Moving house is a long, tiring process involving planning, sorting, packing, lifting (or hiring removalists), and cleaning. But here’s the good news: the hardest part is over. You’re ready to start enjoying your new home and figuring out the best way to unpack a house.
Unpacking after moving house can be hard work, but it’s also possible to make it fun. Whether you’re excited about unpacking or you consider it just another tedious but necessary part of the process, following a few tips will help the time fly by faster.
Australians are among the most mobile people in the world, with around 15% moving house once a year. While moving to Queensland from interstate is a popular choice, there’s no telling where your career, education, love life, or sense of adventure will take you in the country.
Ready Movers has earned a reputation as one of the best and most trusted removalists in the Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Darwin and Adelaide regions. We’ve helped more than 20,000 happy customers move and have provided unpacking services to many at the end of the journey. Here are some Ready Movers tips for settling into your new home and the best ways to unpack a house.
Tips for Efficiently Unpacking After Moving
Unpacking might be the least painful part of the move, but nobody wants to drag it out longer than they have to. Here are some simple tips to help you figure out the best way to unpack your house and get the job done quickly:
Clean the whole house
The best time to give the entire house a once-over is before you start to fill it with your furniture and possessions. Go room by room, top to bottom and make sure you include walls, windows, benches, ceiling fans and floors – basically, anywhere that could use a wipe.
Arrange the furniture first
Before you start on the boxes, make sure every piece of furniture is already in the right spot. Prioritising the furniture and organising the closet first makes unpacking easier and means you won’t have to navigate around the smaller things when you lift or assemble the furniture.
Begin with the necessities and most-used items
It makes sense to unpack with a system, prioritising the rooms and items you’re likely to use first. For example, begin with the kitchen and then move on to the bathroom and bedrooms. Start with the areas and items you’re likely to use first and save spots like the garage and the patio/deck for last.
Make it a family affair
If you have kids, getting them involved can be a handy way to make less work for everyone. Depending on their ages and abilities, they may be able to help you with some tasks. Even something simple like collapsing cardboard boxes for you can make the workload a little lighter.
How to Beat the Unpacking Procrastination
After the hard work and stress of moving, you may find that all you want to do at the other end is sit back and watch TV. Unpacking can feel like a massive task and with no deadline, it’s one that’s easy to procrastinate on. If you’re struggling to find motivation, here are some ways to make unpacking after moving house feel a little less arduous:
Clean as you go
The unpacking process leaves empty cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, newspaper and other debris in its wake. To save yourself a major clean later on, tidy up each room as you go. Throw away any rubbish, collapse and store your boxes, and arrange each room the way you want it before you move onto the next one.
Start small
You don’t have to unpack all your possessions in one go. You can start at a more relaxed pace and gradually unpack everything during the first few days of settling into your new home. Breaking large tasks into more manageable ones and starting slowly is one of the best ways to unpack a house.
Play tunes, not television
Music is a powerful motivator. When we listen to it, our brains release dopamine—the feel-good hormone that drives goal-oriented behaviours. Listening to your favourite songs while you unpack tickles your brain’s reward centre and stimulates the area of your brain that controls motivation. On the other hand, turning on the TV can lead to you relaxing in front of it and getting very little work done.
Set a deadline
For a lot of people, a deadline is a powerful motivator. Just make sure to choose a realistic date to finish unpacking that won’t stress you out. A deadline gives you a solid date to have all your work accomplished and you can decide on a reward at the end.
Tips for Settling Into Your New Home
Settling into your new home can be a rewarding experience: a journey of rediscovering forgotten treasures and neglected possessions. As you start to wind down from the move and get used to life in your new place, here are some tips for making the transition smoother:
Change the locks
You might not be the only one that has keys to your property. To look after your family’s safety and give yourself a real fresh start in your new home, we recommend replacing the existing locks with new ones.
Check the safety features
In the spirit of safety, make sure that your smoke alarms are working and have fresh batteries. This is also a good time to familiarise yourself with your circuit box and where it’s located, your water and gas shut-offs and any other safety features in the house.
Go shopping
During your first few days in your new house, you’ll likely notice a lot of things you need: extra towels for the bathroom, more cleaning products, and your groceries of choice. Make a list and head to the shops for all the essentials you need to make your new home more comfortable.
Spruce the place up
This is your house now, so you’re free to put some fresh touches on it and decorate it to your tastes. Decorating is one of the most enjoyable and least stressful parts of moving house and a great way to personalise your space once the hardest stage is over.
Unpacking Has Never Been Easier With Ready Movers
Packing, moving and unpacking are all easier and more pleasant when you hire Ready Movers. Our packing services take the stress out of packing and moving the contents of your home or office. We can pack and unpack a whole house or a single room, and our full pack-and-move service comes with a no-damage guarantee on local moves. The Ready Movers team are mindful and attentive removalists who will always take the highest level of care with your possessions.
Ready Movers can handle all kinds of home removals, from local to interstate. We provide fully trained professional staff, trucks for moves of all sizes and affordable hourly rates.
To find out more about how Ready Movers can help you move into your new home and unpack at the other end, contact the Ready Movers team.
