Moving houses

Moving houses is not easy, and needs a lot of planning and coordination. The fact that most people have offices to attend every day makes it more difficult. So, it is not just looking for a suitable place, but accessibility, proximity to work and markets, as well as conveyance which are all issues that need to be factored in. There is also affordability, as most areas in Dhaka have really steep rents!

So, the first step would be to look for a house in a location that is near your workplace and your children's school; check if the neighbourhood has a good reputation for safety, and if the surroundings are child friendly. 

If you do find a house that is spacious enough for you, and also within your budget, there is a host of things that you need to check for, like if the walls are mouldy or not, if all the plumbing works, if the gas line is well maintained, if the door locks work, if there are in-built wall cabinets, and whether those are pest free. Here, we have a little checklist to help you make the final plunge after finding the new house.  

Before moving
Moving can be very frustrating. Packing a whole life of an individual or a family into small boxes is not easy to begin with. Then there is the hassle of finding the same things again after moving, and that too in order of necessity. It can be quite stressful. Having an organised approach helps to cut down the stress a little bit.

There are mover services available for every locality and the cost completely depends on the area. Generally, there are also the typical cycle drawn carts that can be rented on a daily basis, as well as small trucks.  

Make a list
In every situation, planning ahead is important and in order to coordinate a plan, sit down with your family members and make a list. Write down what are the things that need to be done - starting from packing ahead to the things that need to be done on the day of packing. You can also decide to contact moving companies, which will cost you a little extra but make it much easier to conduct the move.

Prepare ahead. Make sure that you start way before you think you need to, so any sudden changes in circumstances does not derail your efforts. 

For larger pieces such as beds, make sure that you have set aside time for the movers to dismantle them and take them properly. Valuables such as electronics and jewellery should be looked after at all times and you should personally move them, lest they get stolen. 

Buy supplies
Buying the items required for the move is paramount. You cannot do it just the day before you move.  Buy the following items at least two weeks ahead of the move - 

Boxes of different sizes 

Durable cartons 
Strong tape (both duct and paper)
Bubble wrap 
Old newspapers for cushioning 
Marker pens

Divide the boxes according to the material that you will take. For taking things made of glass, old newspaper and bubble wraps have to be bought beforehand. Divide the items into three categories—take, donate, and sell. 

I know that with moving a house, a bunch of old memories will hit you hard in the face, but you cannot get too carried away and decide to take everything that has a story behind it. Take the clothes which you might wear in the future, but the ones that you have never worn since the day you bought them, just donate those. 

Make sure to take old photographs and albums. Separate the necessary papers and documents and arrange in files, keeping them safe at all times. Old bags, toys that your children do not play with anymore, clothes that do not fit should all go in the "donate" box. 

Sell books or electric appliances or exercise equipment which are not used or you do not want to take to your new home. However, do not throw away everything; make sure to check if it is recyclable.  

These steps will make the whole process of moving easier and help keep things neat. 

The day of the move- 
Moving days are stressful and hectic. You do not know what to pack first and whether or not you have to call for professional movers.  Start your day according to the plan made beforehand. Ask for help from your family or friends. If you think doing everything by yourself is getting tough, call the moving companies and makes an appointment. Starting from helping you pack to actually moving the boxes to your new house, they do it all. You can ask your neighbours for the number of the local movers, but to make things easier make sure you follow these steps -

Pack a separate bag for all the things that you will need just the day before you move - spare clothes, toothbrushes, toiletries, cellphone charger, laptop and the house keys, etc.

Separate the important documents- Your papers are part of your identity so make sure you keep all the papers organised, and away from everything else so that they do not get misplaced.  

Start labelling the boxes- While packing the boxes, be careful to label them so you know what is inside each box. Separate the kitchen appliances from the bathroom appliances. Use bubble wrap or soft old clothes to cover delicate china and handle them with extra care and mention it to the movers so that they are also vigilant during the move.  

Take the heavy things to the truck first- ask the movers to take all the heavy and things at first and then deal with the small boxes. If necessary use stretch wraps around them.

Throw away expired medicine and food cans - and take only the things that will last without a fridge. You can make sure that the first thing you do after moving is getting the freezer to run, so that the food does not go stale. 

If possible make a quick visit to the new house and clean the bathroom and the kitchen- after moving, with all the settings and the unpacking, cleaning the rooms become a hassle.

After all the unpacking is done and the rooms are all set, the house might feel foreign to you for the first few weeks, but soon enough you will feel just as comfortable and settled as your old home. Happy moving everyone!

By Mormee Mahtab