Moving house is not an operation that can be improvised. Anticipation and organization are unquestionably the keys to success! This is all the more true when you decide to move on your own. If you don't want to end up mentally and physically exhausted, you need to plan every step of the way. Les Gentlemen du Déménagement guides you step by step.
Give notice
Lodging your notice will let you know how much time you have to organize your move. Depending on your rental contract, this can vary from one to three months. Once you know your moving date, you're in the starting-blocks!
Draw up a retro-planning schedule
To make sure you don't forget anything, you need to list all the tasks to be carried out, taking care to be as exhaustive as possible. It's also important to prioritize your actions. Indeed, some formalities can take longer than others, especially those relating to administrative formalities! For example, you can organize your schedule as follows, noting the completion dates for each task:
- Administrative formalities concerning the old and new homes: electricity, gas, water, internet subscription, etc.
- Administrative procedures concerning the family: change of school, updating of vehicle registration, home insurance, electoral registration, etc.
- Applying for financial aid: moving out on your own can entitle you to various forms of financial aid, notably from the CAF (French social security office) and sometimes even from your company.
- Sort your belongings: an essential operation to reduce the number of boxes and pieces of furniture to be transported.
- Estimate the volume of your move: a precise evaluation will enable you to define the size of truck required for your move.
- Finding cardboard boxes: If you prefer higher-quality cardboard boxes, you can also buy used professional cardboard boxes from a moving company at a lower price. Think second-hand to save money! Grocery stores often have cardboard boxes which they give away free of charge on request.
- Buy the consumables needed to pack, protect and organize: adhesive tape, bubble wrap, markers, etc.
- Packing: prioritize items you don't need on a day-to-day basis.
- Book the removal truck: depending on the time of year you want to move, many of you will be calling on vehicle rental companies. Don't be overwhelmed by time, and plan ahead for your rental!
- Dismantle furniture: you'll save considerable space in your truck. They'll also be easier to transport.
- Make sure you have the products you need to clean your accommodation: returning clean accommodation is essential if you want to get your deposit back and avoid being charged cleaning costs by the rental agency or landlord.
- Move out!
As you can see, by listing all the tasks to be carried out, you can control your time and save energy.
How do you find help when you want to move house on your own?
Moving on your own, without calling in a professional, means finding help to transport at least the bulky furniture. In this case, you'll need to enlist the help of those closest to you. Friends and family are in the best position to help you move. It's also an opportunity to make memories with them! Still need a hand? Consider ringing your neighbors' doorbells to move a heavy piece of furniture.
Now you're ready to move on your own! However, if you'd like to move without having to take care of everything, Les Gentlemen du Déménagement offers a chauffeur-driven truck rental service. It's the ideal way to lighten your load and benefit from the advice of a moving pro. We look forward to hearing from you!