Moving house is always tough, but at this time of the year, there can be added pressure to get
settled in before Christmas. We’re keen to get into our new homes and unpacked before the
holidays. But moves don’t often go to plan, and many families find that they are forced to spend
Christmas surrounded by unpacked boxes, or even without power because their house move hasn’t
been completed in time. If you’ve got a move coming up, here are some tips to help you to make
sure you are settled and ready to enjoy the season.
Get Organised
One of the best ways to make sure a move runs smoothly is to be as organised as possible
beforehand. Packing carefully. labelling your boxes and taking care to keep anything that you need
to enjoy Christmas separate will make life much easier.
Other things that you can do before moving day that will make settling into your new home easier
include re-routing your mail, making sure energy supplies are connected, and changing your address
anywhere you need to.
Get Help
Getting plenty of help will mean that moving day itself is much easier. If you can, get help with
things like childcare, and looking after pets, but also unpacking when you arrive.
Utilise Storage
Hiring storage, whether short or long-term can be a great idea when you are moving house. Using a
company like Stored Away to collect, store and then return your possessions can be ideal if you want
to give yourself more time to complete your move, and give yourself a way to pause some of the
work until after Christmas.
Hiring storage can be especially useful if you are moving long distance, or if you are only moving
short-term and don’t want to take all of your possessions and furniture with you.
Unpack Essentials
If you are moving in the few days before Christmas, and you know that you won’t have time to
unpack everything before the big day, think about the things that you need. If you need any new
furniture, make sure you order it as soon as possible so that it’s delivered in time, then make sure
things like kitchenware, decorations and gifts are kept safe, and that you can find them to unpack as
soon as you arrive.
Keep a Room Blocked Off
It’s hard to enjoy a relaxing Christmas when you are surrounded by boxes. If possible, keep any
unpacked boxes in one room, or an area of your home that isn’t needed on Christmas day, so that
you can avoid thinking about them.
Prepare Food Before the Move
Ideally, after a big move you might want to eat somewhere else on Christmas day. But, if this isn’t
possible, try to prepare and store as much as you can in advance of your move. If you are moving a
long way, and transporting prepared food isn’t an option, consider arranging a food delivery for as
close to Christmas as possible.
When it comes to moving over Christmas, one thing that you need to remember is that places and
services get booked up very quickly. Make sure you book any help, services, or storage in advance,
as much as possible to give you less to worry about later on.
