Blog Category: Moving

Who is Marie Kondo you ask? From the tender age of 5, Marie Kondo has found a passion in organising mess. Born and raised in Tokyo, Kondo owns a business, which helps others transform their homes and lives by tidying the right way through her KonMari Method. Her unusual tidying techniques has scored her a Netflix show and viewers are slowly decluttering their homes because of it. Here is how you can use the KonMari Method to transform your home.

Step 1.

Visualise the kind of life you want in the coming year. Kondo says having a clear vision and goal will motivate you throughout the KonMari Method and guide you to the right ending.

Step 2.

Start with clothing. Kondo suggests bringing all your clothes into the one space in the same pile. Kondo’s unique method involves handling each item one by one and determining if that item brings you joy. Kondo explains that instead of focusing on throwing things away, we should be looking for items that we cherish and love. So, hold each piece individually and ask yourself “does this spark joy?” if it does it stays and if not, the item is discarded.

Step 3.

Tidy by category, not location. Kondo splits the house into 5 categories. Clothes, books, papers, Komono (miscellaneous) and sentimental items.  Kondo explains that many items that belong to the same category are placed in multiple locations. Tidying by category allows you to view all the items from that category at the same time and takes away any confusion multiple locations may have. Ensure everything that is going to be discarded is done so before placing items back.

Step 4.

Tidy all at once not small steps. By tidying the whole house in the same period, it ensures you don’t fall back to your old cluttering habits. She says tidying your house should be a special occasion not a daily chore. Allocating 6 months to organising your whole house is a good guideline.

Step 5.

Thank your discarded items. Kondo says it’s important to thank each item you discarded. Take a moment to thank the item for everything it has provided you with and discard it gently to show that thankfulness.

An organised home will make your life feel less cluttered, disorganised and stressed. When it comes time to move to a new house there is a huge advantage to having an organised, clutter free house. You will have less stuff to move and items will already be organised into categories making for a lot smoother moving experience.

Are you ready to move homes? Contact us today for your free quote!

Downsizing will happen to most people at least once in their life. Whether it is because you no longer need the extra rooms, or you can no longer afford your current house. Downsizing can be stressful, emotional and time consuming but with our tips you can avoid the stress and make downsizing an enjoyable and easy process.

Enter the right mind-set

Don’t feel sad about downsizing. Instead focus on the positives; decreased maintenance costs and bills, easier upkeep and simplified living are all benefits of having a smaller home. Perhaps you are moving closer to the city, which will provide more transport options thus reducing your petrol costs. Or maybe you are downsizing for financial reasons, having lower bills, rent or mortgage will reduce those financial pressures and you can concentrate on enjoying your life instead. Always look at the positives in this situation and moving will be far easier.

Take inventory of your stuff

Make a list of all your belongings so you can decide what to keep, donate, throw out or sell.  Take it one room at a time and spread it out over a number of days. Ideally start this process nice and early so you have plenty of time to get rid of the items you don’t need.

Minimise unnecessary and duplicate items

Go through your items and ensure you don’t have duplicates. The kitchen is a hotbed for duplicate items. No one needs more than one bottle opener or spatula. Additionally, throw out any items which you have a spare, just in case twin. Do you really need two cardigans, exactly the same colour and design?  Keeping these “just in case” items takes up precious room you will not have in your new house.

Find a purpose

When moving into a smaller place, every corner, wall and inch of floor is valuable. That corner in your living room could be a home office or that cupboard under the stairs could be the perfect storage room. Additionally, find purpose for the items you are bringing into your new house and ensure everything you are packing is necessary.

Keep the clutter out

Ensuring you move into your new place with minimal items is good but so is ensuring it does not become cluttered in the future. Set yourself some rules whether that is one in one out or perhaps choosing high quality items which you buy less frequently. Additionally, smart storage solutions and furniture will allow your house to look less cluttered. Mount your TV on the wall and use a wireless printer are all ways for your house to look less cluttered.

Need help with your move? Phone Quick and Easy today for your free quote.

Research

Once your new city has been confirmed, start to research possible areas that you could see your family living. Ideally visit your new city so you can decide where you would like to live. Spend time getting to know the area, both during the day and night to see if you and your family will be happy living there. Are there schools in the area? Do you need easy access to public transport? Can you afford to live in that area? Spend time looking online, how do the locals feel about the area? The more research you do the better it will be in the long run for everyone.

Think about childcare and schools

Moving can be a stressful time for everyone especially kids having to start a new school.

Once you have an idea of which schools you would like you kids to attend, get their name down. When the new school has been approved, plan to make a visit with your kids so they can get to know their new teachers and class. Doing this will help your child settle in when the time comes to move plus reduce any anxiety they may be feeling about starting at a new school. Additionally, think about the best time of year to move with your kids. Moving at the end of a school year will be much easier and minimise impact to their learning. If it is not possible to move at the end of the school year perhaps thin about the possibility of commuting for the first few months until the right times approaches. Moving with younger children (less than 5 years) will be easier and requires less planning as to the perfect time to move.

Speak to your kids often about the move

Kids will be easily stressed about moving home. They are leaving their home, friends and school behind and that can be scary. Taking them to see the new house, their bedroom and school will help them. Remind them they are taking everything with them and that they will make new friends. To reduce stress and create excitement about moving, perhaps help them to choose some new bedding for their new room or allow them to choose a new paint colour.

Pack some favourite items if you’re are moving into temporary housing

Sometimes it will be necessary to move into a serviced apartment or other temporary housing before moving into your new home. Pack a few key items with you instead of sending them all via removalists as it will make the temporary living arrangements more comforting for your child. Toys, favourite bedding and wall art are all great examples.

Make this change a fun one

A number of things will make the move as enjoyable as possible for the whole family. Some of these include:

• Once you have arrived at your new house, get to know the area with your kids.
• Go on family outings to the many new exciting places present in your new city.
• Schedule playdates with other kids in their class.
• Make friends with other local mums/dads/families
• Join a local Facebook community/group
• Get to know your neighbours
• Set up your kids room ASAP so they can feel at home quicker
• Remind your kids that you’re there for them no matter what they need

Packing can be a stressful time but here are our top tips to ensure you’re ready for the big day.

De-clutter as soon as possible

Start to get the ball rolling early by throwing out anything you don’t need anymore. Go through each room of the house, sorting through all of your belongings and being as ruthless as possible when deciding what to throw out.

• That yoga mat you bought in the hope it would encourage you to exercise? Donate it
• The stack of 90s magazines you never look at but keep for “just in case”? Recycle it
• Those 10 pairs of socks you keep that are worn out and feature too many holes to count? Bin them

Doing a major clear-out before you move not only means you have to pack fewer items, resulting in less spend on boxes and removalists but it also means you arrive at your new house with a less cluttered floorplan.

Choose the right box

Choose smaller boxes for heavy items and larger boxes for lighter items. This may sound fairly obvious but time and time again people try to load a big box up with their whole book collection and then fail to lift the box off the ground, injuring themselves in the process. Keep your small boxes for those heavy items such as books or electronics and fill your larger boxes with lighter items like bedding, pillows and towels. 

Pack a personal overnight bag

Moving can be a chaotic time so ensure you can settle into your new house as quickly as possible by packing a bag with all your necessities. Things like toiletries, a change of clothes, phone charger and kettle are handy to have on hand when you arrive at your new house. If you want these to stand out from the sea of moving boxes, pack them into a clear container as it will stand out and allow you to see what is inside.

Label your moving boxes like a pro

When you pack each box write a list on the outside with everything that it contains. Packing your boxes by rooms will also allow you to find each items end destination and saves you time when unpacking as you’re not traveling from room to room.

If you wanted to take your box labelling a step further, you can create a number system. Number each of your boxes and then on your computer create a spreadsheet that lists every item inside that box. By taking it one step further you’ll know the total number of boxes you’re transporting, allowing you to check for any missing or stolen boxes and if you are frantically searching for a particular item, such as tea bags, it allows you to look up the item on your spreadsheet and locate it quickly instead of digging through every “kitchen” box.

Remember when labelling your boxes that you write on the side of the box. When all the boxes are stacked it will be impossible to tell which box is which without spending time moving all of the boxes around.

Take pictures of your electronics

Before you pack up any electronics take a picture of the back where the cords are plugged in. This will allow you to know exactly which cord belongs where and saves you time frantically searching for that missing user manual. To make it even easier to locate the right cords, tape them to the base of your electronics.

Pack your clothes like a pro

Use your suitcase as a box for your clothes. Not only will you save money by not purchasing extra boxes it is also very obvious where your clothes are for quick access the next day. For hanging clothes, keep them on the hanger and place them inside a bin liner with the handles sticking out at the top. When you arrive at the new house simply hang them up and take off the bin liners.

Need help with your move? Call us today for your free quote!

Summer is fast approaching, with just over a month to go it’s an ideal time to consider if moving during summer is right for you. Summer provides more consistent weather, slower business period and the kids are out of school. Though there are some great benefits to moving during summer there are some drawbacks to be aware of. Here are 5 tips to help you with your summer move.

Plan early

Ensure you leave plenty of time to research removalists, declutter the house and begin to pack. Moving day can come around quickly and if you’re not organised it can lead to a very stressful move. Additionally, as summer is such an appealing time to move removalists fill up quickly so ensure you are looking at booking removalists in advance. It’s also a good idea to ensure you don’t move on or near any holidays and provide yourself with enough time to have the house organised for those big events.

Consider heat sensitive items

When packing consider items, which can become damaged with hot temperatures. CDs, electronics, food and candles for example are best to be moved quickly and in suitable carriers. Ensure that once these items have been delivered that they are placed in a cool location until they can be sorted and not left out in the heat for extended periods of time.

Consider sun protection, clothing and hydration

Moving in summer means better weather but also extreme heat and sun. Ensure you have light, breathable and loose-fitting clothing on as it will allow faster evaporation and keep you drier during the move. Sunscreen and plenty of water is a must to avoid overheating and burning.  Take regular breaks in a cool place and reapply sunscreen throughout the day. Cold hand towels can be an amazing way to cool off, simply fill a cooler with ice and place several damp washcloths inside.

Ensure your utilities are turned on before moving

If you’re moving during the hot summer months, having air conditioning or fans operating before you move will allow the new house to cool down resulting in removalists and yourself being much more comfortable while moving. This can keep you focused on what needs to be done, protect your removalists from overheating and ensure those heat sensitive items can be cooled down ASAP.

Get started early

Try to avoid moving during the afternoon when the heat peaks and the sun is at it’s strongest. Between the hours of 11am to 3pm the sun’s UV is at it’s strongest so if you can avoid these hours or at least have the majority of your move completed. Ideally aim for an early morning move which will result in a much cooler, calmer and more comfortable day.

Quick and Easy are here to ensure your moving day is stress-free. Call us at 1300 883 117 today to book your summer move before spaces fill up!

There will never be the perfect time for your business to move office. You can however choose a time that will affect your business and clients the least and ensure you are organised come moving day. Here are our top tips to ensure your office moves smoothly.

Create a moving plan

Ensure you start to create a moving plan as soon as possible. Include things like a budget and what moving dates would work best for your business. Highlight the busy periods your business goes through and work around those dates. For example your business may be extra busy during March and April. Avoid these months and ensure you provide enough time for everything to be set up if you choose to move just before those dates.

Setting a budget allows your business to understand exactly how much you’re willing to spend on moving. Creating a budget will give you an idea on what help you can hire and what has to be done by yourself and your employees. Once your budget has been set and you understand what will be delegated to your employees and professional removalists, you can begin to create a checklist of what each employee needs to do. Be as specific as possible to minimise misunderstandings. An example could be; each employee must pack up 0their desk into boxes, label and place in the meeting room before they leave on Friday.

Ensure your new office is ready before moving in

Before you move your whole office into your new location, spend some time ensuring the new office will be ready for moving day. Internet and phone services are examples of infrastructure that should be set up before moving in, as well as any new furniture and a good cleaning job of the whole office. Lastly make sure your insurance covers you for the move and starts at the new office as soon as you’re moved in.

Update your address

Let any clients, deliveries and visitors know you have moved and what your new address is. Redirect any mail that may come to your previous address after moving day and update any subscriptions, banks and services of your new address.

Let your employees know what they can bring with them to the new office.

Your business may be moving into an office which has smaller desks and storage space. Let you employees know exactly how much space they will have in the new office so they can decide what they want to bring with them. Other factors such as natural light and wall space will also impact employee’s plants, photos and other items, which may not work in the new office. Ensure each employee knows where they will be stationed so come the next business day they know where they are supposed to be.

Decide on what day you would like to move

If your business decides to move with the help of professional movers, decide on which day is best for your business to move. Moving on a weekday will be cheaper but will affect your business and workload more than moving on a weekend. Decide if you want to spend more money for a more convenient move or sacrifice one work day for cheaper removal costs.

Once you have decided when you would like to move office, give us a call! We can help your office move quickly, easily and stress free.