Moving house in December? You’re not the only one – summer is New Zealand’s peak moving season, with many of us dreaming of spending Christmas in our new homes. If you're tackling a pre-Christmas move, it pays to be organised early, prepared with some essentials and keep it merry. Here, we unpack 10 clever moving house tips to help you through this monumental task with your festive cheer intact! 

Removalists and cleaners are flat out in the lead-up to Christmas, and often book up well in advance. Secure your dates as soon as possible and always reconfirm with them a week before your move day. Don’t forget to transfer your utilities and insurances over early too, as many businesses shut up shop for a few weeks over the Christmas and New Year period. 

Sure, it’s likely to be more boxes and bubble wrap than baubles and all-day brunches, but that doesn’t mean bypassing the seasonal cheer this year. Pack a dedicated, easy-to-access box of essentials, such as your favourite decorations, Christmas gifts, some festive treats, and twinkling lights, and unpack these first to infuse instant Christmas holiday spirit amid the moving chaos. 

Packing is a marathon, not a sprint, so take your time, be methodical, and you’ll reap the rewards later. Get your system in place – whether that’s different coloured tape for different rooms, or QR codes that link through to a contents list, and prepare to high-five yourself when you don’t have to tear through five boxes just to find the Panadol! Level up your packing by dividing each room into boxes of ‘essentials’ and ‘nice-to-haves,’ so you can happily survive the Christmas break without a full-scale unpacking operation. 

No matter how smooth your move, it’s guaranteed to be exhausting, so make life easier by distilling your essentials down a little further into a survival kit for the first few days of your move. This includes things like basic toiletries, everyday kitchen items, bedding, phone and device chargers, and a few outfits to see you through. 

While your focus might be on getting things disassembled and unplugged as quickly as possible, another helpful tip to save you time on the other end is to snap a photo of items like TV wiring, furniture fixings, and appliance connections. It’ll save you hours of head scratching, headaches, and Allen key anarchy when you’re trying to put things back together. Inject some fun into the moment by investing in an instant camera, so you can stick the photo on the box and snap some priceless, moving memories at the same time! 

Nothing quite puts a damper on your expertly packed boxes like a bottle of expensive purple shampoo, small-batch premium olive oil, or Nan's homemade cranberry sauce exploding all through the contents. Cling wrap is your secret weapon when it comes to keeping liquids in their place, so pick up a mega roll and wrap before you pack. 

Everybody needs good neighbours, and moving in December is the perfect opportunity to pop next door to wish your new neighbours Merry Christmas. First impressions count, so don’t leave it until you're unpacked and settled. Ideally, notify them of your move-in date in advance, especially if moving trucks could potentially block street parking or driveways. Showing them that you’re considerate and friendly sets the tone for your future neighbourly interactions. 

Tacking Christmas and moving house in the same month means you’ve got some hefty expenses that you need to account for, so get organised and budget wisely. Before you start packing, use this as an opportunity to declutter and turn your unwanted goods into cash by listing them on Facebook Marketplace. If they’re not sale-worthy but in good shape to rehome, consider donating them to the local op shop or The Salvation Army – that way, you’ll have less stuff to move! 

Unwrap calm, not conflict