stress-free relocation

Making a move it's not just about moving furniture, beds, boxes and junk.. It is moving your life, your routines and your comfort to a new home.

That is why, the order in which you organise yourself and decide what to wear first can make a difference between a chaotic house move and a smooth and stress-free move.

Today we tell you what to take with you first when moving house, The new "how to prioritise by zones" and tips and tricks will help you to keep everything under control from day one.

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Start with the essentials: what you'll need in the first 24 hours

Before you go crazy and start assembling boxes and boxes to put everything into, create a “basic necessities box”.”. What is a box of basic necessities? Well, the first thing you should take with you or leave well marked so that it is available as soon as you arrive.

He thinks that is a kind of survival kit to get you through your first hours in your new home., so it's important that you don't miss any essentials. Include as a minimum:

• Clothes and shoes for a couple of days.

• Toiletries (toothbrush, towels, gel, toilet paper).

• Medicines or first aid material.

• Chargers, mobile phone, important documents and keys.

• Some basic kitchen utensils (cups, cutlery, bottle opener, napkins).

• Basic tools to be able to start assembling everything: pliers, screwdriver, cutter, tape measure...

• Something to eat and drink for the first day of the move.

This box will be your lifesaver and save you from having to open 15 boxes just to find your pyjamas or mobile phone charger.

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Prioritise stays by use and frequency

Every home has its own rhythm, and moving house should follow that logic. That's why we don't recommend that you do boxes into which you put objects from various rooms, but make boxes for each room.

So, when deciding what to take first, think about which room you need to set up first so you can get on with your day to day life. It could be your office if you work from home, the kitchen if you need to be able to prepare food from day one or the living room if that's where you do most of your life.

But for if you are not sure which room is more important, Here is the basic order in which you can be sure you won't go wrong:

• KitchenIf it's the last thing you dismantle in the old house, should be among the first to be installed in the new one. We're not talking about having tablecloths, decorations or fridge magnets ready., but you can have a microwave and the basics for cooking.Organise a box with the essential utensils (frying pan, saucepan, basic crockery, coffee pot...). and then you can complete the kitchen little by little.

• Bath: prepare a specific box with the hygiene products and towels, ready to open as soon as you arrive.

• Children's roomif you have children, try to make your room one of the first to be set up. Having their space prepared will help them to better adapt to change and avoid being overly affected by the move.

• Office: if you work from home or need a space where you can concentrate, try to set up a small space in which you can work comfortably for the first few days.                                                                                                                                                              

All you need is a desk, good lighting, a comfortable chair and your laptop or tablet, but knowing that you have that space will give you peace of mind knowing that the move won't slow down your work.

• Salon: although it is usually a central space in any home, The first few days is also one of the least important.

Beyond leaving the sofas or bulky furniture already in place if you think that doing it later might be difficult, leave this room for the end.

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What can wait: less urgent areas

Once the key areas have been covered, now it is the turn of the spaces that do not affect the day-to-day routine so much:

• SalonThe first few days: although it is usually a central space in any home, it is also one of the least important in the first few days.

Beyond leaving the sofas or bulky furniture already in place if you think that doing it later might be difficult, leave this room for the end.

• Storage room, terrace or garage: anything you don't use on a daily basis can be the last thing to be moved.

In addition, these spaces will be useful at the beginning so that the boxes are not in the way and you can move around the house more easily.

• Decoration and secondary objectsEven if you can't wait to start adding your own touch to the house, pictures, ornaments or books can wait a few days when the rest is already in place.

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The loading order: avoid chaos when loading the car or van

A well-done move starts long before you even start the van that will carry all your stuff. As important as what you are wearingis how you place it, and here there is a golden rule: think backwards.

Everything you will need first must go at the end of the load, so that it is the first thing to come out when you arrive.

Imagine the truck as a puzzle that is assembled from the back to the front:

• First, the major playersheavy furniture, sofas, wardrobes or electrical appliances. Place them at the back to provide stability and avoid bumps or damage as much as possible.
• Then, the medium-sized boxes: clothes, household goods or textiles that can withstand the weight on top of them.
• Then, the delicatelamps, pictures, mirrors or fragile items. Protect them with blankets or bubble wrap.
• And last but not least, the must-haves: those “survival” boxes with what you will use in the first 24 hours (clothes, bathroom, bedroom, light food...).

So, when you get to your new home, you'll have at your fingertips just what you need for a stress-free start. Because yes: loading order can be the difference between a tiring move and a comfortable and organised arrival.

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What if I am going to use a furniture repository?

If you are going to take advantage of your move to store furniture or things that you won't be using for the time being in your new home, planning is even more important.

In that case:

• Guard separately the boxes that you will need in your new home and those that you want to send to the furniture repository.
• Mark them in some way that will help you to differentiate them: a sticker, something written in marker...
• Make it a priority that the furniture repository is clean, ventilated and with easy access to your most important belongings.

At Gil Staufferfor example, we offer storage and furniture repository services with 24-hour surveillance, so that your belongings are always safe and accessible during the process.

A move that is well organised will save you a lot of stress, aggravation and, above all, things getting lost along the way.

Always start with the basics, follow a logical order and leave the details to the end.

And remember: moving is not just about moving house, it is about starting a new phase., and carrying the things you need most in the right order will make that start much easier and more enjoyable.

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To sum up:

• Prepare a box of basic necessities.

• Bring the essentials to your new home first: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and children's rooms or office.

• Leave the decoration, the storage room and the living room to the end.

• Load the car or van in reverse order of unloading.
• If you use a furniture repository, separate and label what is urgent from what you are sending to storage.

And if you don't want to worry about any of this, at Gil Stauffer we take care of everything to make your national or international move or transfer to a furniture repository a smooth one. easy, convenient and uncomplicated.

Moving house involves much more than "moving four walls": and for children it can be a real emotional rollercoaster.

Between the excitement of the new and the attachment to what is left behind, the youngest children live an experience that can be difficult and must be recognised, accompany and turn it into something positive.

Today we will tell you how removals affect childrenWhat can happen and how to turn the move into something enriching for them.

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Moves and emotions: how children feel about moving house

The change of home touches many buttons: new routines, unfamiliar surroundings, friendships that are sometimes left behind? All this matters, and not only for adults.

For children, moving house can mean feelings that they may not be able to express. In addition, the age of the youngest children has a great influence and can affect them in very different ways:

• Young children (0-5 years): may become more clingy than usual, become more irascible or even regress in certain behaviours or learning (e.g. bed-wetting)..

• School-age children (6-12 years): As they become more aware of the change, they often ask themselves questions such as: "What about my friends?" "What about school?" Questions that, if they are not worked on, end up turning into insecurity, anxiety, difficulty in concentrating or lack of motivation.

• Adolescents (13+ years): This stage is key for children to feel a sense of belonging, identity, and inclusion in their friendship groups.

A move can feel like a "reset" that they view with suspicion, leading to frustration or isolation in their day-to-day lives and possible conflict with parents.

So the key here is clear: it's not just about moving houseis to change what for them is their world.

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Seeing the signs that your child needs support during the move

But not all children may feel this way during a move, the question on everyone's mind is almost always the same: If they need support, How can I detect it?

Detecting the signs early can make the difference between going through the motions and experience it as something that will have a positive impact on them..

Here are some signs:

• It changes your sleep (she tells you she has more nightmares, wakes up often) or appetite (she eats a lot or hardly eats at all).
• Becomes more irritable or cries for no reason.
• Backsliding on skills already mastered (sphincter control, sleeping alone).
• Has difficulty socialising or integrating into the new environment, avoids talking about change.
• Talks a lot about the "old home" or shows rejection of the new environment.
• Argues a lot at home, is quick-tempered or starts to be confrontational at school or college.
• Loses motivation for hobbies or withdraws from them.

These small signs can be a wake-up call for you to act with calm, presence and listening.

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Strategies to help children adjust to moving house

If you have detected any of these signs or changes, or if you want to prevent it and turn the experience into something positive from minute 1, here are some ideas and tips to help you achieve this:

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Involve them in the process

Make the move something with them, not something that happens to them that they cannot control.

Let them choose the decoration of their room, which will pack some toys or who participate in a mini-list of "things you will take to the new house". help them feel that they have a voice and are part of the move.

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Maintain stable routines

However much the environment changes, the family "rhythm" can be maintained.

However, it may be more difficult for you to juggle it during the time of the move, maintaining your routine is very important.

Bedtime, snack time, reading or playtime... These routines are moments of safety and security that help the child not to feel that everything is falling apart or changing completely.

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Positivise the farewell

Although it may sound a bit dramatic, for children, such a major change sometimes feels like a loss. and so working with them on this change in the same way can help them a lot.

Visiting their old school, going to the park they used to love from time to time or being able to tell their friends themselves that they are moving, allows them to say goodbye to the familiar.

And this "closure" will help the move start with fewer loose ends.

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Explore the new home with them

Whether you are younger or older, bringing out your fun side and making a game out of the new home will make everything easier.

If they are very small, have a Gymkhana around the house, going out to play in the street and the new park or start with them to do the day-to-day shopping in the shops in the new area, will make them feel more comfortable and will make them feel positive about the change.

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Constant communication

As with many other aspects of childhood and adolescence, that your children can trust you and tell you how they feel. or worry will make the whole process of change much, much easier.

Thus you can explain to them that it's OK to miss home or their old school.It can be a lot of fun to get excited about what's new, or that it's OK if you have to be a bit more patient for the first few weeks.

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Moving is not just about "carrying boxes", is to accompany emotions, experiences and above all changes.

Children will feel, question and experience the move in their own way, but with these tips you can turn it into something positive and enriching so that they get off to a good start in their new home.

And while you listen and help your children to make the move a good experience, at Gil Stauffer we can help you to make moving all your belongings and starting to live in your new home a simple, comfortable and stress-free process.

If you're about to move house, you're probably wondering all the time as the day approaches. “How do I do all this?”But don't worry, we've all been there.

Moving home can be much simpler than it seems when you know where to start. That's why today we bring you a clear guide, with tips that work. to really know how to make an organised move.

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It starts with what you can't see: mental planning.

Before you play a single box, sit down for five minutes and ask yourself this question: What kind of move do I want to have?

A chaotic one, where you end up putting everything in bin bags the night before... Or an organised one, where you arrive at your new home knowing where everything is? The difference is in how you prepare.

We recommend that you start planning your move with, at least, one month in advance if possible. The earlier you start, the less stress you will have on the key days because you will have had time to think about every detail and get everything ready..

Think of the move as a project in which you need to:

• A clear date or range of days on which the move will take place.
• Know if you will have help (family, friends or a removal company like Gil Stauffer),
• Calculate how much stuff you really have to move.

And here comes the next essential step...

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The big filter: keep, donate or throw away

Moving house is the perfect excuse, but it is also necessary to do some cleaning.

We're not just talking about throwing away old papers or boxes, but deciding what is really worth keeping. The key is consciously value your objectsDoes it work for you, do you use it, do you like it, does it make sense to charge it to another house?

The less you take with you, the cheaper, faster and more pleasant your move will be.. And to start this classification you only need to start with three piles or separations:

• What remains (the essentials).
• What is donated or sold (better to give it a second life or take an extra one).
• What is thrown away (no regrets).

Do it room by room and if you can, take the opportunity to sell furniture or appliances that don't fit in your new home, and you will gain space and money.

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Materials you really need (and those you don't)

You can move in with boxes from the supermarket or the shop next door... But you'll be very grateful to have a material having a minimum quality.

And if you save on boxes and protective materials, it can be expensive if what you want is to save money. The guards inside end up breaking.

But regardless of whether you go for the cheaper options or choose something more premium, the basics you will need are:

• Boxes of different sizes (and that are sturdy).
• Wide packing tape.
• Permanent marker.
• Bubble wrap or blankets.
• Airtight bags for small parts.
• Covers for mattresses and clothing.
• Scissors or a cutter
• Screwdriver

And if you ask yourself why we do not include rubbish bags, The answer is quick: they break easily, are not watertight and will end up giving you more problems than benefits.

And a trick for professionals: do not fill large boxes with heavy objects. The small ones are for books and heavier items, the large ones for clothes and textiles.

If you fill the biggest boxes with what weighs the most, your back and all the things that can break under the weight will feel it and the blows while they are inside.

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Packing smart: speed does not mean clutter

When you start packing your belongings, start with what you use the least: books, decoration, clothes from other seasons... The typical mistake is to pack what you need too soon and end up having to unpack boxes out of necessity.

As you fill boxes, put clear labels to help you identify what each one has, for example: room + contents + if fragile.

If you want to go the extra mile, take photos of some drawers or appliances before dismantling them. That way you can assemble them in the new house without fighting with mysterious wires.

A very realistic bonus tip: have a “first day survival” box” with what you will need immediately when you arrive at your new home:

This includes porters, pyjamas, two changes of clothes, toiletries, water, instant coffee, scissors, snacks, documentation...

Your future self will thank you.

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The critical week: order, calm and strategy

In the last few days before the move, the key is to simplify:

• Keep only the essentials and leave the rest ready to load.
• If you're moving for the weekend, try to have everything packed. at the earliest on Thursday.
• You will be able to start carrying the boxes first thing in the morning and you won't have to do it tired after having to spend time to finish packing the boxes.

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Moving day: Breathe and trust

When the moving day(s) arrives it is normal for something not to go as planned. Even so, if the preparation has been good, on that day you will only have to follow the rhythm: loading, moving, unloading, putting the basics in place and resting.

An important piece of advice: don't try to place it all on the same day. Assume that it will take 2 or 3 days for your house to start taking shape again.

As you can see, An organised move is, above all, a move that has been prepared in good time.

Downsizing, sorting, packing methodically and staying calm are your best tools. If you assume there will be contingencies, but have control over the essentials, you'll arrive at your new home without feeling like you've fought a battle.

Y, if you want to make things even easier, you can always trust in Gil Stauffer, where our more than 100 years of experience will be the guarantee of a well thought-out move in which nothing is left to chance.

In order to you just have to enjoy the moment of opening the door to your new stage.