Organisation and efficiency are everything when it comes to moving, and the judicious use of your smartphone (and/or tablet) can make the difference between a move that leaves you feeling flattened and one that goes like clockwork. But how would someone actually do this without being tech-savvy or relying on others to do it for them?
Have no fear; that’s what this blog is all about. At Aussie, we’re big fans of providing people with tips on how to improve their moving experience. Now that most of us own or has access to a phone or its equivalent, why not put them to work to make life easier for you? Here are some ideas for making your phone work for you when it comes to pulling off the perfect move.
How Apps are Improving the Moving Experience –
Unless you’ve spent the last five or ten years on a remote island, you’ll have heard of an app. It stands for application and works on smartphones and Apple devices. Each app comes with unique features specifically designed to simplify things. And they’re easy to download and start using straight away, although you might need a bit of practice to navigate correctly.
There are some obvious ones like home inventory apps that make relocating much easier. Then you have things like to-do lists and calendars to help with organising and creating a timeline. Some might even incorporate every function or link with other applications. We’ll suggest the best ones we know of in this blog with some links directly to them.
Ultimately, you’ll have something there to remind you and regain focus because there will be plenty of distractions. It’s easy to lose track when moving because life continues onwards, regardless of how important your move is. We end up balancing lots of different tasks simultaneously. That’s why an app will give you another helping hand when arranging your upcoming relocation.
Home Inventory Apps – Sortly and More –
Sortly is a free moving app that helps you keep tabs on all your stuff throughout the move. Say you need to find that cherished picture frame but have forgotten where you packed it; Sortly remembers it all for you. Better still, it lets you make a visual inventory of all your possessions, with photos, notes, tags, and locations.
Magic Home Inventory allows you to organise your home inventory across several properties and break down each separate inventory by room, listing each item’s location along with a description and photo. The app’s advanced search feature helps you locate items quickly, and you can manually backup your list to another storage location.
MyStuff can store an incredible amount of information for each item you save in this inventory. Rather than slog through entering the product information, it’s possible to scan its barcode to initiate an entry. This is an iOS application, and it comes in two versions: the Lite version is free, but your limit is fifteen items. The full version has a much more extensive database and would be worth the purchase cost for people with lots of furniture and appliances.
Nest Egg is the ultimate choice for individual item data. You can take detailed photos per item, including its barcode, purchase date, expiry date (if applicable) and return purchase dates for new products. You can create a log for when you loan out items to family or friends, and it’s possible to export your complete inventory lists to save or print.
Learn on YouTube for How-To and DIY Videos –
YouTube comes into its element when you need help with that task, the very thought of which is keeping you up at two in the morning. From moving-day tips by experts and real people to advice on handling and packing valuables and fragile ones, pretty much every moving quandary is resolved in front of your eyes. You can save them to watch again later, and a few are even available to download.
YouTube also has a large audience on its platform and there are more people creating and uploading DIY videos every week. Furthermore, businesses the following suit and are creating and adding their online tutorials for products and services. You’ll likely find what you’re looking for on there, and most topics are simple to find.
Who knows, you might even get the content bug yourself as you go through this process. If you fancy it, there’s the option of recording your own moving tips. Some people even earn money from YouTube ads if there’s enough views. It’s not for everyone but worth considering, especially if you have a suggestion that other movers might find useful.
Google Docs and Evernote – Record Musings, Ideas, and Inspirations –
Where we once had to rely on sticky notes, scrapbooks, and scrawled handwriting to keep track of our ideas, now we have our phones. When you spot something that inspires you – perhaps at a friend’s house or garden – store the image in a note where it’ll stay safe until you need to come back to it. Google Docs and Evernote are two popular notation platforms.
Never again will you need to refer to a messy pile of papers, and neither will little notes get lost during your move – everything’s stored just a click away. You can also edit things without having to cross things out on messy notes. Most will automatically update without having to resave, making it fast and simple to note down your thoughts.
Should you need to use the information, you can always copy and paste it into another document or something similar. People often need to relay this via a message or email. Just grab all of the wording and share via a messaging app or in an email. You won’t need to keep a clunky notepad again unless that’s your thing. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a notation application.
Use Your Phone Calendar for a Timeline and Reminders –
While you might worry about finding these various apps, the good news is some will already be on your phone. One of the best ones is a calendar where you can save things for specific dates. Be sure to utilise the reminder function so that you get an alert before each actual event. That way, even if you forget things, your phone won’t.
You can adjust the settings to suit your needs or to save you from known habits. Some of us do things straight away; others need an additional reminder or snooze. Another bonus is being able to create a task in your calendar and share it. This is an amazing feature for businesspeople when arranging meetings to share the reminder with other attendees.
The final benefit that a lot of people don’t consider is the ability to count the days and weeks until your move. We can’t stress this enough – time flies, especially when you have lots on your plate. Make sure you don’t forget tasks and leave too much for the final week. You’ll have more than enough to deal with and possibly, some unforeseen issues. Assign things to do each week with your calendar, and you’ll be on track for a successful relocation.
Backup Your Files and Images Before You Go –
All the well-known cloud services are at your fingertips – from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and iCloud, plus many more. Keep all your most important documents safely inside them – scanning when it’s necessary to create digital copies. If the worst happens and something gets lost as you go from a-to-b, you’ve still got your digital version safe and sound.
You can also use an external hard drive if you’re more comfortable with having something physically in your hand. Just remember to buy one that’s durable and portable as they have additional padding, making them more robust and built for travelling. The last thing you want to do is lose files if they corrupt due to damage occurring. And even a small bash can cause this to happen.
Another option is to enlist the services of a home server. They come with their version of a cloud storage system, and you can back up remotely whenever you need to save your files. You don’t have to carry around a device like an external hard drive. However, it’s worth further research to gauge how reliable they are and how data is transferred.
Aussie Man & Van London – Utilising Tech for a Smoother Relocation –
We live in a time where technology is making moving straightforward, and we naturally think this is excellent. Plus, apps are getting more user-friendly, and it doesn’t take a degree in IT to use them. With more apps launching, most free, it’s also affordable and stress-free. You can organise everything at the touch of a button or two.
Aussie Man & Van is here to assist you throughout your move, and we’ll discuss any relevant apps if they add value to your situation. Home inventory applications are changing the way people relocate. And they’re excellent for sharing lists with your insurance provider as well. Moreover, you can send it to us to help us assess your upcoming move in more detail.
To get a free quote for your next relocation, click here, and we’ll start an assessment. We provide the most efficient and cost-effective moves in London and beyond.
