If you’ve been thinking about moving, we’re here to say: go for it! Moving is one of the best ways to start fresh, and if you’re looking for a new place, there are so many great places to choose from. Moving takes courage and commitment, but it can also be one of the most rewarding things you’ve ever done. You’ll be able to see new things and meet new people, and if you’re relocating for work or school, you’ll have an opportunity to learn new skills and grow in your field. But before you start packing up your life in boxes, let’s talk about what makes a successful relocation.Whether you’re moving across town or state lines, there are some important things to consider when moving.
Understanding These Common Myths About Storage
There are a ton of myths floating around about storage and it’s time to set the record straight here at Relocate Stress Free.
Three Common Reasons for Clutter in the Workplace
The Effects of Decluttering on Your Brain
10 Amazing Ways to Help Employees Relieve Stress at Work
Tips to Store Fragile and Dangerous Items
10 Reasons Why You Should Declutter Your Home This Fall!
Decluttering is something we all dread, however, it is a necessary part of the moving process. If you stay on top of the decluttering process it will be easier to prep and stage your home for showings! These creative tips will help you to declutter your home, simply. 1. Work in 15 minute increments. If you find yourself weighed down by the idea of decluttering your home for an entire day or weekend, try a 15 minute schedule. The short time frame makes it simple to stick with long term, even for the busiest people. 2. Say goodbye to guilt. It is common for people to feel guilty for getting rid of items they no longer need or want. Avoid feeling guilty about “wasting” your stuff by donating items to a local thrift store, women’s shelter or homeless shelter. Giving back is a great way to see the positive in your decluttering efforts. 3. Add decluttering to your to do list. To hold yourself accountable to completing the decluttering process, add it to your ongoing to do list. This will help you to stay on track with what needs to get done. 4. Declutter rooms in sections. Start at the door and work your way toward the centre of the room. Continue with your efforts until you reach the opposite side of the room. This will make decluttering feel like a process broken down into steps and decrease any feeling of overwhelm. 5. Start and finish your decluttering efforts in one room before beginning another. This includes closets, dressers, desks, etc. 6. Minimize your storage space. Keeping storage space to a minimum will give you less space to fill with more stuff once you have removed excess items from your home. 7. Follow the 6-month rule when purging your closet and dresser. If you haven’t worn clothing for more than 6 months add it to your box of donations. 8. Ask for help. Outside sources have no emotional attachment to any of your items and can help your make decisions when items fall into a grey area. 9. Create a designated space for mail and other papers. A junk drawer or a filing system needs to be in place in every home to cut down on the clutter caused by incoming mail. 10. Make it a family affair. Working together on organizing your home is a great way to bond with your spouse or children and a joint effort will ensure the habit sticks. After purging the clutter, you may be shocked to see how much room you have and how many fewer things you need to pack. Looking for support with an upcoming move? Let us do the heavy lifting!
24 Tips For a Smooth Move
Having been in the moving industry for as long as I have, there aren’t very many moving tricks that I haven’t heard about, both successful and disastrous. So I have taken the time to compile what I believe are some of the best tips to ensure your move is as stress-free as possible! Do it a little bit at a time. Don’t procrastinate on this job because it’s a big one, and you won’t be able to find the time to finish everything that needs to get done if you leave it until the last minute. Declutter before you move! I can’t stress this one enough. You do NOT want to move items that you don’t need. It creates more work, costs more money and utilizes more valuable time. One of the best ways to declutter your space is to put everything into four categories. Pack Now – Prioritize what needs to be packed first. Pack Later – Decide what needs to be packed last. Donate – anything that is no longer of use to you, but may be valuable to someone else. And Throw Away – anything that is broken or has no value to you or others. If you are moving last minute, then your best bet is to have a packing day. The more people willing to help you, the better! Create a moving checklist – In your list, make sure to include all the rooms in your home. Then you can create a row that specifies the following categories: Which colour will be for which room, who is in charge of packing that room, a box to check when that room has been completely packed, and then space for any additional notes. You will want to make sure you pick up good quality moving boxes and have multiple sizes for packing all different sized items. Try to use extra space like suitcases and large totes that may be currently empty to lower your costs and the space needed for moving. Make sure to have lots of storage bags on hand. All variety of sizes you will find come in handy for different things. You can place all those little odds and ends in there, so they don’t get lost. If you choose to colour code the rooms, it works well to place a label outside the room right before entering and then another on the wall inside. It doesn’t have to be fancy; just a big coloured dot on a piece of paper with the room name will do. These colour guides will help your movers know exactly where things need to go. If you have people helping you pack or move, make sure that you have coordinated food and drinks for them. You can make something like finger sandwiches, fruit and veggie trays ahead of time or make it easy and order some pizza. You will want to create a “moving station.” A moving station is a place where all packing essentials are kept. Then anyone can access packing materials as needed, such as boxes, tape, scissors, sharpies, etc. It is crucial to delegate one person to be in charge of managing the packing process. This person will be in charge of the master checklist you initially created with all the rooms. They will also be the go-to person for answering any questions related to packing. If you have more than one person giving directions, then you may have a disaster. Once a box has been packed, it is crucial to make sure that it is labelled appropriately with the right colour of tape or sticker for the designated room, so there is no confusion for the movers. Always write down the contents of each box in great detail; you can do this in a couple of different places: Write the details on the box if that works best, or You can number your boxes. ei. Kitchen could be 100s: So you would label your boxes #100, #101, #102, etc. Living Room 200s: #200, #201, #202, etc. Then on the master sheet, list the boxes contents under the number. The more details, the better. Sometimes we need something sooner than we think when we move, and it may still be packed away. Unpacking 15 boxes trying to find one item is not fun. You will find it much easier to assemble all the boxes at once, rather than only assembling one at a time as you need them. You can either do this before packing day or delegate someone to do it at the beginning of the day. It is easier to pick the appropriate size of box for the items you are packing. It will save you a lot of time in the long run. Use pillows, blankets and towels as an inexpensive way to help provide padding to breakables, valuables and electronics. If you are struggling to find a place for your long-handled equipment (brooms, mops, rakes, etc.), you may be able to utilize your garbage can to move them. Often furniture will need to be taken apart entirely or partially when moving. For any furniture that does get taken apart, place all small parts (nuts, bolts, screws, Allen key, etc.) in a plastic baggy to keep them together; you can either: Tape the bag directly to the furniture so that everyone knows where it goes. Or if that won’t work, You can label each bag with details of what piece of furniture it belongs with and create a general hardware box. If you choose this option, don’t lose that box! Label cords, remotes and other essentials with tape & sharpies and put all of them together in one bucket. Don’t leave loose cords anywhere. This box can go with the hardware box, but remember both are very important boxes, don’t lose them! Once you have finished packing the box and it get’s a label, it is important to move it to the side so that it is out of the way
Just Moved In? Make Your House a Home for the Holidays
If you’ve moved this Christmas, you’re still getting used to both your outside environment and being inside your brand new home. Things are fresh and, well, it might feel a little strange. If you need Christmas decor, chances are you will want to buy locally. This is the case for 55% of Canadian consumers, who are being more mindful of giving back due to the events this year. Whether you’re shopping local or online, you still have the task of turning your new house into a home and filling it up with the spirit of Christmas. Here’s how you can do that. Realign Your Decor Your new house might be painted in a different colour from your previous location. This means you may have to purchase decor that better fits in with the new palette. Christmas trees, which saw purchases worth over $91.2 million just two years back, are not of the one size fits all type. Make sure you get one that’s suitable for the room you want to set it up in. Watch the Plasterwork Your house may or may not have new plasterwork, which reportedly takes about a year to fully dry. While a lived-in house feels homey, it’s probably better to not destroy any walls right away. It’s not why you went through the ordeal of moving. For the time-being, steer clear of wall-mounted decorations and all heavy items in general. You might not feel at home just yet, but keeping the house as it was when you fell in love with it will help you get there. Take Advantage of New Decorative Spaces While the walls may be off-limits for now, there will likely be other sections of your home you can take advantage of when setting up holiday decor. Perhaps you now have a staircase or a front garden. Liven up the staircase with garlands and bulbs. Put Santa and reindeer decor in your garden if you’re so inclined. Meet Your Neighbours You will want to be on friendly terms with your new neighbours for the holiday season. Take the time to get acquainted, from a safe distance, of course, and share some warmth for the season. Be Active in the Community These days, many small towns and even big cities are holding virtual events as a workaround due to the pandemic. People will always find a way to celebrate what they love. If you’re a Christmas lover, try scouting for activities that might be going on this season and take part. It might be different and odd, but it’s something you’ll likely enjoy in the end. Start New Traditions Your virtual event could turn into a tradition for the family. Who knows? You could also start your own traditions in your new home. Let the family give their best ideas, It’s okay to feel sad about not being able to visit old friends and family this time around, but don’t let it keep you back from having a festive spirit. Have fun trying options for a new tradition. It may not quite feel just right this year, but that’s all part of the fun of having a new home. You’ll get another chance next season. Stick to Your Usual Habits Even as you adopt new traditions, don’t forget to practice old habits. Nothing beats cuddling up around the television and watching Christmas films as you wait for the big day to arrive. Eat your usual Christmas meals, bask in your decor, and embrace your new environment. Get ready for the new year with a positive spirit. About to Move? Perhaps you’re just on the verge of moving and not quite in your new home yet. Maybe that’s what’s going to be your big step to start the new year. If that’s the case, reach out to our experienced team of professionals at Relocate Stress Free to help make your holiday moving experience as magical as Christmas itself.
8 Ways to Reduce the Stress of Moving During the Holidays
Moving during the holidays can be a challenging task. Not only is it the busiest time of the year commercially, but you have to ensure to keep gifts hidden from the kiddos and, of course, watch the weather. There are benefits, however, such as lower rates during what is an off-peak moving time. This is especially helpful considering that the effects of the weather might make it difficult for friends to assist you. If you are among those trying to get in your move before the peak of the holiday season, here are some ways to reduce the stress of relocating in late November or December. Plan Ahead Nothing beats a well planned out move. As early as you can, start packing items you won’t be using soon, and make arrangements to have utilities turned off. Also, secure a moving company way ahead (Go with Relocate Stress Free if you want to dispel the rest of the stressful situations that might arise during a move). Be mindful of the weather when you schedule the move, and have a contingency plan in case you need to stay somewhere temporarily on short notice. Purge Your Home A de-cluttering session significantly cuts down on the stress you might encounter during a holiday move. Deep cleaning your home means you will have less to pack into boxes and move. In addition, you will be making space for the “stuff” that comes along with the season. Gifts, decorations, and more might be on their way to your new home. The holiday season is one of the best times to donate items you no longer use. The entire family can play their part in choosing items to give away, showcasing their holiday spirit. Secure Important Documents Once you’ve planned ahead and don’t have to rush your move, you should have enough time to secure your most important documents. Keep things like birth and marriage certificates, bills, and bank records organized. You are also going to want to have your moving contracts, closing papers, and rental agreements somewhere. A document showing a list of contacts should be kept in a folder close by in case of emergencies. Be Mindful of Cold-Sensitive Items Moving during the winter is vastly different from moving in the summer. Sub-zero temperatures will put items like glass, wooden furniture, electronics, houseplants, and musical instruments at risk of damage. Protect your belongings by placing them in layers of bubble wrap, using thick blankets, and using insulated packing materials. Consider storing electronics in airtight containers. Further, remember to put liquids in containers that will allow for expansion and avoid breakage when frozen. Finally, protect wooden furniture by waxing them no less than two weeks prior to moving. Check the Weather and Adapt Always be sure to stay updated on the weather as you get closer to your move. You may have to change certain arrangements or simply take steps to avoid cleaning stress. The wet sidewalks might see a lot of muddy boots entering your home. Try placing flattened cardboard boxes to prevent a messy floor. Better yet, go with plastic sheets to avoid water. Check Your Taxes and Reduce Costs The financial strain of moving will have you looking for any option to cut costs. You may want to consult with an accountant or use tax software to find out if you’re able to deduct moving-related expenses. Organize Items Intentionally Since you might be decorating as soon as you step into your new home, be sure to pack decor in an easy-to-reach place. In addition to those, put familiar items altogether so that you can brighten up your new place right away. Those items that hold sentimental meaning and truly make your home a home will be needed immediately for the holiday season. You’ll want to make a shortlist so you know exactly what to pack. Buy a vacuum sealer. Just for this time of year, you should purchase a vacuum sealer to store summer clothes since you won’t need access to them for a few months. This will help reduce the moving space you require and protect your items. Conclusion Moving during the holidays should bring about joy, not stress. Enjoy the drive to your new home, bask in the decorated sites, and make it as stress free as possible.