Essential spring/summer moving tips for 2020

Now that things are starting to open up again after the COVID-19 quarantine, many homeowners are considering moving this summer. If you are planning to move into a new home this spring or summer, now is the time to start preparing. Moving can be a challenging time with so much to do, so many vendors to coordinate, and so much cleaning and packing involved. 

Which is why we are going to share a few tips to make your spring move easier and avoid any costly moving mistakes while staying safe during COVID:

Worried about new furniture fitting when moving? Get your very own free delivery guide and make sure you never have to sweat moving again.  

Tip #1: Start decluttering now

Even if you move later in the Spring or Summer, a good tip is to start decluttering and tidying right now as to not overwhelm yourself later. If you’re also selling your current home, your realtor is going to ask you to do this too – less stuff in the space shows off the great things about your home!  

Start decluttering and packing away items you don’t need now, so you can do it without the pressure of time leaning on you. 

Once you’ve cleaned, what do you do with everything you no longer need or want?

• Recycle it: Take it to a recycling center to be safely recycled.
• Upcycle it: Can you give that dresser a new coat of paint, or turn those old tires into garden planters instead of throwing them away? (hint: Pinterest is a great place to get upcycling inspiration).
• Give it away: If your niece has been eyeing up that family heirloom and if you no longer have room for it consider giving it to her
• Donate it: There are many organizations that will gladly accept donations of used clothing, furniture, and household items. Hint: there are many organizations out there that are seeking donations for vulnerable people during COVID-19. 
• Have a garage sale: Host a garage sale to get rid of unwanted stuff, make a little extra cash, and not have to worry about transporting it. Make sure to wear personal protective equipment and ensure things are being sanitized properly. 
• Call a junk removal company: If you have lots of stuff that really can’t be given a new home, put it all together and call a junk removal company who can safely get rid of your unwanted item. 

Once you’ve decluttered, start deep cleaning your home. You can do it yourself, or hire a cleaning company that specializes in full-house cleans for moves. 

For more tips on decluttering and tidying of your home, check out this post full of spring cleaning tips and decluttering tips. 

Tip #2: Hire a moving company early

Now that things are starting to open up again, the competition to get a moving company is going to be tight. And unless you’ve got lots of kind friends with big trucks, we suggest always hiring a moving company soon! They can transport all your stuff much more efficiently and safely than your buddies…and in less time!

Hiring a moving company has great value and here are some ways to manage your costs:

• Book a weekday move: weekends are the busiest for moving companies so if you can take a day or two off work mid-week your cheque book will thank you. 
• Book mid-month: Most people take possession of their homes at the beginning/end of the month, so that’s when moving companies are in high demand and often raise their prices. Move mid-month to save money. 
• Move in Spring: Spring is considered the off-season – this may work to your advantage.  so there are more deals to be had than summertime moves. 

Tip #3: Be cautious of changing spring/summer weather

Spring on the west coast of Canada is so beautiful, but it can also be unpredictable. It’s entirely possible for it to rain on your moving day! Be prepared with covers and wraps for any furniture or household items that you don’t want wet. 

Tip #4: Plan your Interior Design and Decor themes before your spring move

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Moving into a new home is a great time to elevate your new decor. Consider the style of your new home, the neighbourhood, and your personal style preferences. 

How do you elevate your decor for your home? First pick your general style (casual, formal, traditional, contemporary, minimalist…etc). Then build a Pinterest board that really inspires you. An example would be from one of our clients, Elaine Fairey, who planned her own dream living room from Pinterest. If you have a particular love for a specific geographical region or culture, then you can use it as inspiration too.

If part of your decor plan includes painting, do it before you move all your belongings and furniture in the house. Why? Because 1) it’s much easier to do it when your house isn’t full of stuff that you need to work around and cover with drop sheets, and 2) because if you don’t do it now, you’re less likely to do it later. 

Above all, remember to consider your lifestyle and how you live – pets your schedules – in your home decor plan. For example, if you choose a white, clean, and minimalistic design, will you be able to maintain it? 

Tip #5 Plan your spaces before you move 

What home decor theme(s) have you picked for your new home? We recommend creating a furniture space plan ahead of time to plan where your furniture will be best placed. It’s possible that your current furniture won’t fit the space or the vision you have for your new home. 

To help you decide whether or not to keep your existing furniture, ask yourself these three questions:

1. Do you still like it? If it’s a piece of furniture you’ve fallen out of love with, now is the best time to find it a new home (aka donate, recycle, or toss). If you still like it, can you make it work as-is or through upcycling?
2. Does the style work with your new decor and design vision? Often the style of your current furniture doesn’t really work with your vision for your new home. For example, you may be moving into a heritage home, and have modern pieces that would look odd in your new home. If it doesn’t fit with your new vision, consider not bringing them to your new house.
3. Does the item actually fit in your home? Consider not just the space it will take in your house, but whether it will even fit through the door! Thankfully we’ve got a free furniture moving guide that can help you figure that out. 

Have Fun!

Moving into a new home in Spring is such an amazing time! Planning a spring or summer move? Then there are many things you can start prepping now so it’s not all left to the last minute. Start by decluttering your home. Then prepare and packing what you don’t need now. Finally, start to plan your new home decor.

If you need help to redesign and reimagine your new home spaces, contact us to book a Good Space Plan Online.