Drawers bulging, moving boxes that are so heavy that they can hardly be moved, let alone locked. Have you ever been confronted with such images when you were working as a relocation helper for a colleague? Or are you about to move for the first time and want to plan everything properly?
Good preparation is half the battle. You will find out for yourself in the following blog that this proverb is true. Because with the right planning and simple packing rules, a move is only half as wild and the anticipation of the new home always outweighs the supposed stress of moving.
Tip 1 – Plan the move
There are people like me who love to move and there are people for whom moving is pure horror and ultimate stress. It doesn’t matter which type you belong to, with the right preparatory work everything will run smoothly on the day of the move.
Our checklist for moving will help you to keep track of things so that nothing stands in the way and you can do so with complete peace of mind.
Plan your tasks ahead of time. You can do this by setting a fixed moving date early on. That usually depends on when you can move into your new home. Once that is certain, you should immediately consider the question of whether you want to move by yourself or with a specialized moving company. If you opt for the latter, it is advisable to obtain and compare offers with time. If you are not absolutely dependent on fixed times, I recommend that you discuss the appointment with the moving company. Since desired dates are not always free, organize your moving company early on.
Are you planning to move without a company, reserve a suitable van and ask your friends for help. You can also hire movers. You can find these on the Internet, from moving companies or on the bulletin boards of universities or technical colleges. Don’t forget: you should be present in person on the day of the move so that questions can be clarified on site. Plan this free moving day in time!
No-stopping zones in front of the new and the old apartment save you the search for a parking space and unnecessarily further distances. Setting up a no-parking zone is subject to a fee, but it guarantees a parking space for the removal van on the day of the move. Apply to the city for no-parking zones at least 14 days before the move.
Now nothing stands in the way of transporting your household effects. If you have children or pets, it is advisable to organize care for the day outside the moving zones. So you can concentrate on the move and nothing stands in the way.
Tip 2 – Cleverly package is half the curb
A little advice from a favorite breeder. Use the move to really clear out and do so before you pack up. Get rid of superfluous things that have only been lying around in the closet for the last 2 years – give away, donate or dispose of. This liberates and gives space for something new.
Packing your household effects requires suitable packing material. You are guaranteed to find what you are looking for in the Peyer Bern online shop or in the local showroom.
A good tip: Do not save on enough packing material, your movers will thank you if the boxes are not loaded too heavily and can also be closed properly.
Do you already know how to organize the room layout in the new place? Then you label everything, boxes and furniture with the appropriate rooms, this makes the work easier for everyone involved and everything is placed correctly straight away. For this purpose, Peyer Bern has a practical label system in different colors, so that every room has its own colour.
Save unnecessary moving furniture and think in advance where which piece of furniture has its new place. It may be advisable to measure the new rooms and furniture and, if necessary, to make a true-to-scale sketch! Sounds unusually complex but saves time and nerves.
Leave clothes on hangers and cover them with a large garbage bag. So you have an oversized garment bag and can simply hang the hangers directly in the closet in your new home. For more elegant clothing, a hanging box is more suitable as it provides better protection.
When packing the kitchen, you can make it just as easy for yourself. Wrap the cutlery in tissue paper or tie it together with cable ties. Put the cork on a sharp knife or in oven gloves so that nobody can get hurt. Plates are packed in between or well wrapped in newspaper or tissue paper, then everything in a well-padded dish box and nothing goes to waste.
When dessassembling furniture, the following applies: a separate bag with screws for each piece of furniture. Label this with the respective piece of furniture and preferably stick it directly to a part of the furniture in question with adhesive tape. The right screws are guaranteed for the right piece of furniture for assembly.
Tip 3 – Move like a pro: last or first box
The first 2 times after the day of moving I was alone in my new apartment and had neither toilet paper nor was I able to drink a coffee without unpacking. Of course I learned from that. It doesn’t happen with the “last or first box”.
Everything that you need for the first evening and the first morning in your new home: Fresh bed linen, pyjamas, utensils for coffee or tea and the first breakfast, dishes, coffee machine or kettle and of course toilet paper. The best way to transport the “last and therefore also the first box” is in your own car. Then it won’t get lost among all the other boxes. It is best to keep valuables and important moving documents in your private car too.
Tip 4 – Information and paperwork, because without it you can’t do it
Moving used to involve a lot of bureaucracy. Luckily it’s different today. Prepare the address changes for friends, relatives, doctors, employers, insurance companies, newspaper subscriptions, etc. and be sure to create a forwarding order for the post office.
If you move to another city, another municipality or even another canton, you have to register your car and possibly apply for a new number plate. You have two weeks after moving to register with the municipality. Here you can also apply for any resident parking permit and register the dog.
If you have school-age children, inform both the old school and the new school in good time and ask them how to proceed. At best, a prior visit to the new school is advisable. Also in terms of support at the new location. Keep an eye out for a KITA place, a childminder or suitable alternatives in good time.
Tip 5 – After the move is before handing over the apartment
Before you can enjoy your new home to the fullest, you still have to hand over the old apartment. It is worth taking a look at the rental agreement and the handover conditions. Does the apartment have to be handed over swept or completely cleaned? If a thorough cleaning is required, consider hiring a cleaning company with a delivery guarantee, if your budget allows it. The same applies to reverse painting work that you have to do when you move out of the apartment. Because – given budget – it is wiser to hire a professional and leave the old behind and concentrate on the new home.
On the day the apartment is handed over, read the meters for water, electricity and gas in the new and old apartment. Make a note of this so that everything is properly documented, both as a previous and as a new tenant.
And now, have fun and all the best in your new home
