Last weekend, Ryan and I made the big move from our sweet little Hazeldean home to one of our favourite neighbourhoods in Edmonton – Strathcona. And now that we are somewhat settled into the Ravine House (and FINALLY have WIFI – dear God, that was the worst part of the move!!), I have some time to tell you all about our journey 5 minutes north. I definitely learned a thing or two and I can confidently share some of my tips for mastering the art of moving…because, let’s be honest, moving is NOT EASY!
Get Organized Early
I started packing up the things we didn’t use on a regular basis right after the paperwork was all signed. The earlier you can get organized, the easier the day of will go. Having to-do lists helped me stay on track too. Calling all the utilities, insurance company, and service providers early is so smart…we forgot to arrange the change with Shaw and I suffered days without the internet and TV…you can imagine how that went over 🙂 Also, consider getting a mail forwarding service. That way, any places you’ve forgotten to change over to the new address will automatically come to your new place and remind you to change them over.
Get the Right Help (or a really strong husband to do all the heavy lifting, hehe)
Our family and friends are such troopers for helping us. And it wasn’t just the furniture moving that was helpful. My mom was a busy bee cleaning, and she brought us food because we didn’t have time to run to the grocery store! Sometimes the small things count just as much. But if you enlist the help of movers, great! Just communicate really clearly and the job will be a cinch!
Be Creative with Packing
I didn’t just use boxes to pack – I tried to get creative and save on how many boxes we needed to get. I used baskets, bags, laundry hampers, crates, luggage…anything! And it was helpful to have some bins for the items that were going to live in the garage for a bit while we complete our renos. All of my boxes will get reused as well, or we will make sure they get recycled – no extra waste here!
Label Everything Clearly
I got a little bit cocky with some boxes – thinking I would totally remember what was in there! Not smart. So I learned the hard way that labelling is key. Then when it comes to physically moving the boxes, a clear label tells us where they need to go…the garage, the kitchen, the living room, etc.
Don’t Discount the Little Stuff
You’d be surprised how quickly a few things here and there can add up. I thought we had most of our possessions only to head back to the house and see how much more we had to do. If I had been a little more aware of this tip, it would have saved us in the end from doing more work after the fact. (PS – don’t forget about the fridge!!! We had so much left in there and I was kicking myself that I hadn’t gone through it sooner!)
It’s OK to Get a Little Emotional
Hazeldean was our first home together…it was where we had both of our pups come through the front door for the first time….it was where I sat at the kitchen table and launched this site…it was where Ryan got ready before we got married. It was more than just a house. It was a home of many firsts and that’s not easy to part ways with. Yes, I am so insanely excited for this next part of our journey, but it’s with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to this home. Anyways, before I start crying LOL….my point is: moving is emotional and that’s OK.
Congrats on the move and getting settled into the new neighbourhood. I know a family that also lives right near Mill Creek Ravine and was blown away by how accessible it is to everything. And the easy access to those ravine trails is so great.
Yes, I know what you mean! We were lucky enough to have access to the south end in Hazeldean but we are excited to explore this end more now. And we can be at Folk Fest in no time in the summer 🙂 It’s such a great area of the city!