising that thousands opt to take on this mammoth task while also having to contend with turkeys, trees, and tinsel. And yet they do!
Removals experts at LOVESPACE are offering their advice to homeowners moving this Christmas and encourage those who are moving to follow tips like preparing for bad weather and distributing all Christmas gifts before the move-in day.
Top five tips for moving during the festive period:
Shop early
When dealing with the pressures of sorting, packing, storing and moving your belongings, the last thing you need to be doing is last-minute Christmas shopping!
If you are able to, get through your list of presents for family and friends, get everything packed and sent out before you make the big move.
Those moving during the week of Christmas should also think about doing their food shop early for the big day. If you order your food online, you can be sure everything you need will be delivered just in time and will help you to avoid last-minute shopping and queues.
Christmas decorations
Avoid the disappointment of rummaging through boxes to find misplaced Christmas decorations by packing and labelling all of the decorations together. This way, you can make your new place feel like home with your favourite decorations and bring a festive feel to your home - even if it is filled with boxes!
Prep for bad weather
Ahead of your moving date, make sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast. Bad weather can cause delays and issues when transporting your belongings, so being prepared in advance can help you to deal with it when the day comes.
For those with a snowy move-in date, protect your new floors from any muddy or snowy feet by placing cardboard or plastic sheeting in all of the rooms your movers will be entering. Packing warm clothes is also recommended as well as salting and gritting the driveway where possible to make it easier on the large moving vans and trucks.
Secure all valuables
The festive period presents a bit of a goldmine to those hoping to find a treasure trove of high-ticket items, presents and valuables. Make sure all of your belongings are safe by securing them in the best way for you and making sure to keep an eye on them throughout the process to prevent any stress about where they have gone.
Book a removals company
Hazardous weather, busy schedules and companies with limited staff over the festive period can all cause complications with moving. During December, moving companies can get booked up in advance, and the last thing you want when planning a smooth transition of your belongings is to miss all of the delivery slots. This is why the experts at LOVESPACE recommend organising your removals in advance.
A spokesperson for LOVESPACE, said: “Moving home can be stressful at the best of times - add in the chaos of buying and giving presents, visiting family, hosting friends and it can become completely overwhelming!
“This is why we want to prepare Christmas movers with our top five hacks for a smooth move. It may sound simple, but things like shopping for presents early and packing Christmas decorations together can quickly be forgotten when in the middle of moving chaos.”