Moving to a new house represents the start of a new chapter for many of us. It can be both an exciting and overwhelming time, especially for seniors. Whether you’re moving to a new house, closer to a carer or into an assisted living community, there will come a day when you will have to downsize.

It’s important to keep in mind that when that day comes, you will need time to plan and also reach out for extra help. The good news is that there are some key steps that you can take to make the move more manageable, and even enjoyable!

We have highlighted below some great moving house tips to make the process as stress-free as possible.

Moving house tips

Make a timeline:

It’s important to give yourself plenty of time to move, as it may take longer than you expect. Make sure that you take your time, rather than trying to do it all in one weekend. Giving yourself a couple of weeks is much more realistic and will also allow you to take breaks throughout.

Making a moving timeline is a great way to keep track of your entire moving journey to alleviate any stress. You can stay ahead of tasks by creating a checklist and writing a due date next to each item. Thankfully, there are some great resources out there that you can use as inspiration to write your own.

Sort before packing:

Before jumping straight into packing, you will first need to sort through your belongings. It’s easy to underestimate how much you’ve accumulated through the years, such as everyday items or old furniture pieces you’ve collected. Downsizing is not often easy to do, but it is something that you will have to brave. To make it as easy as possible, remember that from small things, big things grow! Start with one room at a time and break it down into smaller tasks.

Organise your belongings into categories:

When going through your belongings, you will stumble upon things that you haven’t used in years, as well those items that tug at your heartstrings. However, part of downsizing is taking a hard look at every item you pick up and not second guessing yourself. If you need help on where to begin, read our tips on how to make the process easier.

Packing to move:

Packing is one of the hardest tasks that you will be tackling, and we highly recommend asking for help. At this stage, you can either call your family members to help you or hire a moving company that will do it for you. Whichever one you decide, you need to prioritise your health and safety. If you decide to rely on family, let them handle the heavier items and focus on tasks such as labelling the boxes instead.

Reminisce and celebrate:

When going through the move, you will stumble upon belongings that will make you reminisce on the good times, such as those old photo albums or your children’s stuffed animals. When the nostalgia comes, it’s okay to take a break and give yourself time to process. Invite family and friends over so you can look back on the memories you’ve created over the years and celebrate together.

Moving house doesn’t have to a stressful task, and giving yourself plenty of time to plan and execute and should make it easier!