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https://www.dekataku.hakobu.tokyo/

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デカ宅、家具、家電、配送、家具家電配送

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トップページ | 家財の配送はデカ宅

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大型家具や家電の配送は梱包・配送・設置まで全てデカ宅にお任せください！【公式HP】ベッド、洗濯機、テレビ、エアコン、食器棚、ソファなど。お電話一本で荷物の引き上げができます。お預かりした商品は翌日までに配送致します。料金・お見積り等まずはお気軽にご相談ください！

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https://www.the0123.com/

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引越しはアート引越センター【公式】| 引っ越し見積もり無料！

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引越しはアート引越センター【公式】| 引っ越し見積もり無料！

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引越しはアート！引越しのことならアート引越センター【公式】当社ホームページからお見積りのお客さま限定で今だけ引越基本料金30%OFF！引っ越しのお見積りは無料！単身・家族・オフィスの引っ越しプランも充実。

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http://www.hikkoshi-sakai.net/moving/

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Wide Network all over the world and High Quality : Sakai Moving Service

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https://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/en/

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This is the official website of YAMATO TRANSPORT which contains information regarding services, such as "TA-Q-BIN", and logistics solutions for Japanese residents, travelers to Japan and companies.

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https://intackremovals.co.uk/removals/

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https://www.easy2move.net/

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Easy2move are a long established and, well respected firm of Estate Agents. Our office is located in South Harrow from where we liaise with over thirty associated offices, thus allowing a more comprehensive coverage of the Greater London area.

We provide a fully comprehensive Sales, Lettings and Property Management service tailored for both standard and bespoke needs depending on individual requirements whilst dealing mainly within the residential sector. Please contact our office to discuss your particular requirements in absolute confidence.

Request a free Valuation

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Estate Agent & Letting Agent in South Harrow

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Easy2move are a long established and, well respected firm of Estate Agents. Our office is located in South Harrow from where we liaise with over thirty associated offices, thus allowing a more comprehensive coverage of the Greater London area.

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http://www.expressremovals.com/

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Welcome to Express Removals

Domestic Removals

Express Removals undertake removals to all areas of the UK including regular trips to the West Country, Wales, the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland. So whether you want to move a single room or a whole six bedroom home, we can accommodate your needs.

Business & Commercial Removals

Not only do we provide a first class removal service to private households, but to business clients as well. We are equipped to deal with all kinds of commercial customers from small shops to large factories.

International Removals

We also offer Worldwide Removals to many destinations so whether your moving to USA, relocating to Australia, moving to South Africa, relocating to Canada or moving to New Zealand ( See more).

Both full and part loads can be carried to all areas, we also offer great prices on Groupage Services for shared transport.

Containerised Storage/Self Storage

Our modern facilities offer fully containerised storage in a secure environment with 24 hour security. You can rest assured that your property is fully protected, we cater for both short & long-term storage periods.

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Express Removals, UK Removal Services, International and Worldwide.

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Express Removals undertake removals to all areas of the UK including regular trips to the West Country, Wales, the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland. So whether you want to move a single room or a whole six bedroom home, we can accommodate your needs.

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https://www.dbmexpress.co.uk/

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After many years in Relocation and Haulages Logistic Transport industry we are happy to say that 90% of the customers were highly satisfied with our service.

*Accredited and Regulated by the Removals Ombudsman Scheme

DBM Express removal company specializes in planning and executing seamless removals, ensuring that every step of the process is explained to you in detail.

DBM Express offers a free, no-obligation survey to discuss your requirements and provide a fixed price quote tailored to your needs. Our Move Managers will plan every detail of your move, ensuring a seamless transition to your new home. Our fixed price quote remains valid for 60 days, giving you plenty of time to decide. Contact us now to schedule your survey and experience a smooth home removal.

Get a Quote

At DBM Express, we offer efficient business removals that minimize disruption and downtime. Our careful planning ensures that your staff and customers won't feel the effects of the move. With our flexibility and transparency, we provide the best value for your money. Contact us today to learn how we can help make your business move stress-free.

Get a Quote

Partnered with one of the largest storage providers in the UK, we offer secure, dry, and clean storage units in a range of sizes for short or long-term rentals. Our buildings have CCTV surveillance and central monitoring, ensuring the safety of your belongings. Contact us today for a FREE storage quote and find your perfect unit.

Before the move, we'll visit you at home to discuss all your requirements and get a detailed, fixed price entirely based on your needs and requirements, a quote tailored for you.
Our Move Managers will plan every detail.
Once your property has been visited the quote stays valid for 60 days.

Get a Quote

We plan your business removal to ensure that there is minimal downtime and disruption. This means that your staff can continue to provide your customers with the service they require. We pride ourselves in our flexibility, transparency, providing best value for money, with high standards.

Get a Quote

We work in partnership with one of the biggest storage providers in the UK where we provide secure, dry and clean storage units for short or long-term lets. We have small and large units available in fully secured buildings with central station monitoring and CCTV.
Call us today for a FREE storage quote!

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Our Additional Removal Services

Decluttering services to collect and dispose of any unwanted furniture or belongings before or after your move

Advanced delivery of packing materials and any other required items

Temporary or long-term storage solutions for items you don't want to take with you

Use of protective coverings for all furniture during the moving process

Furniture dismantling and reassembly

Placement of furniture and boxes in the desired room and position

Removal of windows or doors for access, and reinstallation after the move

At DBM Express, we provide premium relocation services with a focus on treating every customer's goods and valuables with respect. We understand that moving can be a stressful experience, and that your home is where memories are made and families grow.

Our goal is to ensure that when you move, you're ready to settle into your new home and create new memories with your loved ones. Trust us to handle your relocation with care and professionalism.

Contact DBM Express today to learn more about our relocation services and how we can assist you with your upcoming move.

At DBM Express all customers are treated equally with respect for their goods and valuables with Premium Service for all.

At DBM we understand how moving can be a stressful experience.
We understand that our home is the place where memories are made, where we see our families grow and spend time with the loved ones. Above all, we understand you.

Our goal is to make sure that when you move and finally arrive at your new home, you are ready to settle in and make new memories with your family or partner.

Free, no obligation estimate.

Fill our quick form to get yours.

Get a Quote

Don't just take our word for it! Read what our clients have to say about our relocation services. Check out our testimonials to see how we've helped others with their moves.

Just wanted to drop in a line to say we are very pleased with your service. The guys were very helpful, efficient and courteous.

Will definitely recommend your company to friends.

Thanks
Preeti

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DBM Express - Professional Removal Company in London | Business & Home Removals

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DBM Express is a premier removal company in London, providing professional business and home removals across the UK. Our experienced team offers stress-free and efficient moving services at affordable prices. Contact us today for a hassle-free and smooth moving experience.

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https://www.intercityremovals.com/home-removals/

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Moving with Intercity Removals

Our additional office packing service ensures that all equipment and furniture, such as computers, desks and chairs, is carefully and securely packaged, minimising the risk of breakage in transit. This will allow staff to remain focused on all essential activity right up until the day of the move, minimising disruption and allowing your business to maintain a high level of productivity.

To further minimise disruption, our office removal team can work with you to ensure that all relevant equipment and furniture is packaged according to the department and delivered to designated areas of your new office.

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Moving with Intercity Removals Our additional office packing service ensures that all equipment and furniture, such as computers, desks and chairs, is carefully and securely packaged, minimising the risk of breakage in transit. This will allow staff to remain focused on all essential activity right up until the day of the move, minimising disruption and allowing your business to maintain a high level of productivity.

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https://www.citymoves.co.uk/

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City Moves Removals & Storage

We are a family run company, that cater for Local, National, European, International & Commercial Relocations
"We were blown away with the service we received from City Moves, start to finish they were great. Our move to Perth, Australia was daunting, to say the least but they took care of everything!"
Get a FREE Quote

City Moves is a family run company, offering removal services catering for local, National, European, International & commercial relocations. With a professional and happy work force we are here to help in any way that we can. We are a fully registered company and can offer a wide range of removal services, there is no job too big or small. City Moves are one of the UK's largest family run removals & storage company, with a large fleet of new vehicles, ranging from 3.5 tonners up to 26 tonners.

City moves also offer packing services to help make your journey as stress free as possible. As one of the UK's largest packing suppliers, we stock a wide range of materials to help you pack up your property.

Our mission: City Moves aim to offer every customer the best service possible, with all members of staff being trained to the highest level, to ensure that we are able to undertake any job that you may need assistance with.
Read More

Storage Company

If you're moving home, business location, or need to declutter, we're here to help. We are a family-run storage company that values the security of your belongings during difficult and stressful relocation periods. This is why we offer domestic , business, and archive storage to remove the unnecessary strain from your moving experience. We have storage facilities situated across the UK and internationally to ensure you have access to a dependable and secure storage facility anywhere you go. Whether you have only two boxes or 28, no job is too big or too small for us, and we'll always have room for you. So, for a reliable storage company, choose City Moves.

But don't just take our word for it...

What do I need when moving house?

When moving house, the most valuable things you can have are secure boxes, protection for valuables, and detailed labels. These packing essentials will cushion your valuables and negate confusion and time-wasting when you unpack in your new home. Here at City Moves, we offer a specialised packing service in which we use timber cases and wardrobe boxes to make moving your belongings easier and safer. Find out more about our professional packing services now!

How can commercial removal services help me with my office move?

We strive to be the one-stop shop for office removals and home relocation. So we offer a comprehensive range of services to cover every aspect of your move to make the experience as effortless as possible. Starting with our packing services, we ensure your office supplies are as safe as possible during transit and can even plug everything in, ready for immediate use! We also offer storage solutions for up to 12 weeks, free of charge! City Moves truly does ensure everything is taken care of for you.

Can City Moves removal services help me to move worldwide?

Yes! Here at City Moves, we offer international removal services to many countries, including Australia, Japan, Dubai, Egypt, Scandinavia, and Europe! We take trips to these locations monthly or even weekly, so you won't have to wait long for the opportunity to make the move! Our services are available no matter where you go. So if you need two weeks of storage in Germany or Saudi Arabia, rest assured! Contact us now for free impartial advice on international removals and see how we can help you!

Is it possible to budget the cost of removal services?

Yes! Here at City Moves, we strive to offer affordable removal services to our customers to ensure everyone has the most effortless move possible. One of the best ways to budget the cost is to pick an off-peak day to move and declutter before you start packing! More belongings require more space and will demand higher costs. Contact us now to find out how we can help you budget your removal services!

How can I make moving home less stressful with removal services?

Removal services make moves less stressful by taking care of everything for you. Rather than contacting multiple companies to receive the combination of services you require, removal companies like City Moves offer everything you need in one place. We take care of the hard part for you, and can assist with as many or as few aspects of your move as you need. Do you need help packing your belongings? We offer packing services for just that. Do you need your items delivered ? Would you like free storage at your destination? These are all things we at City Moves include in our packages. Contact us now to start your journey with City Moves!

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Removal Services - Storage Company | City Moves

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City Moves Removals & Storage We are a family run company, that cater for Local, National, European, International & Commercial Relocations "We were blown away with the service we received from City Moves, start to finish they were great. Our move to Perth, Australia was daunting, to say the least but they took care of everything!"

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https://www.kwikshift.co.uk/

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Did you know we cover full and part loads all over the UK? Some of the locations we are delivering / collecting from this week include: Aberdeen Edinburgh Glasgow Stirling London Dartford Croydon Chester Wirral Southport Cumbria Newcastle Lancaster Durham

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Kwikshift Removals and Storage | Wirral Removals | Storage Wirral

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Did you know we cover full and part loads all over the UK? Some of the locations we are delivering / collecting from this week include: Aberdeen Edinburgh Glasgow Stirling London Dartford Croydon Chester Wirral Southport Cumbria Newcastle Lancaster Durham

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https://izzyremovals.co.uk/

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All tasks related to moving house such as dismantling, packing, loading, transporting, arranging and reinstalling can be handled by the professionally trained and experienced staff of Izzy Removals.

Our teams of movers have special skills and long experience in the field of office removals.

By contacting Izzy Removals you can rest assured knowing that you have entrusted your international move to a professional company with expert movers.

It's no secret that moving can be a stressful task, and our specialists are here to help you with managing your relocation stress. You can count on our movers to guide you through the process, door to door.

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All tasks related to moving house such as dismantling, packing, loading, transporting, arranging and reinstalling can be handled by the professionally trained and experienced staff of Izzy Removals. Our teams of movers have special skills and long experience in the field of office removals.

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https://www.removalszone.co.uk/

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London Removals | Man and Van - removalszone.co.uk

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London Removals - Home & House London Removals near you. Reliable, efficient and safe removals. Fully insured. Get Moving!

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https://sleepingshouldbeeasy.com/feeling-depressed-after-moving/

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How to Cope with Feeling Depressed After Moving

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Moving to a new place can be a challenge. From missing your old home to settling in, here’s how to cope with feeling depressed after moving.

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https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2021/03/21/animal-crossing-mental-health/

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Animal Crossing has such a wonderful and rich history, starting with the first game - Animal Forest - releasing in Japan on April 14, 2001, to its current incarnation, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. No one could have expected the most recent release to come at a more pertinent time. New Horizon was released on March 20th 2020 - coincidentally, a time when it was needed the most. The dawn of Spring marked a beginning for lockdown measures in a lot of countries to help manage the spread of COVID 19. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a break from the stress and anxiety created from lockdown as the pandemic took hold around us.

Animal Crossing for the Nintendo Switch not only gave people that sense of routine, with the daily activities that needed to be done and the colourful characters, it also provided a source of positive psychological wellbeing. I work as a therapist in private practice, as well as being a passionate gamer myself, and I have been able to see first-hand that Animal Crossing acts as a psychological calm in our current storm of uncertainty.

The main qualities that Animal Crossing provides people during the pandemic are positivity, stability and also the important quality of self-expression. If you are in a bad mood, the simple act of playing Animal Crossing can lighten this stress as a result of the wonderful environments you find yourself immersed in, even after just a few minutes of play.

From my viewpoint, as a therapist, there is a lot of evidence that demonstrates that playing positive games, exactly like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, can contribute to positive emotions and stability. Animal Crossing encourages continued gameplay and the routine it provides allows a person to cultivate those psychological resources on daily basis.

The most important thing about Animal Crossing is that it ticks all the boxes for the elements of psychological recovery. Psychological recovery covers four areas. They are:

1. Relaxation

2. Distance from Stress

3. Learning Opportunities

4. Feelings of Control

New Horizons provides all four in aplomb. Simply engaging in its light and cheery in-game activities can help us recover from stress, stabilise our mood and also help us develop a sense of mindfulness and gratitude.

It allows the person to restore psychological energy that was spent trying to cope with real life. New Horizons allows the player to take in the ocean, enjoy a virtual landscape and have a few minutes of silent reprieve from the stresses of the world around them by chasing and catching bugs. Even interacting with the villagers can add to the feeling of positivity as there is a sweetness to the game as a result of the positive dialogue. Animal Crossing offers an opportunity for players to engage in uplifting, mindful tasks while also providing a safe space for the player, this positive feedback enhanced by the routine behaviour it encourages. Routine provides the players with the psychological benefits of safety, confidence and well-being. These are feelings that we need plenty of during periods of distress and uncertainty.

The process of loading up New Horizons to complete daily tasks can in itself be very healing as it can empower players to create order out of chaos. The theme of New Horizons is building a peaceful world. When the player starts each day on the island, everything is the same and when there is change in the game it is because of the player's actions. If there are changes that do happen as part of the game, they tend to be positive and uplifting. The very mechanics of the game allow the player to adjust their crafting goals so that they have something to look forward to in the future. These features help us to engage in the psychological process of self-expression. New Horizons offers a level of self-expressive play which allows the player an opportunity to showcase their creativity and individuality within their own tailored game space.

This is a vital part of psychological recovery. The new features and the regular updates that are provided by Nintendo allow the player to engage in identity play. This is the ability to explore different and variable aspects of the self as well as the process of developing identity. New Horizons achieves this by giving the players the option to customise their islands and also their appearances in the game. By giving the players these options, this shows how they want to express themselves to others.

Players engage in self-discovery by finding the perfect outfit combinations and by the construction and decoration of their landscapes. The hours spent in New Horizon are much more productive than we think, we sharpen our understanding of who we are in a world without judgment or restriction. It is powerful for the player to create a space that is relevant to their interests which will lead to recovery and feelings of self-confidence. This ultimately increases positive mood and psychological resilience.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons also provides another important psychological resource for people and that is the psychological resource of agency. It is important as it keeps people constantly replenished and balanced. It is the feeling of autonomy, to do as we please and meaningfully engage with the environment. Just like in previous games of the series, spending time on the island weeding and picking fruit is just as valid an action as travelling to four islands or donating 20 specimens to a museum.

The curiosity and the discovery elements allow a player to constantly engage with the environment. Practising curiosity can be very beneficial for us, as we are only curious when we feel safe. If we are anxious, we tend to be involved in avoidant behaviour. New Horizons provides a safe environment that allows players to engage in levels of curiosity and discovery and by doing so they are engaging in mindfulness and the willingness to grow. Both of these of these traits are essential for creating positive mental health.

As a psychological aid to one's mental health in these trying times, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been invaluable. A wholesome video game experience that also serves as a break from the high demands and stress of life, encouraging beneficial behaviours. With the game having sold upwards of 31 million copies already, Nintendo's masterpiece is more than just a incredibly made piece of interactive entertainment - it's a beacon.

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How Animal Crossing: New Horizons can improve our mental health | TheSixthAxis

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Animal Crossing has such a wonderful and rich history, starting with the first game - Animal Forest - releasing in Japan on April 14, 2001, to its current incarnation, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. No one could have expected the most recent release to come at a more pertinent time.

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https://health.gvm.com.tw/article/72713

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你今天動森了嗎？心理學分析《動物森友會》的療癒力量 | 健康遠見

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編按：「你今天動森了嗎？」Switcth遊戲《集合啦！動物森友會》掀起朋友間互相到島嶼拜訪、詢問大頭菜菜價的熱潮。這個遊戲到底為何如此受歡迎？諮商心理師盧美妏從心理學角度帶你了解。

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https://www.kitepackaging.co.uk/scp/heavy-duty-cardboard-boxes/enviro-box/?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwr82iBhCuARIsAO0EAZwueJYHsWYfHAgtC4JeNcXJuSGEN54jtYk05LxeHnCKJF11ISN_4ZEaAslSEALw_wcB#anchor-sc-tab-details

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About our heavy duty boxes

If you require additional security and support for your shipping or transport applications, our heavy duty Enviro-boxes are an affordable and environmentally friendly solution. Developed in conjunction with WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, the Enviro-box offers a sustainable and reliable alternative to larger double wall boxes with the following unique features:

Increased strength over most double wall boxes

Materials used are 7% lighter, meaning lower transport costs

The process of manufacturing Enviro-box results in a 30% saving in CO2 emissions

Customers interested in learning more about these products can use the information provided below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our customer support team. For those looking to purchase our heavy duty Enviro-boxes, we offer a quick and easy online checkout system.

Recycled content ranges from 60% to 90%.

How they differ to other cardboard box types

These heavy duty single wall boxes from Kite Packaging are also known as our 'Enviro-box'. They offer the protection of traditional double wall boxes but use less material.

Our Enviro-box combines superior strength and durability with an efficient material design. In similar fashion to our single wall cardboard boxes, the heavy duty Enviro-box features a single-wall structure that offers advanced support over our standard single wall and double wall boxes.

The Enviro-box is one of the UK's most environmentally friendly boxes, helping to reduce material waste in the shipping and moving industry.

Our double wall cardboard boxes also offer heavy-duty strength and durability, providing two layers of corrugated cardboard that increase resistance to crushing during transport operations.

Most of our heavy duty Enviro-boxes are also multi-scored, meaning that the height of the carton can be adjusted to suit different contents. They have pre-scored fold lines at heights stated in the table above, simply cut down the corners using a box cutter and fold along the new crease.

Applications and uses

Manufactured from a reinforced single wall, it is robust enough to be reliable yet cheap enough to be affordable.

The Enviro-box is a versatile and durable choice for individuals and companies requiring a cardboard product with enhanced strength and portability. Thanks to a reduced-weight design, the Enviro-box is an efficient and user-friendly alternative to standard heavy duty boxes. The larger sized heavy-duty boxes feature hand holes for ease of transit.

Whether for commercial or personal uses, the Enviro-box is well suited to both large-scale transportation operations and more conventional storage and shipping projects. If customers are shipping extremely heavy objects, however, we recommend our double-walled export and pallet boxes. The Enviro-box is also ideal for companies looking to maintain firm policies on eco-friendly practices.

Available in a range of sizes, customers purchasing the Enviro-box can benefit from the product's multi-scored construction, allowing for adjustable depth and height levels. For individuals or organisations purchasing larger orders, bulk pricing options are available. Wholesale pricing options are also open to our high-volume clients.

Enviro-Box demonstration videos

Below are a selection of relevant videos that will help you with using your cardboard boxes. If you are still unsure of anything to do with the boxes then please call us.

Video: What type of box do I need?
Compare single wall, double wall and Enviro Boxes and discover which is best for your product

Video: How to use multi-scored boxes
Learn how to adjust the height of multi-score boxes using one of our safety cutters

Video: How to measure your product
A demonstration on how to measure your product correctly, and choose the right box.

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If you require additional security and support for your shipping or transport applications, our heavy duty Enviro-boxes are an affordable and environmentally friendly solution.

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https://savetheelephants.org/

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Rare, 'one-in-a-million' footage of a critically endangered wild forest elephant fleeing from a technologically generated bee sound, has been captured by a wildlife camera trap in remote Liberia, western Africa. As human-elephant conflict continues to rise across Africa, researchers are searching for new ways to keep a watchful eye on wild African elephants, even looking to space for guidance.

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https://secure.awf.org/page/113937/donate/1?utm_source=semgpefukdonate&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SEMElephantFundraisingUK&supporter.appealCode=B23Q01E01R&gclid=Cj0KCQjwr82iBhCuARIsAO0EAZwpJ_2S2tBVlKkFSG2QWZMTBH6NrcGHDFrKGzp79P6txIZGeWyKPgsaAlihEALw_wcB

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Can you imagine a world without elephants?

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If you don't act now, the next generation won't have to imagine a world without elephants... they'll be living in it. Give now to save Africa's wildlife from extinction.

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https://support.wwf.org.uk/adopt-an-elephant?utm_source=Google-Generic&utm_medium=PaidSearch-Generic&pc=AVN014003&&&&&ds_rl=1262365&ds_rl=1262365&gclid=Cj0KCQjwr82iBhCuARIsAO0EAZx60j_skuCKGsDLDcbkYFaSWq4BJJ0qf0FjLN4M7dGN6dPYSYoBwUUaApnWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

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Take out an elephant adoption for £3 per month today and help us work with governments and local communities to reduce conflict between people and elephants.

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https://www.planmygapyear.co.uk/thailand/thailand-elephant-sanctuary-volunteers?gclid=Cj0KCQjwr82iBhCuARIsAO0EAZyErlChT_HcrEdEp64egGQ9sX7SAe-0KDqRHD2YT6inD0EWy45WhRYaAolhEALw_wcB

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" Volunteer Programs " Thailand Elephant Sanctuary Volunteers

As an elephant sanctuary volunteer in Thailand with PMGY, you will have the unique chance to work behind the scenes to care for elephants. Eager and passionate volunteers are required to assist with the general upkeep of the project throughout the year. The centre works to rescue and rehabilitate elephants within Thailand. With our team on this Thailand volunteer program, you will have an amazing chance to help care for these gentle giants.
ELEPHANT SANCTUARY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE UN'S DEVELOPMENT GOAL NO.15 - LIFE ON LAND

WORK CLOSELY WITH ELEPHANTS ON A TOP-PICK PROGRAM FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE PRESSURES & DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THAILAND'S WILDLIFE

EXPERIENCE A CAPTIVATING & DYNAMIC CULTURE BY VOLUNTEERING IN THAILAND

EXPLORE SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST MAGNIFICENT TEMPLES IN YOUR FREE TIME

BACKGROUND TO THE ELEPHANT PROGRAM

Thailand is home to both populations of wild and domesticated populations of the Asian elephant. The domestic population is sadly made up of animals that have been caught from their natural habitat or bred in captivity. These animals have been trained/broken to live and work in the tourist or logging industry.

Today, Thailand's wild population elephant population is struggling for survival. The wild elephant population of Thailand is estimated at 2,200, living in open grasslands and dense rainforests spread over the country. Historically, domestic elephants have been used in the logging industry. In turn, they have ironically and unwillingly helped to destroy the very habitat they rely on to survive.

After the ban on logging in 1989, most of the logging elephants ended up being used within the tourism industry. Others have been used to make a living by begging on the streets of big cities. Walking day and night on these dirty and traffic-congested streets is detrimental to the elephant's health, and is simply unnatural. Street begging elephants often end up being involved in road traffic accidents. This commonly results in fatalities for both the elephant and the mahout.

Unfortunately, in Thailand, there are currently no laws to prevent this abuse and mistreatment. Therefore there is an urgent need to help these animals. This is where our participants come in. This sanctuary has been created for elephants to retire and be given the respect these amazing creatures deserve. Our international participants help support the centre, assisting and leading different tasks to help rehabilitate and home these gentle giants.

ELEPHANT VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT

- If you wish to be a responsible volunteer, working ethically with elephants, then this is the place to volunteer. This wildlife volunteering abroad project allows you to learn more about them, the problems they face and be part of the solution. The forested land around the rescue centre gives rescued elephants the chance to roam around in near-natural surroundings. Large pieces of land have been purchased to make these forests and grasslands similar to their natural habitat. The large elephant enclosures allow the elephants the space to move around and socialise with other elephants. Each enclosure can be up to 5-hectares in size, with natural trees, lakes and grazing areas. No elephant is ever chained up, day or night.

The rescue centre provides elephants with the freedom they deserve in a safe and natural environment. Our team provides lifelong veterinary care to those who need it, as well as the best husbandry and diet. As an elephant sanctuary volunteer, you will be taught everything needed to take care of these captivating creatures. A volunteer with elephants in Thailand will prepare food, create enrichment items, clean and maintain enclosures, and harvest plant matter. Common meals for elephants include banana trees and grass. You may also be lucky enough to walk the elephants between pieces of land!

When volunteering in Thailand with elephants, our coordinators will assign participants to groups each day. The groups are managed by team leaders - longer-term experienced participants who assist and guide their teams throughout daily tasks.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL WORKING DAY

As a volunteer in Thailand , you are required to support and assist with the day-to-day operations at the elephant conservation project. This includes (but is not limited to): preparing and distributing food, preparing and distributing behavioural enrichments, assisting with environmental enrichments, cleaning the land, and general maintenance, including maintaining forest areas.

On this Thailand elephant sanctuary volunteer program, the animal volunteering day starts at 6:30am. The Volunteer House is where all organisation and orientation of participants is based. On the Thailand elephant sanctuary volunteer program, you will normally finish work around 5pm. There will be several breaks throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and water and toilet breaks. Participants are expected to work 6 days a week with one day off. The Volunteer House is based on-site at the rescue centre. Although volunteer work with elephants in Thailand is very physically and mentally demanding, the end result is always well worth it. Volunteering in Thailand with elephants is tremendously rewarding.

As a volunteer with elephants in Thailand, you will stay on-site at the wildlife centre. This means that external transport is not required. Any required transport for the needs of the project will be included in your Program Fee.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING IN THAILAND

Strictly Hands-Off - Please be aware the elephant conservation volunteer work in Thailand is strictly hands-off. Volunteer work with elephants in Thailand will involve no physical interaction with animals. The elephant conservation project tries to provide a natural experience for elephants rather than an opportunity to pet the animals.

Instead, elephant volunteers in Thailand will provide the essential daily and long-term needs of the animals. This includes activities such as feeding, cleaning enclosures and providing stimulation in the form of behavioural and environmental enrichments.

Physically & Emotionally Demanding - The work as an elephant conservation volunteer in Thailand is incredibly demanding. Participants must, therefore, be fit in both physical and mental health to complete the project. Before committing to the program, individuals are encouraged to reach out to a member of PMGY staff should they have concerns.

During volunteer work with elephants in Thailand, each participant will have their own pace, strengths and weaknesses. You are asked to kindly respect that not everyone will have the same abilities - individuals may work at different paces. Everyone on the Thailand elephant sanctuary volunteer program is here to help and will make their contribution in their own way.

Additional Tasks - All participants volunteering in Thailand with elephants will be asked to assist in additional tasks outside of project hours. This is to help run the Volunteer House and include activities such as 'house duty' and 'doggie duty'. Typically, two people per day are chosen to help with each. House duty involves ensuring all areas are kept tidy each day and some common housework is completed. Doggie duty involves caring for some of the dogs that live at the Volunteer House. This involves washing, feeding and walking the dogs.

CHOOSING A VOLUNTEER TRIP

Why are PMGY's fees so much more affordable than other organisations?

The PMGY International Team works hard to ensure that our fees are kept as low as possible. Consequently, this makes our experiences affordable and accessible without sacrificing the safety and quality of the overall experience.

Registration Fees to join our programs are assigned to the high levels of comprehensive support that we are renowned for. This includes telephone and online support staff available 24 hours each day, as well as detailed hand-guides and interactive webinars. Therefore, the remaining Program Fees to join the program go directly to our in-country teams, covering everything for your time volunteering. In general, these fees are reflected in your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, in-country support and project upkeep during your time abroad. Furthermore, we make sure our fees are transparent, which is something our participants really appreciate.

Similar organisations offer fancy brochures, run large high-street offices and are usually owned by larger travel organisations with many shareholders. As a result, participants are charged an extremely high price to cover all of these overheads. Therefore, at PMGY, we have embraced the online age by focusing everything around an online presence. We have done away with out-dated brochures, an unnecessary high street presence and we are an independent organisation without any outside financial interests.

What are the requirements to volunteer with elephants in Thailand?

PMGY welcomes elephant sanctuary volunteers of all nationalities, religions and backgrounds. The minimum age to join the program is 18 (or 14 years old with parents) and there is no upper age limit. Furthermore, all participants need to have a good level of English, although it does not need to be your first language. Of course, you do not need to speak Thai. However, you will find that learning a few words in your days with us in Thailand will go a long way.

All elephant volunteers in Thailand must be able to provide a clean criminal background check in advance of volunteering with us abroad. Thus, we are unable to accept anyone who has any previous criminal convictions. In general, no formal experience or qualifications are required for the projects, just lots of energy, enthusiasm and preparation! However, medical and healthcare projects usually require additional documentation before participation begins in-country.

Volunteering overseas can be both physically and mentally challenging. Therefore, all participants must be fit in both areas. Consequently, if you have any medical/mental health conditions that may affect your participation overseas, then these must be declared to us during your online application. If you have any queries regarding your suitability to participate, we recommend that you before committing to the program.

When should I apply to be an elephant volunteer in Thailand?

For the majority of our programs, you can apply at any time. However, we advise that you apply as soon as possible to ensure we have availability on the program. This is since some of our programs only have limited capacity, meaning that spaces get filled very quickly. Therefore, it is particularly important that you apply in good time if you're looking to travel between our peak period of June and August. This is because spaces can fill up very quickly during this period. Furthermore, please only apply if you are 100% committed to joining the program. You need to apply online by locating the "Apply Now" button on the individual project page. This will guide you through our online Application Process .

Indeed, once you have applied and confirmed your place on the program, it may be possible to change your start dates and this will not incur a fee. However, please note that this will be subject to availability and any changes should be made at least 60 days prior to your start date.

What duration would you recommend to volunteering for?

Based on feedback from previous elephant volunteers in Thailand, we believe that 2-4 weeks is the ideal amount of time to volunteer in Thailand. Consequently, this means you have enough time to integrate into the local community and really get involved in a project. For one thing, you will be able to make a positive impact on community development. Elephant sanctuary volunteers will work 6 days per week, meaning you should factor in additional time in Thailand after your project ends to do your independent travels. Due to the nature of the Program workload, it is common for participants to meet other volunteers on the Program to continue travelling with in the backpacker friendly environment.

While our programs are available for a longer duration and we'd love for people to join us for longer periods of time, we only allow people to initially sign up for a maximum of 4 weeks in Thailand. In the past, we have had volunteers commit to longer periods and then prefer to shorten it in order to do independent travel or switch to a different program. Therefore, we recognise that a degree of flexibility is best applied. Once you have arrived and find that you are really enjoying the program, you would be more than welcome to extend your placement based on availability.

For those looking to potentially join us for a longer period, we recommend checking out our Encounter Programs that offer a 2-4 week stay across 3-10 destinations.

Is it safe to travel to PMGY destinations?

Although our participants work in the developing world, we work hard to ensure that our host locations are safe. Firstly, participants safety in each of our destinations is monitored regularly. Each of our volunteer with elephants programs has been inspected by a member of the PMGY International Team. Additionally, PMGY closely follows advice published by the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Alongside the frequent contact we have with our local teams, we are able to ensure that our participants are never placed in unstable or unsafe regions.

The PMGY International Team have visited and participated in every program we offer. Thus, we have carefully inspected every little detail of our set-up, from the living conditions to local neighbourhoods and even the food you'll be eating. Through these checks, we are able to ensure that all of our projects are up to scratch. Furthermore, all of our local teams are experienced development professionals, with years of experience hosting international participants. They are PMGY's representatives on the ground and assist participants 24/7 throughout their stay. Our teams are therefore always on-hand to assist in any emergencies that may occur. Additionally, our 24 hour international emergency telephone line is always accessible. PMGY's in-country staff also have access to local medical professionals should these be required during a participant's time with us.

When you join the Thailand elephant program, we will send you a Volunteer Handbook. This document addresses a range of issues such as health, safety, visas and dress codes. For any unanswered or specific questions, PMGY offers a comprehensive support network, with online and telephone support staff available 24 hours each day. Our advisers welcome participants to ask as many questions as needed for them to effectively prepare for their trip overseas. On a monthly basis, our International Team also hosts both an Introductory Webinar and Safety Webinar. These are interactive opportunities for international participants to learn more about our projects and managing their safety overseas.

When you arrive in-country, you'll be given a comprehensive introduction to the volunteer with elephants program and your specific project. During this session, our team will also cover important safety advice specific to your country. You'll also be given the opportunity to purchase a local SIM-card. This is something we strongly suggest, so you're contactable at all times. In like manner, we will provide you with a full list of the important contact numbers that you'll need to know.

Although we cannot guarantee your experience to be 100% trouble-free we have taken all the necessary precautions to make sure each program is as safe as possible.

Can I use the elephant program as part of a university or college placement?

It is certainly possible to be a volunteer with elephants in Thailand as part of your university or college placement. However, PMGY is unable to guarantee that the Thailand elephant sanctuary volunteer program will fulfil the requirements of your establishment. Therefore, participants are encouraged to speak to a member of the International Team to establish whether the required parameters can be met. This should be done in advance of applying to the program. When appropriate, school/college/university representatives are welcome to contact PMGY to discuss further the suitability of the program in meeting the participant's requirements.

First of all, the PMGY International Team are able to complete paperwork after elephant sanctuary volunteers have confirmed their place on the program. Additionally, project staff in Thailand can also sign-off any paperwork that is required by your course tutors. However, while our team will do their best to complete any paperwork, we are unable to guarantee that we will be able to comply with every learning objective and requirement or your university/college. PMGY regularly receives medical, nursing, childcare and psychology placement students on our projects globally, with ties with some leading universities.

If you're a course tutor and would like further information about how one of PMGY's programs could meet the placement requirements for your course, please directly to schedule a meeting.

BEFORE YOU DEPART

Can I fundraise for my volunteer trip?

With PMGY, the money our participants pay goes towards the structure you receive on the Thailand volunteer program. The fundamentals of this cover aspects such as accommodation, airport pick-ups, around the clock support from our international and in-country teams, pre-departure training as well as the implementation and monitoring of the projects.

We do our best to keep our program costs as low and affordable as possible, without sacrificing quality and safety. However, with flights, travel insurance and spending money to factor into your overall budget, you may find you need a little bit of help with the finances. Consequently, a large number of PMGY participants decide to fundraise for their trip. In these instances, we recommend that elephant sanctuary volunteers set up an online fundraising page to notify friends and family of your trip.

PMGY have partnered with the online crowdfunding website GoGetFunding for participants to create a personalised fundraising page for their trip. This professional online fundraising service allows you to set financial goals and get the message across about what you're doing. You can also share your PMGY fundraising page across various social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to spread the word.

Can I raise money for the projects?

The PMGY Foundation is a UK registered charity (1169415). This charity has been created to help provide financial aid and assistance to projects we work with on an ongoing basis. Importantly, the objective of the PMGY Foundation is the prevention or relief of poverty for people living in the communities we support. This is achieved by providing or assisting the provision of education, training, healthcare and general living support. Therefore together, we hope that the support offered by the PMGY Foundation helps to enable individuals to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient. Consequently, donations made to the PMGY Foundation will be directed to the projects most in need. This is determined by the trustees of the charity during our International Team overseas visits.

If you are looking to help raise money directly for the PMGY Foundation, you can do so via our Virgin Money Giving fundraising page. 100% of all money raised will be donated directly to the projects we support around the world. However, please note that participants are unable to raise money through the PMGY Foundation to help finance the cost of their trip overseas. For elephant volunteers in Thailand looking for further information on how to raise money for their trip abroad, please visit our fundraising page .

How do I register for your online webinars?

Every Tuesday at 4pm (London time), the PMGY International Team hosts one of four pre-departure webinars. These last approximately 45 minutes each and importantly provide volunteers in Thailand with invaluable advice on their upcoming trip. The webinars are hosted by a member of our International Team, who all have extensive knowledge of our projects around the globe. You can attend (and even ask questions) from anywhere in the world, simply by logging in through your own computer. All you need is a computer, a good internet connection and a pair of headphones. In addition to this, if any family or friends would like to attend the session as well, they are more than welcome to do so.

For individuals who have not yet signed up to one of our programs, but would like to learn more about us, we encourage you to join our Introductory Webinar . Across 45 minutes, a member of the International team will introduce you to the concept of volunteering abroad, our destinations and both social and safety aspects of our programs.

For elephant sanctuary volunteers who have already confirmed their volunteering role on the program, there are three for you to choose from. Please note that you need to sign up for the webinar a few days in advance.

Travel Essentials Pre-Departure Webinar - covers all the basics.

Program Preparation Webinar - covers specifically childcare and teaching community work programs.

Safety & Wellbeing Overseas Webinar - covers the risks associated with overseas travel and how you can keep as safe as possible.

Will I require vaccinations and malaria tablets for my volunteer work?

It is possible that as an elephant volunteer in Thailand, you may require a course of vaccinations in preparation for your work in Thailand. However, unfortunately, PMGY is unable to legally advise on these matters, since we are not medical experts. Therefore, it is vital that you contact your local doctor or travel clinic a few months in advance of your intended travel. Your local doctor/nurse will be able to advise you on vaccinations and malaria prevention you may need for entry into your destination. Additional information can be found on the NHS Fit For Travel website .

How do I arrange my flights to volunteer in Thailand?

When you apply to be an elephant volunteer in Thailand, we cannot guarantee your place on the program immediately. Indeed, on receiving an application, we have to liaise with our local team to ensure there is space available on the program and to assess your suitability for the specific project. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not make any flight and/or travel arrangements until your program has been confirmed by us in writing. Of course, once your place on volunteer work with elephants in Thailand has been confirmed, you are then free to book your flights either with PMGY or through a third-party travel agent.

After confirming your place on a PMGY volunteer program, we strongly advise that you book your flights as early as possible. This is since it will help ensure that you get the lowest airfare. You can choose to book your flights independently or we can help you with arranging them. PMGY has a wealth of experience in travelling to and from our host countries. Therefore, we know the most affordable ways to travel and the best airlines to use. Therefore, if you would like any assistance booking your flight , you can request an optional flight quote during your online application. Alternatively, feel free to on the phone or by email.

Do you offer travel insurance?

Importantly, having an appropriate travel insurance policy during your time abroad is essential. Therefore, it is mandatory for all of our international volunteers to be appropriately covered across all of their trip dates. This includes your travel to and from the host country, as well as any onward travel. Although PMGY does everything to ensure your trip is safe, inevitably things can go wrong. Therefore, having a travel insurance policy in place helps you effectively deal with any problems you may encounter during your time away.

We have partnered up with the insurance company battleface to create an affordable and comprehensive optional policy. This has been designed with our international volunteers in mind, to cover our participants for all of their travel essentials. The policy is available to anyone across the globe, up to the age of 65 years. The document will cover you for your time on any PMGY destination and any onward travel (excluding the US and Canada). You can purchase PMGY Travel Insurance during your online application or you can directly to arrange it.

How do I obtain a background check?

To become an elephant sanctuary volunteer, you'll need to provide us with a clean DBS or Police Check before you travel. This is a check that must be issued by an official Governmental or Police Body. PMGY have a commitment to the projects we support to ensure the participants we send are trustworthy and of sound moral character. Consequently, we are unable to accept participants who have had any previous criminal convictions.

If you hold a current DBS or Police Check, then we can accept this, providing it is clear and issued no more than 18 months prior to your program start date. You will need to upload a copy of this to your online portal after confirming your place on the program. Furthermore, the DBS or Police Check must be submitted to us no less than 21 days prior to your program start date.

If you don't have a valid DBS check, then you will need to apply for one. UK participants need to apply for a "Basic Disclosure" through (which serves all people in the UK). This costs 23 GBP and takes around 15 working days to process. Full information on how to obtain a DBS check through Gov.uk is outlined in the Volunteer Handbook, received once you have confirmed your place as an elephant sanctuary volunteer.

For elephant sanctuary volunteers from the US, you can apply for a background check through Sentry Link . It costs 19.95 USD and is usually processed immediately. Alternatively, you are welcome to arrange your own background check through your local Sheriff's Office or governmental body.

For all other international participants, we recommend you obtain a Police/Criminal Background Check through your local police station or official governmental body.

When will I receive my Volunteer Handbook?

All volunteers in Thailand will receive a PMGY Volunteer Handbook once they have paid their deposit and confirmed their place on the program. We will send you an email entitled 'Welcome to PMGY' which will include a link where you can download the Volunteer Handbook. Please note that we do not send a hard copy of the PMGY Volunteer Handbook.

This Handbook contains everything you need to know to prepare as an elephant volunteer in Thailand. Ranging from what to pack to how to obtain a visa, we do our best to ensure you are ready to hit the ground running. Therefore, it is really important that you read through the Volunteer Handbook carefully once you've downloaded it. If you find any of your questions unanswered after reading through this, then our team are always on hand to assist you. You can via email, telephone, Zoom, Facebook, online chat...whatever works best for you!

ON YOUR TRIP

Are there any public holidays that affect project availability?

We aim to communicate as clearly and accurately as possible all holidays that impact project availability. This information can be found via our Holiday Dates page and in the Volunteer Handbook. However, due to the nature of developing countries, holidays can often be sporadic or prone to change. In turn, these can unexpectedly affect project availability. Therefore in such instances, we ask our participants to be flexible and appreciative of this. These periods often provide volunteers in Thailand with a unique experience to enjoy the festivities and holidays themselves. However, our local teams will always do their best to find alternative project work if applicable/possible.

What is the dress code at the projects?

Dress code varies from country-to-country and sometimes from project-to-project. Importantly, we ask that our participants adopt a smart and responsible image during their time in the communities. Of course, we will outline the specific dress code requirements in your Volunteer Handbook so you know exactly what to pack. In addition to this, our local team will also brief you during your in-country orientation on arrival in Thailand.

The general rule of thumb for girls is to cover shoulders, chest, stomach and thighs. In a like matter, for men, shorts should not lie above the knee and shirts should cover shoulders. Whilst we do not wish to impose strict regulations on our participants, we do ask that you respect the local culture during your travels. Moreover, dressing appropriately will earn you the respect of the people you'll be working with. Therefore, our Volunteer Handbooks, outline preferred dress-codes in detail.

Additionally, it's also a good idea to take some nicer clothes for the weekends and special occasions. However, please avoid tight and very short clothing. You should also avoid clothing that may have potentially offensive slogans on it. Tattoos and piercings should be covered where possible whilst you're at your placement, particularly if you're working with children.

Will I be able to travel whilst on the program?

You'll have plenty of opportunities to travel during your time with PMGY. In fact, we encourage you to travel during your free time! Most of our programs have been designed so that you have weekends off. Therefore, this gives you the opportunity to explore the local area or even travel further afield within your host country. Our local coordinators will provide you with all the weekend opportunities and travel tips you need to help you plan any independent adventures. During your time as an elephant volunteer in Thailand, you are sure to make some travel buddies along the way!

Before booking your flights, we recommend that you look into travel opportunities across dates on either side of your volunteering placement. It is always great to spend some time travelling and seeing more of the country you wish to work within. However, if you plan to travel extensively, please factor this into your flight itinerary. This is since we only encourage travel during weekends while you're volunteering, as you have made a commitment as an participant in Thailand.

ACCOMMODATION

Volunteer House
On the Thailand volunteer program, you will live in one of our Volunteer Houses. All houses are located on the same campus. The accommodation is based in the region of Phetchaburi, in southern Thailand. Housing is based on the same grounds as the elephant conservation project rather than in a town. However, there are nearby villages in walking distance for convenience stores. There is also a small shop on the same site as the project that sells snacks, drinks and souvenirs.

As a volunteer in Thailand, you will be living with other international participants. Volunteers in Thailand stay in European style, concrete and brick bungalows. Each room houses on average 2-3 people. The rooms are usually single-sex, however, there can be exceptions for couples, friends and families if requested enough time in advance. Fresh linen is provided weekly during your stay on the experience. Bathrooms at the accommodation are communal, with a western-style toilet and shower. Each room has its own fan.

There is free Wi-Fi in certain areas across the main project base. This can be intermittent, therefore volunteers in Thailand should also purchase a local SIM card in-country to use with an unlocked mobile phone. Throughout the accommodation, there are two main communal areas for international participants to relax and socialise. This is also where the volunteer work is coordinated each morning. There is a local laundry service available at the accommodation. Alternatively, there is some but limited space to perform hand-washing. Individuals on a volunteer trip to Thailand are recommended to bring a small padlock. Any valuables can be stored with our local team, however, participants are encouraged to only bring essential items during their volunteer work in Thailand. There is fridge space within the accommodation for participants to cool items they need to keep chilled. Please note that power cuts are fairly commonplace in Thailand although they tend not to last more than a couple of hours.

The Volunteer Houses are located on the same grounds as our local coordinators. Although they will not be based within the houses, they are accessible if needed. Our accommodation is on the same grounds as our volunteer placement. However, the centre covers acres of land. This means that when your project is not in walking distance from the accommodation, our local team will transport you to and from the project each day. The cost of this service is included in your Program Fee.

MEALS

During your volunteer trip to Thailand, all your meals are provided and are prepared by the local team. Meals are predominantly traditional and local Thai cuisine. Our team clearly label meat, vegetarian and vegan options. There are some western meals provided on a weekly basis. Filtered water is available at the accommodation free of charge.

Here is an example of the meals you can expect:

* Our team will do their best to cater for any dietary requirements. However, this cannot be guaranteed. This means that there may be instances where you need to purchase alternative ingredients at your own expense. Any dietary requirements should be noted within your application and re-iterated to the local team on arrival into the country. Any concerns for major requirements should be raised with the PMGY International Team before confirming your place on the program.

COSTS INVOLVED

* These fees apply to each individual application.
In order to apply to join PMGY you are required to make your Registration Fee payment of 249 USD. In the unlikely event we are unable to offer you a place on the program then your Registration Fee will be refunded in full within 48 hours of applying. The remaining fee is then due no less than 60 days prior to your program start date. During this period if you need to make a change to your trip (destination, program or date) then this can be facilitated for an admin fee of 60 USD. Please note any changes will be subject to availability.

If you're applying within 60 days of your program start date then you'll need to pay the full amount to confirm your place. Likewise, in the unlikely event that we are unable to offer you a place on the program then your payment will be refunded in full within 48 hours of applying.

Any remaining payments must be made no less than 60 days prior to your start date. This payment can be made in one lump sum or in several instalments. If you chose to take our insurance or book a flight with PMGY then these must be paid for (in full) at the time of booking.

Payments can be made directly through our website using all major debit and credit cards. We will outline instructions to make payment in our email communication with you. Please note credit card payments are subject to a 5% additional fee to cover the bank charges that PMGY incur.

OPTIONAL TRIPLE CARBON OFFSET SCHEME - 45 USD

PMGY provide participants with the opportunity to contribute towards our Triple Carbon Offset Scheme. This not only helps eliminate your carbon footprint but helps the planet with a positive contribution every time you fly. The Triple Offset Idea for volunteers in Thailand works as follows -

🇰🇪 Kenya - 57 mango trees are planted in Kenya. These are capable of absorbing the total carbon emissions for a volunteer trip to Thailand and also help provide a sustainable income for local farmers.

🇮🇳 India - 80 days of access to a solar cooker are provided to a family in India. This means the family don't have to spend on firewood and thus reduce their dependence on trees.

🇺🇸 USA - 1.25kg of rescued meals are provided to the homeless in the USA. This recycles wasted food reduces methane emission from food waste which is equivalent to 1lb of CO2 emissions.

This optional add-on can be added during the online application process or can even be added on at a later date. The offset platform is provided by our charity, the PMGY Foundation and ensures that 100% of contributions are put towards high impact projects around the world.

VOLUNTEER IN THAILAND REVIEWS

Hi guys, I'm doing the elephant programme in september for 3 weeks. And then going on to backpack around thailand for a few weeks. I was wondering if anyone else is going around then and if there's a group chat?

Hi I'm doing the Thailand elephant sanctuary volunteering from the 7th May - 11th June. Is anyone going to be there during that time? Would love to get to know people beforehand:)

Hey guys!! My names Eilidh and I'm from Vancouver, BC. I'm heading over June 24th for the Real Thailand Experience program. I'm heading over alone so let me know if there's a group chat or anything xx

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" Volunteer Programs " Thailand Elephant Sanctuary Volunteers As an elephant sanctuary volunteer in Thailand with PMGY, you will have the unique chance to work behind the scenes to care for elephants. Eager and passionate volunteers are required to assist with the general upkeep of the project throughout the year.

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Donate as many food items as you can and dispose of any open packages to avoid spills/messes.

Make sure all kitchen appliances (coffee maker, toaster, blender, etc.) are emptied and clean before packing. Wrap their cords in a plastic bag and place them inside the appliance.

Pack appliances in their original boxes if you have them.

All breakable items should be in a box labeled "FRAGILE".

Use bubble wrap to stack smaller dishes and prevent them from breaking during the trip.

Packing a dining room

Breakable items may take more attention to detail when it comes to packing your dining room.

Utilize kitchen towels, newspaper, cardboard pieces and/or linens to line boxes and serve as bumpers for plates and china.

Roll rugs up and secure them with plastic ties or rope.

Packing a living or family room

From your smart TV to mirrors and family photos, the following tips can help with packing a living or family room.

Remove light bulbs and shades from lamps and chandeliers and wrap each separately.

Keep any irreplaceable photos or videos with you during your move - hot or humid climates can affect photo paper.

Use blankets and towels to wrap mirrors and paintings. For mirrors or large framed pictures, place an 'X' made of masking tape over the glass in order to minimize spilled glass in the case of a break.

If you have the original packing/boxes, use those to repack any electronics, such as televisions.

Packing a bedroom

When figuring out how to pack up a bedroom, the following pointers will get you started and keep you organized throughout your moving process.

Leave hanging clothes on hangers and place them directly in boxes or moving containers.

Keep valuable possessions such as jewelry in a secure case or box. Keep these with you and not in the moving truck.

Thread thin necklaces through drinking straws or toilet paper rolls to keep them from getting tangled and use buttons to keep your earring together.

Place loose items in luggage or suitcases for quick packing.

Shoes can be packed in original boxes if available, or within larger boxes.

Protect mattresses and furniture with old sheets and blankets for the move.

Put all bedding and pillows in trash bags to keep dust out and place them in labeled moving boxes.

Packing a bathroom

The bathroom can be a place that's neglected when it comes to packing. The following tips can be a good place to start.

Try to pack your bathroom necessities last.

Make sure all toiletries are closed and won't leak in plastic bags.

Pack any medications separately and label the box accordingly.

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How to Pack for a Move: A Checklist by Room

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Your home office can include a lot of important items and documents. How you choose to pack your electronics, paperwork, and other stationery is essential. Avoid packing boxes too heavily. Consider color-coding wires for electronics when disassembling them. Keep all important documents in a secure box and close to you.

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MOVING HOUSE RANKED ‘MOST STRESSFUL LIFE EVENT’ BY 57% OF BRITS

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MOVING HOUSE RANKED ‘MOST STRESSFUL LIFE EVENT’ BY 57% OF BRITS

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https://insideconveyancing.co.uk/news/moving-house-ranked-most-stressful-life-event-by-57-of-brits/

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Moving house has been ranked 'most stressful life event' by 57% of Brits, in a new poll carried out on behalf of Legal & General Retail.

Key points from research:

New poll reveals moving house more stressful than having children or going through divorce

Increased stress levels (47%) and anxiety (41%) experienced by UK homebuyers due to moving

40% dread not having enough money to cover hidden expenses, while 37% really hate packing and unboxing

Over half (58%) paid over budget for their most recent property and in retrospect 33% wished they'd saved more before committing

People are moving due to needing more space (42%) or for a change of lifestyle (26%)

Waiting to exchange contracts (32%) and finding a new property (31%) were cited as most difficult aspects of buying

Britain is on the move. Life after lockdown has seen no shortage of households looking to up sticks.

New research from Legal & General Retail reveals the average Brit moves four times in their life - yet it's still the most stressful thing you can do, even more so than having a child or going through divorce.

Legal & General conducted a survey to discover how home buyers (incl. first time buyers, people who are moving, or people buying a second home) have coped with their big move. From finding a property to finalising a mortgage, the research investigates the most common difficulties homebuyers face and how unexpected hurdles in the homebuying process can influence future decisions.
Motivations behind moving
It's no secret that many have flocked to the suburbs due to flexible working policies and, as our poll confirms, many movers are happy to put up with the stress of moving in exchange for a garden or spare bedroom. 42% of respondents cited needing more space as their main reason for moving, while 26% said they moved for a change of scenery and/or lifestyle.
Stressful side effects
Whatever the motivation for moving, buyers have been feeling the pressure. Almost half of respondents (47%) experienced increased stress levels because of moving. While getting the keys to a new place should be exciting, 41% of adults experienced anxiety, sleep deprivation (31%) and arguments with their partner (25%). One key stress inducing factor was time, with 46% of home buyers having to wait between 3 and 5 months to complete their move.

Legal & General Retail wanted to find out how moving house compares to other life changing moments. Over half of respondents ranked moving house as the most stressful life event, more so than having a child, starting a new job, or going through a divorce. Both men and women cited moving house as the most stressful life event - 51% and 62% respectively. However, women were more likely to state, 'having a child' (37%) as their second biggest stressor, while for men it was their third (26%) behind job interviews (30%).
Process pain points
Waiting to exchange contracts is the biggest bugbear for homebuyers, with 32% citing this as the most difficult aspect of buying a new home. Almost a quarter (23%) found that calculating the upfront costs was the most difficult aspect of the process, while 21% cited raising a deposit as their biggest struggle.

When looking to buy a home, 40% of Brits dread not having enough money to cover unexpected or additional expenses. Over half (58%) of Brits that had recently completed their move said that purchasing their property cost more than they had budgeted for. 53% of those spent an extra £1,001-£2,000, and 46% spent an extra £501-£1,000 over budget.

Seven in ten (70%) Londoners will most likely go over budget when buying a property, the highest of any region. In fact, those in the Southeast of England and the West Midlands were the only regions where most people didn't exceed their original budget.

So, what would homebuyers do differently next time? 33% said they would want to understand the complexity of buying a property more thoroughly. Many said they would need to be more prepared with their finances. A third (33%) said that they would save more money than just the deposit required, whilst 27% said they would improve their budgeting and planning for transition costs.

While costs were a source of stress across the board, money worries were keenly felt by young people. The research finds more 18-24-year-olds paid over budget than any other age group, so much so that 27% said they wouldn't consider moving again in the future.

Despite all challenges, a resounding 84% of adults polled said they would still consider moving again in the future. Whatever the stresses - and there are many - associated with moving, our respondents ultimately told us that buying a home is still worth it.

Chief Marketing Officer & Direct MD, Legal & General Retail, Paula Llewellyn, commented:
"There's no shortage of households considering moving across the UK- but it's clear it's still an incredibly stressful life event, especially due to the financial strain of the process. "An overwhelming 58% of homebuyers polled said their most recent property cost more than they budgeted for, while 40% were concerned about not having enough money to cover costs. "Almost a third of respondents said in retrospect they'd want to understand the complexity of the process before moving. "I hope our research can help support those looking to move in the future." Hidden costs calculator
Whether you're a first-time buyer, or going through the process again, Legal & General has developed a handy tool to avoid those financial headaches. It helps you calculate any hidden costs you might encounter while climbing the properly ladder.

The story can be found here, and the Hidden Costs Calculator can be found here.

Kindly shared by Legal & General
Main article photo courtesy of Pixabay

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Moving house ranked 'most stressful life event' by 57% of Brits

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Key points from research: New poll reveals moving house more stressful than having children or going through divorce Increased stress levels (47%) and anxiety (41%) experienced by UK homebuyers due to moving 40% dread not having enough money to cover hidden expenses, while 37% really hate packing and unboxing Over

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https://www.thearticle.com/moving-house-may-not-make-us-happier-but-feeling-at-home-certainly-does

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Rightmove, the property comparison website, has insinuated itself so completely into our lives that it is now branching out beyond house prices to define what we mean by happiness. The Happy at Home index, based on a national survey of more than 20,000 users of the site, ranks every town in the UK according to criteria that include "a sense of belonging, the friendliness of local residents and being able to be yourself in an area". Needless to say, Rightmove claims that "moving is making people happier". Whether or not location really plays such a big role in wellbeing, the unspoken purpose of the index is to encourage people to believe it.

Top of the geographical happiness charts this year is Hexham, a small town in Northumberland. The average price of a home there is £297,088. This is just above the national average of £288,000 in England, or £270,000 in the UK, according to the latest figures compiled by the Office of National Statistics in September - an annual rise of nearly 12 per cent. The pandemic has been catastrophic for many, but it has prompted an exodus from the cities. We are living through the largest boom in house prices since 2008 - a crash that began when the American real estate bubble burst, bringing more misery in its wake than any index could measure.

Despite a gradual return to office life since the last lockdown, the "working from home" phenomenon does seem to be here to stay. This doesn't have to mean urban families moving into rural communities, but it often does. Provided that these demographic shifts remain within bounds, they need not alter the character of small towns or the rhythms of country life. The newcomers may even enhance their new neighbourhoods, bringing youth, health and wealth with them. Communities accustomed only to second-home owners, holiday lets and commuters, leaving them desolate except at weekends, are now finding that home-workers are a visible presence all year round. Not every insider will welcome these outsiders. Unlike tourists and other visitors, however, those who work from home are not merely passing trade but regular customers for local businesses, creating new jobs in places where lack of employment causes young people to leave.

The Happy at Home index reveals that economic disparities don't always translate into existential ones. The average monthly salary in Hexham is just £842, just over a quarter of that in Richmond upon Thames, the runner-up, where earnings are £3,235 and homes cost £1,196,892 on average. But Hexham is prosperous compared to Llandrindod Wells, Powys, in Wales. There a home costs only £193,601 and wages average just £445 a month. These figures don't tell the whole story, of course, because many people live not on salaries but on pensions, savings, benefits or are self-employed. Still: we all know that money can't buy you love, but it seems that it can't buy you the happiness that comes from feeling rooted in a community, either.

For Londoners, what is striking about the present situation is how easy it has been to ignore all but a tiny proportion of the rest of the country. The scales have well and truly fallen from the eyes of city-dwellers, as they realise how much Britain has to offer when they venture out of their comfort zone. The slightly condescending vogue for the "staycation" may be ephemeral, making a virtue out of necessity, but our love affair with rusticity is at least as old as the United Kingdom. It is also one of the things about this country that foreigners, especially Americans, have most admired. "Of all the great things that the English have invented and made part of the credit of the national character," that loquacious Anglophile Henry James observed, "the most perfect, the most characteristic, the only one they have mastered completely in all its details, so that it becomes a compendious illustration of their social genius and their manners, is the well-appointed, well-administered, well-filled country house."

There is nothing new, either, about the urban snobbery that still renders many denizens of the capital blind to the green and pleasant land that surrounds them. Aesop's gently satirical fable of the town mouse and the country mouse, retold by Beatrix Potter in The Tale of Johnny Town Mouse, reminds us of this ancient fact of life. Yet it is remarkable that the first English definition of "provincial" in the pejorative sense of "rude, unpolished" comes in Johnson's Dictionary of 1755. He cites Swift sympathising with "a country squire having only the provincial accent upon his tongue, which is neither a fault, nor in his power to remedy", but who must nevertheless content himself with marrying "a cast wench". Neither the ancient Romans, for whom provincialis was a neutral term for the administrative regions of their empire, nor the medieval English, for whom the word was associated with the "province" of an archbishop or a religious order, invested the notion with such disdain. Only in the 18th century, when London grew into the world's greatest metropolis, did its inhabitants grow too big for their boots. The provenance of "provincial" tells us less about those to whom it refers than about those who use it maliciously.

Now we are living in a time of rebalancing. Happiness is elusive and moving house doesn't necessarily bring it any closer. Neither is the crock of gold at the end of the rainbow to be found on Rightmove or Zoopla. The real treasure is, of course, the rainbow itself - which, like the night sky, is one of the sights, sounds and smells that are only noticeable outside the city.

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Moving house may not make us happier, but feeling at home certainly does | TheArticle

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Rightmove, the property comparison website, has insinuated itself so completely into our lives that it is now branching out beyond house prices to define what we mean by happiness.

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https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/residential/should-you-buy-fully-fitted-ready-to-move-houses/65172964?redirect=1

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Published On Jul 28, 2018 at 10:17 AM IST

Read by: 100 Industry Professionals

Read by 100 Industry Professionals

By: Preeti Sharma

When it comes to buying a house, the real estate market offers several options. Whether to buy a fully fitted house or a bare one to furnish on your own, is a big decision. Do cupboards in the bedrooms, cabinets in the kitchen, fitted home appliances and wooden basics influence your choice while buying a house?

Naveen Kapoor recently bought an unfurnished builder floor in Indirapuram. He wants to redesign the entire house in his own way and for this he is willing to spend a few additional lakhs. "I don't like interiors done by others. I want to do my house according to my taste. I know it will take at least three months as I am going to change the exterior look of the house as well. But I am fine with it."
Your choice matters
There are mainly three kinds of properties available in the market - furnished, semi-furnished and unfurnished. What kind of property you want depends completely on your needs, requirements and lifestyle.

Furnished apartment: A furnished apartment has different specifications. The price ranges also vary according to the amenities offered. If you purchase a fully-furnished apartment, you will get wardrobes, cabinets, air conditioners, water heaters, ceiling fans, lights, chimney and almost everything that makes the house furnished.

The advantage in buying a fully-furnished apartment is that it allows you to enjoy the amenities as soon as you shift, without going through the tiresome process of buying and transportation. But remember, property values go up as per the number of amenities offered by the developer. They are different from ready-to-move-in houses which are only structurally complete but not furnished in a way that they can render a lifestyle to the occupants.

Semi-furnished apartment: On the other hand, in a semi-furnished unit the available amenities differ. In such units, you can get minimum furnishing and basic woodwork but not expensive home appliances. These homes come with an advantage that these units have basic amenities and do not make you spend too much on shifting.

Unfurnished units: These are bare houses that have to be equipped with all internal amenities such as appliances, electrical furnishings, wood work, sanitary fixtures, lights etc. The best part of buying such houses is that you are free to 'build' your house as you want. From floor design to lightings and from modular kitchen to walk-in wardrobes - the sky is the limit to what you can do in your house.

At the live discussion on 'This Week In Property' organised by Magicbricks, a property expert said, "Nowadays, all kinds of houses are available. The premium apartments are always fully fitted and renowned developers fit the house with branded products. However, they charge extra for this. This extra cost is very convenient if you don't have time to buy all those things. If you want to avoid the extra cost, you can go for the bare shell apartment and design as per your choice."

Things to keep in mind

Developers are in the business of constructing a house and for them fully furnishing a house is not a huge task as they buy things in bulk. They can negotiate aggressively with the suppliers so the whole thing works out cheaper for them.

Experts say that post the implementation of Goods & Services Tax (GST), when you buy an AC, fridge or make your kitchen modular, you will have to pay GST on all these items. But when all these things are bought by the developer, then he will pay GST on that. This cost he will adjust against the GST that you are going to pay and then the credit will be passed on to you.

In case of premium homes, buyers want to own a house that is unique and exclusive and thus, might not want to buy a furnished house. Such home buyers don't want a house that has the same fixtures like several others.

Where the developer is offering a fully loaded house but the customer doesn't want the fixtures, will the developer cut the price for him?

Experts say that developers are also changing their strategies as per the mood of the market. A recce of the market shows that some developers have created a bank of products to choose from. They add the cost of furnishings to the cost of your property and reduce the price of what you don't need.

Kashinath B, a Bengaluru-based developer says, "If I give modular kitchen to my customers, they are not ready to take it. Everybody wants to negotiate on the price of the apartment instead. I don't think people are interested in buying a fully fitted house from developers anymore."

When you are buying a fully-loaded house, experts recommend you get an architect or a professional with experience in interiors to do an audit of the furnishings and fittings that you have got. They can guide and advise you on the quality of the products used.

Another important aspect to consider when you take possession of your house is to make sure you collect the warranty certificates of the products that the developer has fitted. They should be with you not with the builder because you are the one who is going to maintain these in future.

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Should you buy fully fitted, ready to move houses? - ET RealEstate

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Published On Jul 28, 2018 at 10:17 AM IST Read by: 100 Industry Professionals Read by 100 Industry Professionals By: Preeti Sharma When it comes to buying a house, the real estate market offers several options. Whether to buy a fully fitted house or a bare one to furnish on your own, is a big decision.

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https://youtu.be/q0RX59G2jaA

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What a Japanese Moving Company in Tokyo is like

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https://konmari.com/about-marie-kondo/

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About Marie Kondo – KonMari | The Official Website of Marie Kondo

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https://matcha-jp.com/en/9944

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You may have had a single suitcase when you first arrived in Japan. However, you'll acquire more belongings to fill your home as you continue residing here. What should you do if you're planning on relocating to a new residence? Leave it to Japan's moving experts to be of assistance!

Tips for Moving in Japan: How to Request a Moving Company
Photo by Pixta
As our writer settled in Japan, her belongings began to increase from purchasing new items. When it came time to move, she regretted buying so much stuff.

Fortunately, many Japanese moving companies offer packing services. Some companies even use cushioned cardboard boxes made for tableware, which saves you the time and trouble of individually wrapping plates in old newspapers.

In addition to the major moving companies featured in TV commercials, there are smaller companies and sole proprietors that offer private services. This allows you to compare and choose a company that suits your budget and needs. Even if you only have a single piece of furniture or luggage to move, some companies will transport it for you. This is great for people who want to give away furniture, such as a cabinet or bed, or need to deliver items to a buyer on a flea market app.
Looking for an apartment? Asumirai offers consultations in English, Chinese, and Korean, as well as additional support services.
The Steps for Hiring a Moving Company

A moving company is usually hired to transport belongings during a move. The general steps are as follows:

1. Calculate the number of household goods you own and request free cardboard boxes from the company (Some movers may set a date to get an estimate).
2. Pack your belongings in the cardboard boxes. (Excluding large furniture like shelves, refrigerators, and washing machines.)
3. On your moving day, the company staff will pack and deliver all large-sized belongings.
4. Once they finish carrying out your belongings, you will head to your new home.

This is a rough idea of the procedure. In reality, the move itself requires a lot of work, like deciding which company to go with and packing up.

The Most Recommended Moving Companies

Let's take a look at a handful of moving companies in Japan offering attractive services. The table below has details on each company.

Available nationwide in Japan. They provide great quality service and have a good reputation.

Cardboard boxes are not free. Their single-person moving service only transports belongings that fit on two utility dollies.

Offers wide selection of services that fit various budget and needs.

Price quotation requires direct communication with the company.

They offer a "Ladies' Plan" for female customers that only assigns female movers.

Price quotation requires direct communication with the company.

Transportation available at low rates, even for a single item.

Service areas are limited to Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa.

1. Yamato Transport

Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
This is one of Japan's major delivery companies, known for their black cat logo. They offer luggage delivery and moving services with security and quality standards.

Until now, it wasn't sensible to choose a major company for a single household with few belongings. This is because Yamato Transport had branded itself as a company that transports a large number of goods.

However, the parcel delivery provider has developed a service for single households called Single-Person Moving. This service transports your belongings in a special cart box that is 104cm (3ft 4.9in) deep, 104cm wide, and 170cm (5ft 6.9in) tall.

A single cart box will be sufficient if you have few belongings. However, you will need two boxes for electrical appliances like a refrigerator or washing machine. Prices vary according to the number of boxes and the distance between your old and new residence.

The company also offers optional services such as washing machine removal and installation, TV and internet wiring installation, and light installation. These are available for an additional charge.

Service Area: Nationwide
Official Website: https://www.008008.jp/en/
*Moving services are handled by Yamato Home Convenience Co., Ltd. under Yamato Holdings Co.

2. Sakai Moving Service
Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
Sakai Moving Service is a major moving company with an eye-catching panda logo. They offer several plans and services for customers.

The Shared Delivery Plan (ご一緒便コース) transports your belongings in the space of their truck. This service is for people with few belongings, who have plenty of time until their arrival date. Other options include the Saver Plan (せつやくコース) where the staff transport only large furniture and electrical appliances and the customer packs everything else. The Comfy Plan Premium (らくらくコースプレミアム) leaves all of the tedious work to the staff-including packing, carrying, and cleaning your new residence.

Optional paid services include house cleaning, internet subscription, landscape services, land freight services to transport your car, and disposal of unwanted items.

Service Area: Nationwide
Official Website: http://www.hikkoshi-sakai.co.jp/ (Japanese)

3. Art Corporation
Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
If you've been in Japan for a while, the company jingle will pop into your head as soon as you see the "0123" logo; the Art Corporation is known for its catchy commercial song.

They offer three primary moving plans. The most economical is the Basic Plan, which requires the customer to pack and unpack everything except for large furniture. The Half Plan will have the staff pack for moving, but the customer must unpack themselves. This plan is recommended for those who prefer to take their time organizing everything themselves. The most comfortable option is the Full Plan, which leaves everything-including packing and unpacking-to the staff.

They also offer a Ladies' Pack for female customers. On this plan, only female staff will assist in moving.

A standout feature among their free services is the After Service. The company will collect your cardboard boxes for free as long as it's within three months of your moving date. Staff will also move large furniture items, such as cabinets and beds, free of charge within one year of your move. Keep in mind that these complimentary services are offered only once within the allocated timeframe.

Moreover, there are plenty of paid options that include collecting unwanted household items, air conditioner cleaning, and house cleaning. Fees will vary based on the size of your residence.

Service Area: Nationwide
Official Website: https://www.the0123.com/ (Japanese)

4. Dekataku
Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
If you're someone with only a few belongings, what should you do when you move?

Dekataku (Japanese) is unique among the companies mentioned in this article. They focus on customers who need to transport a single item, or a small quantity that would be difficult to send via mail.

We suggest you use Dekataku if:

1. You moved your own belongings, but were unable to transport a large piece of furniture or electrical appliance.
2. You sold large furniture online and need to send it to the buyer.
3. You're giving unwanted large furniture and/or electrical appliances to acquaintance(s).
Picture courtesy of PR TIMES
Another benefit of using Dekataku is that you don't need to wrap or pack your belongings yourself. As soon as the staff arrives, they will wrap your belongings in cushioned material and deliver it to the designated address. Bed dismantling and assembly are also available, for additional fees. As for washing machines, the removal is free, but the installation will be an extra charge.

The delivery fee is calculated by the sum of the item's three sides (width, depth, and height) and destination address. For example, sending a top-load washing machine totaling 186cm (6ft 1.2in) from Chiba Prefecture to Tokyo (within the 23 wards) would cost 3,200 yen.

Service Area: Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa
Official Website: Dekataku (Japanese)

Ready to Move? Don't Forget to Ask for a Quote

When moving, don't forget to calculate the delivery fee of your belongings in addition to rent and other expenses. The cost will increase the farther you plan to move and the more belongings you have. Carefully decide which company to use by comparing fees among the various options available!
Main image by Pixta

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Moving In Japan: Recommended Moving Companies And Services | MATCHA - JAPAN TRAVEL WEB MAGAZINE

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You may have had a single suitcase when you first arrived in Japan. However, you'll acquire more belongings to fill your home as you continue residing here. What should you do if you're planning on relocating to a new residence? Leave it to Japan's moving experts to be of assistance!

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https://www.comparemymove.com/advice/removals/planning/best-movers-packers-uk#

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https://www.europeanremovalservices.co.uk/blog/what-are-the-different-types-of-services-provided-by-a-removal-company/

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What Are The Different Types Of Services Provided By A Removal Company? | European Removal Services

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If you have decided to relocate to a new location, you will need to relocate all of your belongings which can be a very challenging and frustrating task. That's where removal services come in handy as they can ease up the entire process of moving for you.

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https://www.top-removals.co.uk/house-moving-stats-and-facts/

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People constantly move from one place to another in search of the ideal living and working conditions. It has been like that since the dawn of time. However, nowadays, you can delegate the majority of the tasks to professional removal companies that can help you achieve your goals. So let's take a look at the amazing world of UK house relocations and let the numbers speak for themselves.

1. General House Moving Stats and Facts

2. On average, roughly 100 000 UK households will move to a new home every month.

3. The people who decide to relocate their house are usually between the ages of 18 and 30.

4. The people in the different parts of the UK have different moving behaviour. For example, the Births from Wales move every 33 years on average, whereas those from Scotland - every 15 years.

5. 75% of house moves in the UK are domestic, and only 25% are international.

6. People from Wakefield tend to move the biggest number of rooms on average - 3.12.

7. The majority of people prefer to relocate during the warmer Summer months. It also means Summer is the most active season for house removal companies.

8. Regardless of the season, the busiest days of the week for house movers are Fridays and Saturdays, while Sundays are usually the least popular.

10. The minimum deposit to rent a home in the UK in 2022 is £27,400.

11. The top 3 reasons people give when asked why have they chosen to relocate are:

To be closer to practical amenities like medical facilities and shops

To be closer to their friends and relatives

For work-related reasons

2. Which Are The Most Expensive Parts of the Country to Move to

13. The top 5 most expensive cities to relocate to are:

Winchester, South East

Oxford, South East

Bath, South West

Truro, South West

Chichester, South East

3. Which Are The Cheapest Parts of the Country to Move to

14. Shildon in County Durham is the cheapest place in the UK you can move to in 2022. The average property price is just £71,000.

15. The top 5 cheapest places to move to are:

Shildon, County Durham

Cleator Moor, Copeland

Ferryhill, County Durham

Stevenson, North Ayreshire

Cumnock, East Ayrshire

4. What Is the Average House Size in the UK in 2022

16. The average property size in England in 2022 is 729 sq ft.

18. In the North East of England, the average property size is bigger, standing at 748 sq ft.

5. London House Moving Stats for 2022

21. The average size of a home in London is 705 sq ft.

23. After they relocate into their new home, Londoners spend on average £1,793 on home-improving tech.

6. Stats and Facts about House Moving Industry

24. The most valuable consumer group in the UK in 2022 are the home-movers, as the amount of funds they spend pre, during and post their removals significantly surpasses the money spent by the others.

25. On average, homeowners spend £13,000 within a year of moving to their new house for additional expenses like furniture, home renovations, plants, etc.

27. There are a total of 14,184 moving companies in the UK.

29. During the lockdown, the need for removal services declined by nearly 65% compared to 2018.

30. Once the lockdown was over, the moving industry saw an unprecedented increase in the number of people searching to relocate - almost 180%.

7. What Are the Average UK House Removal Costs for 2022?

31. The average removal costs in the UK depend on various factors, but roughly you can estimate the following:

8.1 What is the most common day to move house?

On average, the most popular day for a house move, regardless of the season, is Friday. According to statistics for the last 16 years, Friday has been the most preferred time to relocate for more than 30% of the people.

8.2 What stops people from moving more often?

Based on a recent study, the top 5 obstacles people have to overcome when relocating their home are:

The stress caused by the house-moving process

Mortgage affordability or rent (deposit)

Family

Cost of moving

Job security

8.3 How long is the average house relocation?

Depending on where you are moving to, how many items you have, and the additional services you might have booked (packing/unpacking), the average house move can take from 2-3 hours to a couple of days. To make a more detailed estimate, use our house moving guide.

9. Conclusion

As people persist with their neverending search for "better lands," we will continue seeing a rise in the quality of house moving services. The competition is fierce, and only the best moving companies will be able to remain on top.

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31 Intriguing Facts and Stats about the House Removal Industry in the UK

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People constantly move from one place to another in search of the ideal living and working conditions. It has been like that since the dawn of time. However, nowadays, you can delegate the majority of the tasks to professional removal companies that can help you achieve your goals.

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https://www.top-removals.co.uk/house-moving-stats-and-facts/

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People constantly move from one place to another in search of the ideal living and working conditions. It has been like that since the dawn of time. However, nowadays, you can delegate the majority of the tasks to professional removal companies that can help you achieve your goals. So let's take a look at the amazing world of UK house relocations and let the numbers speak for themselves.

1. General House Moving Stats and Facts

2. On average, roughly 100 000 UK households will move to a new home every month.

3. The people who decide to relocate their house are usually between the ages of 18 and 30.

4. The people in the different parts of the UK have different moving behaviour. For example, the Births from Wales move every 33 years on average, whereas those from Scotland - every 15 years.

5. 75% of house moves in the UK are domestic, and only 25% are international.

6. People from Wakefield tend to move the biggest number of rooms on average - 3.12.

7. The majority of people prefer to relocate during the warmer Summer months. It also means Summer is the most active season for house removal companies.

8. Regardless of the season, the busiest days of the week for house movers are Fridays and Saturdays, while Sundays are usually the least popular.

10. The minimum deposit to rent a home in the UK in 2022 is £27,400.

11. The top 3 reasons people give when asked why have they chosen to relocate are:

To be closer to practical amenities like medical facilities and shops

To be closer to their friends and relatives

For work-related reasons

2. Which Are The Most Expensive Parts of the Country to Move to

13. The top 5 most expensive cities to relocate to are:

Winchester, South East

Oxford, South East

Bath, South West

Truro, South West

Chichester, South East

3. Which Are The Cheapest Parts of the Country to Move to

14. Shildon in County Durham is the cheapest place in the UK you can move to in 2022. The average property price is just £71,000.

15. The top 5 cheapest places to move to are:

Shildon, County Durham

Cleator Moor, Copeland

Ferryhill, County Durham

Stevenson, North Ayreshire

Cumnock, East Ayrshire

4. What Is the Average House Size in the UK in 2022

16. The average property size in England in 2022 is 729 sq ft.

18. In the North East of England, the average property size is bigger, standing at 748 sq ft.

5. London House Moving Stats for 2022

21. The average size of a home in London is 705 sq ft.

23. After they relocate into their new home, Londoners spend on average £1,793 on home-improving tech.

6. Stats and Facts about House Moving Industry

24. The most valuable consumer group in the UK in 2022 are the home-movers, as the amount of funds they spend pre, during and post their removals significantly surpasses the money spent by the others.

25. On average, homeowners spend £13,000 within a year of moving to their new house for additional expenses like furniture, home renovations, plants, etc.

27. There are a total of 14,184 moving companies in the UK.

29. During the lockdown, the need for removal services declined by nearly 65% compared to 2018.

30. Once the lockdown was over, the moving industry saw an unprecedented increase in the number of people searching to relocate - almost 180%.

7. What Are the Average UK House Removal Costs for 2022?

31. The average removal costs in the UK depend on various factors, but roughly you can estimate the following:

8.1 What is the most common day to move house?

On average, the most popular day for a house move, regardless of the season, is Friday. According to statistics for the last 16 years, Friday has been the most preferred time to relocate for more than 30% of the people.

8.2 What stops people from moving more often?

Based on a recent study, the top 5 obstacles people have to overcome when relocating their home are:

The stress caused by the house-moving process

Mortgage affordability or rent (deposit)

Family

Cost of moving

Job security

8.3 How long is the average house relocation?

Depending on where you are moving to, how many items you have, and the additional services you might have booked (packing/unpacking), the average house move can take from 2-3 hours to a couple of days. To make a more detailed estimate, use our house moving guide.

9. Conclusion

As people persist with their neverending search for "better lands," we will continue seeing a rise in the quality of house moving services. The competition is fierce, and only the best moving companies will be able to remain on top.

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31 Intriguing Facts and Stats about the House Removal Industry in the UK

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People constantly move from one place to another in search of the ideal living and working conditions. It has been like that since the dawn of time. However, nowadays, you can delegate the majority of the tasks to professional removal companies that can help you achieve your goals.

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https://www.bournesmoves.com/home-moves/professional-removal-company-vs-doing-it-yourself

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Should you use a removal company or try and move your belongings yourself? It's a common question many of our customers struggle with in the initial stages of planning their moves. Moving house can add up to be an expensive experience, so it's no wonder people consider what work they could do themselves.

So what should you consider when deciding if you should use a professional removal company or hire a van and do it yourself?
In this article we will cover:

How removal companies can save you time

How movers have the skills to pack valuable and fragile items

How using a removal company can help if you're moving with kids

The benefits of using a removal company if things change during your move

How removal companies make moving less stressful

Things to consider if you're sure you want to move yourself instead

How to hire a moving company

Should i hire a removal company?

If you can afford to hire a removal company then the answer is yes! At first it might seem like a cheaper idea, but there are lots of reasons why using the professionals might be a better option for you and the whole family. Here's our top reasons you should hire a removal company:

1. Removal companies can save you time.

Moving house takes time. From the weeks of packing in advance to the loading of the van, travelling and unloading at the other end - it's a time-consuming process.

Packing: A professional removal company helps people move every day, so they've got it down to an art! If you've ever moved yourself you'll know how long packing takes - it can take some people weeks on end, especially if you are fitting it in around your day job or taking care of the kids.

Loading: Think about the time it will take to pack and load a small van (any good at Tetris?) and a couple of cars, especially if items are tricky to handle (how did the delivery company get that sofa in there again?!) plus the number of trips back and forth, unloading, reloading and all the unpacking when trying to do it yourself.

On top of the main points like packing and loading there are lots of other things that can take time or cause delays. You might find there are items of furniture you can't lift properly, delicate or valuable items you need extra protection for or bad weather that you hadn't prepared for too which can cause you delays and make the job take a lot longer than you expected... this can make moving day really stressful, especially if you've got new owners waiting outside ready to move in...

Hiring a moving company means you can leave all of this to them. They will take all of the above into account in planning the move to make sure the right time and resources are allocated to ensure everything runs smoothly and on time!

2. Professional removers are skilled at packing precious, valuable or fragile items.

We've all got things around the house that are heavy, delicate, valuable or even just sentimental - just the thought of trying to move them from one place to another in one piece can be stressful enough. With a professional removal company that needn't be the case though - not only will a fully trained removal crew have the right experience and knowledge of exactly how to packand transport these kind of items safely and securely, but the company will also be able to offer youinsuranceto protect your goods in the unlikely situation that something should get damaged or broken while in their care.

They will also have all the right packing materials to make sure everything is fully protected.

3. If you've got young children movers can make the move alot easier.

Moving house is stressful enough, but when you add ababyoryoung children into the mix the stress tends to multiply rapidly. Finding time to pack, keeping the boxes out of your way or locating items you thought you wouldn't need in the middle of the night when someone is crying can drive even the sanest parent mad.

Using a professional removal company can help alleviate some of that though. By taking care of things like packing and loading, it leaves you free to concentrate on other, more important things. Some removal companies will also help with unpacking, while others even have additionalhandymanorhousemaidservices to help with the finer details of a move like hanging pictures and shelves, reassembling furniture, fitting light fixtures, cleaning your old house and unpacking kitchen goods into cupboards leaving you to concentrate on getting set up and settled in.

4. It could be easier to cope if your move situation is subject to change or if problems occur.

Not every move is as straightforward as moving from A to B. If you've moved several times before then you'll be aware that even the most organised of moves can throw up challenges or unplanned surprises.

Moving via temporary accommodation

It might be that you need to go into rented accommodation while you search for a new house to buy, or you might be moving in with friends or family while your dream house is being built, or maybe there has been a delay in your chain? Whatever the reason, it leaves you with one problem - what to do with everything you own while you're in a period of transition. Many reputable removal companies also provide storage services these days, so while you're not directly moving house it's always worth considering this option. Not only will your goods be packed and handled properly, but you'll also have peace of mind knowing they're stored safely and securely for the duration you require.

Move day problems and last minute challenges

When it comes to problems on move day, removal company crews and move managers are highly trained to spot potential problems and deal with them as and when they arise. It might be something simple like finding somewhere to park the lorry at your new house, bad weather or something more complicated like dismantling an item that's been overlooked in the rush to prepare for move day - whatever it is they will deal with it calmly and professionally, allowing you to focus on other things.

5. Already stressed out? Professional removal companies take some of the stress out of moving.

The process of moving house is stressful. If you're buying/selling then it's likely you've just been through months (if you're lucky) or even years of anxiety and stressful negotiations to secure your new home and a buyer for your old one. You've probably had just about enough of chasing solicitors to get back to you, enduring additional fees and dates continously slipping.... If you're renting then we doubt you had an easy ride either, by the time the viewings are done and you've jumped through all the landlords hoops we'll bet you're pretty stressed out too.

If this sounds like you, then the thought of finally being in your new home probably sounds great, but the thought of how to get there isn't so exciting! Luckily, this is the one step of the moving process that you can completely hand off to someone else with minimal involvement. Removal companys can provide such a wide range of services that if you want to, you can wake up in your bed at your old house one morning and go to bed in the new home the same night without having to have done much more than getting in your car, driving there and pointing to where you want things. If that sounds like heaven, then get in touch with a removal company for a free, no obligation quote.

Things to consider if you're thinking about moving house without a removal company

It's easy to assume hiring a van and doing it yourself will be cheaper, but don't forget to evaluate the below in working out your costs for comparison:

How much is van hire? Take into account the time you'll need to collect and take the van back to get everything done. If you're moving over a weekend you may need to use multi-day hire as some companies close on weekends or have shorter opening hours.

How many trips will you need to do? How much time will shuttling take if you can't do it in one trip, and how much will the fuel cost?

How much are your packing materials and where will you get them? Avoid supermarket boxes if you can, these aren't always strong enough for a job like moving your prized possessions.

Who is going to help you do the lifting? Full up boxes and furniture are heavy, you'll need help! Make sure you've got plenty of helpers on hand that are fit and able enough to do the job without hurting themselves, you or damaging your things! Make sure to take into account for comparison any costs of repaying them for their help, even if that's just a meal or a few beers!

How are you going to get awkward/large items out? Some items are awkward or oversize and can be hard to get round tight corners or through tight doorways, Make sure to measure up at both properties to figure out how you'll get your items out and in. (Professional movers will be trained to spot these potential issues during the pre-move survey so they can plan in advance).

Does your insurance cover you for any damage? Most home contents insurance policies only cover the risks of moving house if you use a professional mover, so be careful to check and weigh up the costs of replacing damaged items.

Specific situations when you should really consider hiring a removal company:

For some moves we'd really strongly recommend using a mover because of the higher risk of stress or something going wrong. These include:

If you're moving a lot of stuff - moving anything above a 2 bedroom flat can be really hard work!

If you've got difficult access to either property light tight stairwells or a long walk from the road

If you have fragile or valuable items that you want taking extra care of

If you have large or heavy furniture

If you're really busy and don't have much time - especially if you're moving to start a new job and want to get settled ASAP

more great reasons NOT to move yourself

If you're still not convinced you need a removal company, read on...We ran a competition with Rightmove, the UK's leading property website, to find out some of your funniest moving day stories, and some of them were a horror!! Here's what some of the competition entrants told us....
"My husband and his mate drove off from the apartment ready to take a load of our furniture to the new house. Looking out of the window whilst preparing the next load I watched as the sofa cushions and furniture (wardrobe) slid off the back of the van! Argh! No damage - how? The wardrobe fell onto the sofa cushions! Almost a drama...almost!""My hubby was driving the big hired van and I was driving my mini, full to the roof with clothes. Half way there and in a busy street, I had a puncture! And to get at the spare I had to empty all my clothes and put them on the roof. It was embarrassing, to say the least.""Me and my partner decided to hire a van and move ourselves in order to save money. I was very nervous about driving a van and cautious about not running over any of the boxes scattered around. However, in my caution I accidently ran over my partner's foot - needless to say, in future moves we have always hired moving men!" "My husband wanted to save money on removal men so decided to 'pack' himself...Not wanting to rush, he started pack 'weeks' in advance, thinking he was organised... All was going well - no breakages, no arguments, etc...until our beloved cat, Bojangles, went missing. We thought she had run away because she couldn't cope with the stress of all the upheaval and we spent days looking for her, to no avail. Moving day came, with a mixture of heartbreak and excitement. Finally, after reaching our beautiful new home, we started to unpack - box, after box...to cut a long story short....yep, you guessed right; ripping the parcel tape off a large bedroom box...A HUGE SCREECHY MEEEEOOOWWW - my beloved Bo-Bo had been packed away for days with a duvet by my so 'organised' hubby...thankfully she was ok - bedraggled, hungry and very thirsty, but very much alive! Needless to say I was elated - but hubby is still in the dog house with Bo-Bo and me!"

Our tip: The most common reason people give for wanting to move themselves is that they think it will save them money. If this is one of your considerations when weighing up using a professional removal company vs. doing it yourself then think carefully - have you factored in the cost of van hire; the number of trips you'll need to make back and forth; the fuel costs for doing so; what you'll need to pay people to help and what it will cost to replace badly packed or damaged items? Although a professional removal company might look like a large outlay on paper, they will usually be able to move you in one trip, using a properly trained crew that can pack and load their truck to minimise damage to your goods. And if anything does get damaged, you should be covered by the insurance policy they offer you. Sometimes, your peace of mind is priceless.

Ok, i'm convinced. How do I hire a moving company?

Check out our free guide: How to choose a removal company for great tips on how to select a reputable moving company or click the button below to get your free, no obligation quote from Bournes.

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Reasons to hire a Removal Company instead of moving yourself

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Should you use a removal company or try and move your belongings yourself? It's a common question many of our customers struggle with in the initial stages of planning their moves. Moving house can add up to be an expensive experience, so it's no wonder people consider what work they could do themselves.

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https://www.happiness.com/magazine/relationships/the-importance-of-community/

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Humans aren't meant to be alone all the time: connecting as part of a meaningful community is important for our mental well-being. Dee Marques discovers seven ways in which community belonging can benefit both you and those around you.

Litter picking is a powerful community action
Humans are social beings, and the need to belong is deeply ingrained in our nature. That's why since the beginning of times humans have been drawn to creating their own communities. Today, important communities continue to be formed around different shared interests of characteristics, such as religious or spiritual groups, professional associations, neighbourhoods, volunteer groups or sports clubs.

In fact, belonging to a group or community we can identify with helps us develop a stronger sense of personal and collective identity. It can also give a boost to our self-esteem and to our willingness to take on the world and make our dreams happen. But the importance of community goes beyond that.

So, just why is community important? To answer the question we can look at what happens if we don't have community we can call our own. Since we're inherently sociable beings, feeling disconnected from others can deeply affect our self perception and emotional health.

shutterstock/SpeedKingz

Indeed, some studies have linked the emotional strain of loneliness caused by social isolation to physical illness, including sleep disorders, heart disease and a weakened immune system. A Public Health study done in Canada even ranked social isolation as a higher risk factor for premature death.

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Having said that, the past year or so has been a strange one for social interaction and personal relationships. On the one hand, lockdown measures and work-from-home arrangements have made it harder to meet and connect with others, so feelings of isolation and loneliness are on the rise.

However, that hasn't undermined the importance of community. On the contrary, these changes have prompted many people to reconsider the significance of neighborhood feeling, bringing the concept of meaningful belonging back into the spotlight.

"Belonging to a group or community we can identify with helps us develop a stronger sense of personal and collective identity. It can also give a boost to our self-esteem."

For example, during the past few months we have seen communities coming together with fundraising initiatives to help those struggling financially or otherwise. Others have learnt to sew just to be able to make PPE - such as face masks - and delivered them to those who needed them the most.

The importance of community: 7 benefits it offers

To understand why neighborhood action and community is meaningful and beneficial to our well-being, we can look at seven ways in which belonging to one can help us.

1. Support and safety

Living with uncertainty has become the norm during the COVID pandemic. This has made it more important than ever to have a strong support network in place. Indeed, one of the main reasons behind the importance of community is that it can help fight feelings of hopelessness and give us the certainty that we are safe when surrounded by our community. Furthermore, the benefits go both ways, since supporting others also gives us a boost.

2. Connection and belonging

Togetherness is so central to our experience as humans; that feeling we are part of something bigger can help give meaning to our lives. Finding others with the same values, interests, and world views makes us realise that we're not alone and makes us feel valued. Indeed, belonging highlights why community is necessary: being accepted into a group gives us a stronger sense of self and can help us cope with negative experiences and feelings.

3. Influence

Sometimes we need an extra push to stop us from falling into unhealthy habits or thoughts. Experiencing the positive influence of like-minded people is another reason behind the importance of community. Studies confirm that our overall health is partly determined by our ability to look after ourselves, but sometimes we simply don't feel capable of it. Communities can influence us and motivate us to invest in our well-being and to bring positive changes to our lives.

RELATED: Happy habits - 12 ways to boost your joy levels daily

Sharing activities, ideas and feelings reinforces not only our sense of self, but also adds worth and value to the community. Indeed, the more the merrier applies in this case! That's not to mention the huge beneficial effect sharing can have on mental health: higher engagement, positive emotions, and empowerment are only some of the benefits. Sharing is caring.

Support is an important community action
shutterstock/Daisy Daisy

Communities are usually built around common interests, but that doesn't mean they're homogeneous. We can still find people within them who have different views, experiences, or beliefs, and learning from them can help us reach insights that we may not have reached on our own.

6. Acceptance

Developing community bonds with others who have different views may be challenging, but it's also an opportunity to practise acceptance. I had a personal breakthrough when I read this article and understood that acceptance doesn't necessarily imply agreement.

"One of the main reasons behind the importance of community is that it can help fight feelings of hopelessness and give us the certainty that we are safe."

This valuable lesson can bring peace and relief. And there's another side to acceptance: self-acceptance. Community belonging helps us accept that sometimes we're strong and sometimes we're vulnerable and that we need the support of others to avoid unnecessary emotional struggles and pain.

7. More connections, more chances of success

The importance of community goes beyond the personal sphere and extends to professional development. Since the pandemic begun we've seen a stronger focus on supporting local businesses, so this is a good place to start networking and building strong relationships. You never know where that could take your business idea or professional life.

The importance of community action

Communities are not abstract entities, so practical actions are needed to really take the importance of community further and make a difference. This is the basis of so-called community action initiatives. In fact, these are so important to society that many local authorities now have dedicated resources and invest in community building programmes.

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An example is the Community Organisers initiative, launched in the UK to give communities the tools to identify and solve local challenges by bringing everyone together. The Community Organisers Stafford group was aware that many people struggled to make ends meet and set up a social supermarket that was supported by local shop owners, grocery stores and volunteers.

A young food bank volunteer shutterstock/HASPhotos

Surplus food was donated and then sold at discounted prices that even those on a low income could afford. In just a few months, the programme was feeding more than 100 local families. It helped stigmatise financial hardship as well as remind residents that the community is there for them.

On that note, it's essential to remember that community action doesn't need to involve grand gestures. Sometimes the best way of contributing to our community is to give: be it time, money, or kindness to others with small daily gestures. One thing is for sure: if we look around us with the intention to help, we will find ways of doing it, and in the process we will be contributing to making our community stronger.

We can all do something to build meaningful human relationships and benefit from the healing power that comes with a sense of community and a richer perspective. So, why not set the goal of developing deeper bonds with others in our immediate community? Today is a good day to starting looking for or creating your own network and to begin to experience the importance and power of community. *

Written by Dee Marques

A social sciences graduate with a keen interest in languages, communication, and personal development strategies. Dee loves exercising, being out in nature, and discovering warm and sunny places where she can escape the winter.

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The importance of community: 7 key benefits

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Litter picking is a powerful community action Humans are social beings, and the need to belong is deeply ingrained in our nature. That's why since the beginning of times humans have been drawn to creating their own communities.

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https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/the-importance-of-relationships-and-belonging-1.3405948

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No man is an island - Thomas Merton

Our mental health and personal well being are tied up in the quality of our personal relationships.

The more closely we are connected to the people we love, the happier we feel and the more personal satisfaction we have in our lives. Most people rate moments of connection and shared enjoyment with their loved ones as their most important life experiences.

These important relationships not only include family and personal friends but also the wider groups and communities we belong to. Forming connections and a sense of community with work colleagues, neighbours and the various groups that make up our identity (such as sports, hobbies, religious and community groups), all contribute to our well-being. Forming a sense of belonging with other people around a shared mission or identity is a major contributor to our sense of personal meaning in life. Our personal resilience is interwoven into resilience of the communities to which we belong. It is from the web of our relationships and connections with other people that we draw our strength. Such communities can lift us when we are down and give us the capacity to deal with whatever challenges come our way.

However, creating and maintaining happy personal relationships and belonging to positive communities is not straightforward. We might start out with a loving supportive relationship with a partner but then inattention, neglect and stressful life events take their toll leading to relationship conflict and breakdown. At this point, the relationship far from being a source of well-being and happiness becomes a source of stress and dissatisfaction.

In addition, you might initially join a positive community group that is bound around a positive mission to make the world a better place, but then the members get sidelined into infighting, scapegoating, as the community becoming divisive and in danger of fracture. At this point, rather than providing a sense of belonging, these communities can isolate, hurt and damage many people.

As a result, it is very important to continuously attend to and nurture our relationships with the important people in lives as well as taking time to strengthen the communities to which we belong.

Attending to important relationships

The two major challenges in maintaining close personal relationships are neglect (eg not putting time into the relationship) and not dealing constructively with conflict (thus letting problems fester until they are out of control). Being proactive in your personal relationships and attending to them (even when you don't feel like it) is the key to keeping them happy supportive and personally satisfying

- Take time: Make sure to spend regular time with your partner, children, family and friends. One-to-one relaxed time, when you have plenty of space to chat and have fun together is best.

- Be present: In our busy lives a major challenge is simply not being present with the ones we love. Whether this is being spaced out or checking email when they are talking or being caught up worries or stress that you are not there for them.

- Express appreciation: Relationships are nurtured by frequent displays of appreciation. Whether these are simply kind words of thanks to an important colleague, a gift to an important friend, affection with your partner or a reassuring hug for a child, everyone needs to be appreciated and nurtured in close relationships

- Listen: Listening is most important communication skill of all. Taking time to understand the other person's point of view is key to connecting with them, and is especially important as the first step to managing conflict.

- Learn to communicate: Relationships suffer when one person does not communicate about their needs and important issues or when they do they do it do it in an aggressive, explosive or dis-respectful way. Learning to talk respectfully and assertively is the second most important communication skill.

- Apologise and forgive: All close relationships will involve disappointment and getting hurt at times. Taking responsibility and apologising, when you have hurt someone and moving on and forgiving, when you have been hurt are key to maintaining relationships through hard times.

Attending to the communities we belong to

When we belong to a functional community it is very easy to assume that it will always be supportive and always be there for us. However, just like families and personal relationships, all the groups and organisations that you belong to need to be nurtured and reinvigorated.

This includes local community organisations such as the residents association, your child's scouts group, or your soccer club or national organisations such as a political party, the Church or the GAA. All these groups require leaders and members willing to contribute and give back to support them. Interestingly, many studies highlight that it is the people who take leadership roles in community and voluntary groups who benefit the most in terms of their personal well-being and satisfaction. In simple terms, it is people who give the most that get the most from these communities.

If you belong to a community take time to improve it by:
- Giving time as a volunteer (eg as well as being a runner in your local park run, become one of the volunteers who organise it)
- Taking on a supportive role (eg if you have benefited by attending Alcoholics Anonymous, why not volunteer to be a sponsor to help others?)
- Assuming a leadership role (eg put yourself forward to be on your local school committee so you can change things positively).

Or, if you are not in many community groups, get out there and join one, picking one that reflects your passions and talents and which gives you a chance to contribute. Remember, by becoming more involved in communities, as well as making a difference you also become the beneficiary as you make supportive connections with people.

Tips for improving relationships and community

Take a moment to reflect on what are the important personal relationships in your life at the moment. Are any of your relationships under stress at the moment? Are there any that could benefit from some nurturing? If so make a decision to do something to improve things.

For example, you could:
- Take time to ring a friend you have not seen in a while.
- Send a card/ email of thanks to a colleague who helped you out.
- Make a decision to listen to a family member who you are in conflict with.
- Apologise to a loved one you might have offended.
- Commit to a routine of being there to read with your child at bedtime.

Take a moment to reflect on what are the most important communities and groups you belong to in your life at the moment (or ones you would like to belong to). Think how you can get involved, become more engaged, and take a leadership role in these groups.

If you feel lonely without many supportive connections and communities in your life, make a decision to get out there and meet people. Link in with family members, make contact with old friends and get involved in new communities that match you passions and interests as well as your needs and desires.
- Dr John Sharry is a social worker and psychotherapist and co-developer of the Parents Plus Programmes.
POSTITIVE WELL-BEING SERIES
1) The central role of purpose in a healthy outlook on life
2) The importance of self-compassion and self-acceptance
3) The importance of relationships and belonging
4) Work to your strengths and find your flow
5) Health, rest and fitness
6) Half-full or half-empty?

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The importance of relationships and belonging

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No man is an island - Thomas Merton Our mental health and personal well being are tied up in the quality of our personal relationships. The more closely we are connected to the people we love, the happier we feel and the more personal satisfaction we have in our lives.

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https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Strong-relationships-strong-health

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Health benefits of strong relationships

Throughout your life, the number and strength of your affect your mental and physical wellbeing.

The benefits of social connections and good are numerous. Proven links include lower rates of and , higher , greater empathy, and more trusting and cooperative relationships. Strong, healthy relationships can also help to strengthen your , help you recover from disease, and may even lengthen your life.

The good news is that while many of these benefits can make you happier and more contented, there's also a flow-on effect, whereby people around you will want to spend time with you. In this way, social connectedness generates a positive feedback loop of social, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Impact of loneliness on health

Loneliness can have dramatic consequences for your health. Loneliness can lead to disrupted , , and increased . It can affect your immune system and decrease your overall sense of contentment. Loneliness is also a risk factor for antisocial behaviour, depression and .

Older people are particularly vulnerable. If your mobility decreases, it can be harder to get together with other people. However, and have strong relationships are likely to:

have a better quality of life

be more satisfied with their life

have a lower risk of and mental decline

need less domestic support.

Younger people (teenagers and people in their 20s) are also at risk when they are isolated. A lack of social relationships can have a direct impact on a young person's physical wellbeing by increasing the risk of , inflammation and high blood pressure.

These 3 health issues can lead to long-term health problems, including , and , but a varied social network can help protect against physical decline.

What's more, the benefits of social ties are significant, even if your other mortality risk factors (such as socioeconomic status, , , obesity and lack of physical activity) are low. In other words, even if you live a healthy life, you still need to be socially active to stay well and happy.

It's important to recognise that loneliness is different from solitude. Feeling lonely is a problem, but being alone may not be a problem at all. Many people live alone and have happy, fulfilling lives.

How to improve your social connections

Feeling lonely is hard to cope with. Luckily, there are things you can do to tackle loneliness. For instance, you can nurture healthy relationships with people who make you feel good by spending time with them, and by trying to talk to someone every day.

There are 3 kinds of connections that you can have with people:

intimate connections - with people who love and care for you, such as family and friends

relational connections - with people who you see regularly and share an interest with, such as workmates or those who serve your morning coffee

collective connections - with people who share a group membership or an affiliation with you, such as people who vote like you do, or people who have the same faith.

Ask yourself: do you have meaningful, long-term relationships in all these 3 areas?

Perhaps you tend to stick with old friends and don't feel able to meet new people. Or maybe you avoid people from your past, preferring to mix with people who don't know much about you. Be honest with yourself about your social habits.

Think about the sorts of relationships you have with people, and the sorts of relationships you would like to have. You might find you want to , or perhaps you want to try to make your existing relationships stronger.

One way to strengthen your social connections is to reach out to the people you already know, such as co-workers, family, school friends or neighbours. Give someone a call, or write or email them and let them know you would like to be in touch more often. Arrange to have a coffee or a meal, or to listen to music, have a round of golf or play chess. Think about the interests you share. Facebook and other social media are also great ways to stay in touch.

How to meet new people

There are lots of . Start a conversation with some of the people you see every day, such as the people on your bus each morning, people at the gym or the park, or the regular checkout operators at your supermarket. (Just remember to make sure that you are safe when meeting new people. Having other people around - for example, meeting in a public place - can be a good strategy.)

Other ideas include joining a sports team or a walking or hobby group, or volunteering. Call your local council to find out about local groups or programs, or visit your local community centre or library - there's always something happening in your community.

Not all strategies will work for everyone, so try some different approaches to see what works for you. If the first thing you try doesn't work out, try something different. Beyond Blue's booklet has some useful ideas for older people.

The idea of social connection is to share your time, experiences and stories with people, and to also listen to them. Gradually, you will build a group of people in your life who care about you, and who you also care about. Both your mind and body will reap the rewards.

Relationships help society too

Social ties affect not only your personal health, but also extend to broader society.

People who spend more time with each other forge happy, productive communities.

Where to get help

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Having friends and other social connections is good for your health and wellbeing.

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High social cohesion=less mental health 

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High social cohesion=less mental health 

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https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/relationships-community-statistics

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Relationships are one of the most important aspects of our lives. People who are more socially connected to family, friends, or their community are happier, physically healthier and live longer, with fewer mental health problems than people who are less well connected.

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https://www.purewow.com/wellness/psychological-effects-of-moving

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Explained: The Psychological Effects of Moving Frequently on Adults and Kids (and How to Ease the Transition)

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Moving frequently can be stressful for adults and children alike. We examined what it can mean from a psychological standpoint, as well as how you can ease the transition.

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https://www.cratehire-uk.co.uk/crate-hire-blog/whats-the-emotional-impact-of-moving-home/

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Let's face it, after a few years living in one place it's easy to accumulate a lot of stuff, from books and clothing to electrical appliances and ornaments. It's natural to think about decluttering your home before you move and whilst for many it's a big task, sifting through years of personal belongings can make it an emotionally fraught, as well as time-consuming process.

In this feature we talk about the emotional impact of moving home, from the practical and organisational aspects, right through to how it can impact wellbeing, finally revealing ways that will help to ensure you minimise any negative impacts and get through the process relatively unscathed.

Guide Contents

Moving home is a bit like a difficult childbirth. Immediately afterwards you vow to never put yourself through it again, but as the year's roll by, you forget the trauma and the stress fades until one day you decide now is the time to do it all again. Selling your home and moving is one of those life events that's undeniably stressful. It takes a lot of time, energy and resources and is a process that can take many months or even years to complete.

Most of us will need to tidy up and have a good clear out in preparation for a forthcoming move, which on the face of it sounds easy enough. This is just one small aspect of putting your house on the market and moving though, which can be daunting in itself. It can also easily end up taking far more time than you'd anticipated to complete!

Whether it's old family photographs that stop you in your tracks and half an hour later you find you're still sat there happily reminiscing having made no further progress, moving boxes still empty; the unearthing of old school reports or favourite toys belonging to children who have since grown up or treasured family heirlooms you'd forgotten you had; decluttering and packing isn't as straight forward or as quick as you might imagine and it's all too easy to get side-tracked.

Could Getting Distracted Be A Good Thing?

But is all that distraction a bad thing? We don't think so, and that's because happy memories can help to relieve stress, so taking time to stop and sit with your memories for a while isn't a bad thing at all, but it can double the amount of time it takes to sort and tidy up any particular room or storage area if you're not careful!

We all know that moving home is stressful and uprooting yourself and your family after many settled years in the same place means that taking time out to sit with your memories can be quite soothing and reassuring amidst all the turmoil of a pending move.

The uncertainty of moving to a new area can often leave us feeling a little overwhelmed - our homes are packed full of memories, hopefully most of them happy - but the act of sorting through belongings before packing them away can trigger a range of emotions. The actual packing process too can be overwhelming as we assemble moving boxes ready to fill, the scale of the task ahead will become more apparent.

For this reason we recommend starting the process as soon as you can. You're bound to get side-tracked sooner or later and if you're pressed for time, you won't be able to take time out to enjoy what you have or to contemplate.

The Psychological Impact of Decluttering

Many decluttering experts caution that if it's not beautiful or useful and you've not used it in the last 12 months then it should go, but human psychology is far more complex than that and we often make emotional and perhaps even a little irrational decisions (take for example obsessive collecting and hoarding) particularly when it comes to what we fill our home with. So when it's time to decide which of those items has enough sentimental value to warrant keeping, a complex tangle of emotions can come into play.

As well as stirring up happy memories and encouraging us to pause in order to reminisce about the past, moving can potentially cause a real state of anxiety, from feeling overwhelmed by the mammoth task of sorting through and packing your life away ahead of your move, to surfacing feelings of isolation, sadness, loneliness and uncertainty.

That said, decluttering can be an extremely cathartic experience. It's a process that can help you let go of elements of your past and it can be energising too as you make decisions about which belongings are important enough to pack into boxes take with you when you leave.

Of course the practical side of decluttering your home means that you will have less to pack away into moving boxes and you'll create more space in your home as a result, but aside from the purely practical, what are the emotional benefits of decluttering before you move home?

The Emotional Benefits of Decluttering

Decluttering Instils a feeling of control which can help to reduce anxiety. Whenever there's a job to do around the house, think of the calm feeling of relief you get when it's done. Or how about considering your work to-do list and that satisfied feeling when you've ticked off everything off and it feels like a weight lifted from your shoulders - decluttering is no different. Once completed, it's likely you'll feel calmer and more in control as a direct result.

The process of sorting through your belongings allows you to daydream, reminisce and recall positive feelings, for example, an ornament you bought home from your travels, a gift given to you by someone special or photographs of happy times. Positive associations and memories can help boost your mood and make you feel happier.

Decluttering can cause lost treasures to be unearthed. We're not talking about gold coins or rare antiques or anything quite so grand (though that would be nice!), but we all have sentimental belongings given to us by someone special, passed down to us or purchased by ourselves and since forgotten about. These can bring joy or fulfill a practical purpose, helping to boost our mood as we continue the decluttering process.

Decluttering is often accompanied by cleaning, removing things like dust, dirt and pet hair from your home. This can help to reduce allergy symptoms and even relieve some respiratory conditions too.

You can find out more about some of the emotional benefits of decluttering here and if you're not sure how to get started, you can read 5 pro tips to help you declutter before you move home.

Should You Pack it, Recycle, Donate or Sell it?

When decluttering it's important to get rid of anything you may no longer want or need in your life in the most environmentally responsible way possible. From recycling to donating to charity or selling it, once you've made the decision to get rid of something, the next step is to decide what the best thing to do with it is.

One of the benefits of donating to charity is that something that might have cost you a fair amount of money or something that's still in perfect working order, will be given a new lease of life. Not only will it be passed on to be used and appreciated by someone else, but it will raise funds for charity, which does have a feel-good factor attached to it, helping to cut down on some of the guilt you might feel for getting rid of things that are still perfectly serviceable.

That said, whilst taking everything to your local charity shop or dumping it all in the bin might seem like the easiest thing to do, it's worth considering the following;

Find out in advance what items your local charity shops are in need of and find out if there are any items that they don't accept or want

Give items still in good working condition away by joining your local Freegle group many items in good condition will be snapped up fast by people in genuine need of a freebie

Before deciding to sell something online, take a look to see how much similar items are going for, then ensure you factor in selling costs, postage and packaging as you might find it's simply not worth the hassle and it will be easier to give it away instead

When taking items to your local recycling centre remember that you'll need items to be sorted by material. Don't just dump everything in a bin bag; make sure cardboard, recyclable plastics, metals and so on are all separated out in advance to make life easier

The Psychological Impact of Change

Moving often requires upheaval, leaving friends and family behind and necessitating a change in things like workplace and schooling. Children may be anxious about starting a different school and making new friends and for adults, establishing yourself in a new area and can feel just as daunting.

All these feelings can be compounded if you're being forced to move out, for example, due to a change in personal circumstances such as divorce, illness or debt, all of which can make the process extremely difficult emotionally.

This whirlwind of emotions isn't surprising especially when considered in relation to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychology which seeks to explain what drives us. The theory comprises five separate stages, each of which addresses needs that are thought to contribute to our feeling of security, self-worth and ultimately, happiness.

As humans we have a fundamental need for food and shelter, which forms the first stage, the second relates to our need to feel safe and secure - both of these stages imply that the roof over our heads is crucial - whilst the third stage relates to feelings of love and belonging which can also be greatly impacted by an impending move.

When these fundamental human needs are not being met, even temporarily, it's not surprising the uncertainty caused by moving home can have such a big impact on our emotional state.

As well as challenging our sense of security, moving can cause stress thanks to;

Changes in routine

The amount of time and physical effort needed to prepare for the move

Fear of the unknown and change

Leaving friends and family behind

Financial worries, for example affording your new mortgage repayments

The Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale

Back in the late 60's psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe conducted a study in order to find out whether stress contributes to illness and weighted various life changes, the higher the score, the more likely it was that someone could be negatively affected. This resulted in a widely referenced " stress scale " which rates different life events in terms of the stress they are likely to cause.

Often, it's not just a move that can affect our stress levels, but many of the life events that go hand in hand with a move. For example, divorce, retirement, a change in job and so on. Add these life events up and it's no wonder that the change caused by moving home can have such a big impact on stress levels.

How to Make Moving Home Less Stressful - Make It Mindful

Our advice is to first accept that moving home is stressful and hard work, there's no getting away from it. It can be taxing not only on a practical level as you physically have to sort through cupboards and boxes, but on an emotional level too. It's important that you don't beat yourself up if there are times when you feel a bit overwhelmed, particularly if your move is being forced upon you.

To stop your move feeling like an insurmountable challenge make a list, tackle things methodically and set a realistic timescale. Don't think you can sort through everything and pack all of your crates or boxes ready for your move the weekend before! It's likely to take far longer, and actually taking longer can help reduce stress too as you tackle jobs room by room, or even one item of furniture or storage box at a time.

Allow yourself plenty of time to sift through your belongings and do take time out to reflect on happy memories. If you feel an emotional pull to something you own, then keep it and take it along with you to your new home and don't feel bad if you aren't willing or ready to throw everything out in the name of decluttering! You want your new house to feel like home, so getting rid of too many personal belongings could make the new property feel even less like home when you eventually move in.

Do what feels right for you and don't feel like you need to erase your history by getting rid of too much - make sure you keep hold of belongings with sentimental value and make it mindful. Your belongings should be useful and practical, of course, but things you have that bring you joy, make you smile or remind you of happy times are just as important.

Spend the time it will take to sort through your belongings and packing moving boxes in healthy reflection and this can help turn what can be a daunting and laborious process into a mindful activity that could help to enhance your wellbeing.

If you want to know more about unpacking, take a look at our article that highlights the best way to handle the unpacking of boxes after you move home, and finally, if you feel overwhelmed by it all, take a step back, make a cuppa and take a few deep breaths and don't be afraid to call on friends or family for some help.

Further Home Moving References & Resources

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About Michelle Robshaw-Bryan

I've been working in the crate hire and house moving industry for almost a decade and during that time I've learned everything there is to know about crates and have picked up many great moving tips! I use this knowledge to write about all things crate hire and moving related here on the Crate Hire UK blog. My life isn't all about crates though, I'm also a big fan of the outdoors and travel too and write for various different blogs.
View all posts by Michelle Robshaw-Bryan

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what’s the emotional impact of moving home? - the crate hire blog | news & moving tips from the crate hire experts

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What's The Emotional Impact of Moving Home?

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Let's face it, after a few years living in one place it's easy to accumulate a lot of stuff, from books and clothing to electrical appliances and ornaments. It's natural to think about decluttering your home before you move and whilst for many it's a big task, sifting through years of personal belongings can make it an emotionally fraught, as well as time-consuming process.

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https://www.lpropertylawyers.co.uk/mental-health-when-moving-house/