Top Home Moving Tips Part One: Decluttering and Floor Planning

You’ll move home once during our lives, but it will likely be a few times. Knowing how to do it is difficult if this is your first relocation. We’ve seen it all at WH Cox, so we’ve gathered a treasure trove of home-moving insights and clever tips just for you.

Navigating the intricacies of a home move requires careful planning and organization. In the following pages, WH Cox & Son will take you on a journey to prepare your home for the upcoming move, chart every step precisely, and unveil the quickest, most cost-efficient, secure, and stress-free methods to make your relocation straightforward.

Contents

• Decluttering For a Home Move

• Top Tips for Decluttering When Moving Home

• How to Declutter for a Home Move

• Decluttering Timeline

• Decluttering Books, Magazines, Shoes, and Clothes

• Creating a Floor Plan: A Smart Move for Your Home Transition

• Creating a Floor Plan Using Graph Paper

Decluttering For a Home Move

When you’re getting set for a home move, remember this simple truth: having less stuff means less hassle and more savings.

Fewer things mean:

• You’ll need less space on the moving truck.
• Less time will be spent moving boxes and furniture.
• You’ll keep more money in your pocket.

So, how do you tackle decluttering before the big move?

• Start by making a floor plan for your new place (we’ll get into the details later). This plan helps you decide what furniture should make the journey and what’s better left behind.
• Now, about that furniture, especially the MDF type – it’s often not worth the trouble of taking apart and moving. The fixings can be tricky, and the wood chips easily.

Here’s a no-nonsense checklist for decluttering:

1. When was the last time I used or wore it?
2. Would I buy it again if I had the cash?
3. Is it something I can’t replace in value or sentiment?
4. Would selling it now and buying a new one later be cheaper?
5. Be firm in decluttering – the goal is to save money and make your home move smoothly.

Top Tips for Decluttering When Moving Home

Before considering an in-home removal estimate, here’s a smart move: clear the clutter first. It’s the best way to ensure that your assessment is spot-on and you’re not shelling out for stuff you don’t need to move.

• Time is your ally here. Don’t rush. Ensure you have time to sell or donate what you no longer need. It’ll save you space and money in the long run, not to mention not taking your old things to the new house.
• Declutter each room, set a realistic deadline, and stick to it. It keeps things on track and less overwhelming.
• Here’s the mindset to adopt: hold on to the irreplaceable stuff. The rest? Consider whether replacing it once you’re in your new digs is cheaper.
• Start with the non-sentimental stuff. Letting go and boosting your motivation is easier as you see the clutter.

How to Declutter for a Home Move

Let’s keep it simple and effective – the three-pile method is your decluttering buddy.

• #1-Pile: Hold tight to the keepers, things you can’t part with.
• #2-Pile: Stuff you can sell or give away – that’s pile number two.
• #3-Pile: Recycling or tossing? That’s the third pile’s job.

You can find all the main recycling points on the Surrey Council website. Also, check Google to see upcycling collectives and second-hand selling platforms. 

Decluttering Timeline

Let’s break it down into an easy-to-follow, descending-order timeline:

• Week 12: Kickstart your decluttering journey about 12 weeks before your move. Begin with the less-frequented spaces, like the shed, garage, or attic.
• Week 8: At the 8-week mark, it’s time to schedule an in-home moving survey. Get a clear picture of what’s heading to your new place.
• Week 6: Now, start decluttering the rest of your home. Go room by room, keeping it simple and efficient.
• Week 4: Consider a car boot sale or arrange for donations. It’s all about clearing the decks and lightening the load.
• Week 2: As you hit the 2-week milestone, your essentials should be all left to pack. Decluttering? Check. They were finished and dusted.

In no time, you’ll be ready to move quickly.

How to Declutter a Garage, Shed, or Loft

When decluttering these spaces, we get it – they can become a chaotic jumble. The silver lining? A good chunk of what’s in there has slipped off your radar, never seen daylight or better days, making them prime candidates for decluttering.

So, here’s the game plan:

1. Take it Step by Step: Tackle one zone at a time. It’s less overwhelming and more efficient.
2. Group Similar Items: Gather similar stuff together—paint cans here, tools there. You’ll quickly spot those hidden treasures, like discovering you’ve amassed four hacksaws or collected 13 half-used cans of gloss white paint.
3. Toss or Recycle: Anything that’s broken or past its prime? Give it the boot.
4. Deal with Duplicates: Got doubles of something? Consider selling or donating the extras.
5. Family Cleanup: If you’ve been holding onto stuff for others, nudge them to claim their treasures.

With these steps, you’ll declutter like a pro and transform that cluttered space into something more manageable.

How to Declutter Furniture

Let’s simplify the furniture decluttering process with these practical steps:

1. Create a Floor Plan: Start by mapping out your new space. Will your existing furniture fit comfortably? Knowing this in advance saves you from surprises later.
2. Measure Doorways: Check if your furniture can gracefully make its way through doorways and hallways in your new place. It’s crucial to avoid any unwanted wedging situations.
3. Style Compatibility: Consider the style and period of your furniture in your new home. Does it blend harmoniously or stick out like a sore thumb?
4. MDF Concerns: Think twice if most of your furniture is MDF. These pieces can be prone to damage during a move.
5. Passing Down Treasures: Is it time to let go of antiques and share the joy of ownership with someone else?
6. Right-Sizing: Evaluate your needs. Do you still need that 12-seater dining table now that the kids have moved out?

With these pointers, you’ll navigate your furniture decluttering mission like a pro.

Decluttering Books, Magazines, Shoes, and Clothes

Let’s tackle decluttering those beloved books, magazines, shoes, and clothes. We’ll keep it simple and effective.

Books and magazines:

There’s something magical about holding a paper book or flipping through a magazine, but it might be time to bid farewell if they’ve gathered dust for years. They’re heavy and can be costly to move.

• Think About Their Worth: Why keep them? Are they valuable references, or is the information easily accessible online?
• Kids’ Stuff: Have your kids read those books or moved on?
• Recipe Books: With countless recipes online, do you need that extensive collection?

Shoes and clothes:

• Consider your new life in your new home. Will those high heels or suits fit in? It’s the perfect time to declutter.
• Outgrown Dreams: If those jeans have been waiting for you for years, let them go.
• Wedding Dress Tales: If your wedding dress is collecting dust, consider repurposing it.
• Packing Hacks: Use unwanted clothes as padding in moving boxes and, later, as cleaning cloths.
• Matching Game: Check if your remaining shoes match your clothes. If not, it’s time to downsize.
• Heel Healing: If you haven’t re-heeled those shoes in years, it’s time to part ways.
• Style Check: If it doesn’t suit your style or fit, it’s time to declutter.

With these steps, you’ll declutter like a champ, making your move smoother and more efficient.

Creating a Floor Plan: A Smart Move for Your Home Transition

Let’s talk about a move-saver: the floor plan. Avoiding the classic blunder of moving furniture that won’t fit is as easy as pie.

Why create a floor plan?

It’s a double win. First, you’ll ensure your beloved furniture finds a cosy spot in your new home. Second, it’s your golden ticket to a smooth move – labelling each piece means the removal team knows exactly where to place it.

How to do It?

You’ve got options. Online apps make it a breeze, or you can go old-school with trusty graph paper.

With a floor plan, you can make your move stress-free. Ready to give it a try? Keep reading; the next section provides you with a how-to example.

Creating a Floor Plan Using Graph Paper

Scaling it right:

When using graph paper for your floor plan, keep it simple with whole numbers. For instance, if a wall measures 12.3 meters, round it to 12m, and if your furniture is 1.4m wide, scale it to 2m.

Balancing act:

To ensure your furniture fits comfortably, scale up furniture measurements and scale down room measurements.

Grid strategy:

Each square on your grid should represent a whole number, like two squares equaling 1 meter. Make the most of your grid paper’s longest side for the longest wall measurement.

Room by room:

To keep it manageable, work with one sheet of paper per room. It’s simpler that way.

With these steps, you can craft a floor plan that ensures a smooth transition to your new home.

Making a Scale Plan of a Room

Dimension details:

To create a scale plan of a room, start by measuring windows and doors from their outermost edges, including their opening dimensions.

Height and width:

Measure doorways or halls from top to bottom for height and from the inside of the doorframe or narrowest point for width. Remember to include room heights if you have tall furniture.

The devil’s in the details:

In your plan, note the positions of electrical points, radiators, and air vents.

Furniture check:

Create scaled cardboard cutouts of your furniture. Now, place each piece on your scale drawing to see if it fits seamlessly.

These steps give you a precise blueprint for furniture placement in your new space.

Measuring furniture for a floor plan

Measuring a sofa:

Measure the sofa’s length from the outermost part to the outermost position. To find the diagonal width, measure from the lowest point at the side rear to the highest point of the armrest at the front.

Measuring a cabinet, wardrobe, or kitchen appliance:

For these units, measure the diagonal width from the top corner to the opposing bottom corner. Remember to measure the depth from front to back.

With these straightforward measurements, you’ll ensure your furniture fits flawlessly into your floor plan.

WH Cox & Son – Your Guide for Stress-Free Moves in Surrey

At WH Cox & Son, we’re committed to offering value and guidance to all seeking information, whether you’re planning a move with us or simply looking for expert insights. With a team of industry veterans boasting decades of experience, we’re well-equipped to provide accurate tips and guidance to make your relocation seamless.

In our upcoming blog, we’ll dive deeper into the moving checklist and share additional tips to ensure you settle into your new home smoothly. But if you need more immediate assistance with your move, don’t hesitate to explore our removal and storage packages.

Click here to request a free quote and assessment for the best moving service or to discuss our packages in more detail. We’re here to make your move hassle-free and straightforward.