The idea of moving into your dream home is exciting. But it can also be pretty daunting. The average household contains around 300,000 items, maybe even more! Imagine having to pack all these items and moving them to a new home just to unpack them all again. Without a clear plan, packing and moving can quickly turn into a nightmare.

To help you have a smooth and stress-free move, we’ve compiled 11 game-changing packing and moving tips for you. As the saying goes, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. So, go through these tips and start planning your move!

1. Declutter before you start packing

Before you start packing, get rid of any unused items that are cluttering your space. This way, you’ll have less things to pack and unpack during the move. As a rule of thumb, if you haven’t used something in the last 6 months or so, you should consider tossing it out.

To reduce waste, unused clothes, books and appliances can either be donated or sold online through Carousell. This is also a good way to make some extra money. You can use that money to pay your movers!

2.  Get all your packing supplies ready

Purchase moving boxes, tape, permanent markers and bubble wrap well in advance. Get moving boxes in different sizes, so you can easily pack a variety of different things. Heavier items can be packed in small boxes, so they’re easier to carry while lighter things can be packed in bigger boxes.

Aim to finish all your packing the day before your move. You don’t want to be running out and hastily looking for extra boxes or storage containers on the big day.

3. Start early

Last minute packing can be incredibly challenging and stressful. Plan ahead and start packing a month or two before your move to save yourself the hassle.

If possible, dedicate an hour a day to packing boxes, tackling one room at a time. This gives you ample time to go through your things and pack them systematically. Once you finish, you’ll be glad you started early. You’d be surprised how long it takes just to clear and pack the contents of your wardrobe!

4. Use bubble wrap to protect fragile items

After a tiring move, you don’t want to open your boxes just to find that some of your things have broken. That would be very frustrating!

This is where bubble wrap comes in handy. When packing fragile items, wrap these items with bubble wrap and pack them carefully into boxes to prevent any damage.

5. Avoid overpacking your boxes

This is a major no-no! When you overpack boxes, especially with heavy items, they’re more likely to give way. The last thing you want on moving day is for your boxes to start giving way and for your things to fall all across the floor.

Use however many boxes you need, as long as they are all easy to carry and aren’t bursting at the seams!

6. Shop around for the right movers

Start looking for professional movers online and get a few quotations. Wrapping fragile electrical appliances and furniture may cost extra, but it’s worth it to protect these items from damage or scratches during the move.

Hire the right movers that fit your budget and moving specifications. Popular moving services that you can consider include Easy Movers and Lala Move.

7. Label your boxes clearly

Be sure to clearly label all your boxes with permanent markers. Write down which room the boxes belong in and what’s inside. These descriptions will help the movers place all your boxes in the right place, making the task of unpacking easier for you. For boxes that contain fragile items, label those boxes as fragile, so the movers know to be extra careful with them.

8. Reinstate power and water in your new home

If you’ve bought a new home, the previous owner would have terminated his/her power and water accounts. Make sure to open new accounts in your name and reinstate the power and water before your move. You don’t want to move into your new place only to find that there’s no electricity and water!

9. Switch off your fridge at least 24 hours before the move

You should clear the contents of your fridge and switch it off at least 24 hours before your move. Try to use up your refrigerated items before that. However, if you still have food in your freezer and fridge, perhaps you can make arrangements with a friend or family member who stays nearby to keep these items in their fridge during the move.

10. Keep all your essentials in a suitcase

It’ll take time for you to unpack all your things, so keep certain essentials that you’ll need for the first few days in a suitcase where they’ll be easy to find. This includes some clothes, toiletries, bedsheets, towels, and medications. After a long day, you don’t want to be rummaging through your boxes to find these items.

11. Prep your new home before the move

Unpacking can be exhausting! So do whatever you can beforehand to make moving day easier for yourself.

Here are a few things you can do to prep your new home:

◉ Hire a contractor to handle any repairs.

◉ Change any lightbulbs that aren’t working.

◉ Drill holes in the wall for artwork and picture frames before moving your things in.

◉ Assemble any new furniture.

Follow these tips and your moving day will definitely be smooth-sailing!

P.S. Did you know that we offer tons of discount vouchers for services such as professional movers and interior design to ease the move-in process for you? So, what are you waiting for? Submit a request on our platform and kickstart your property journey with Propman!