10 Things You Should Know Before Moving…
1- There are three ways to look for an apartment: Wasee6 listings, Findq8.com listings,and driving around newly built houses, looking for the night guard and asking for the owner's mobile number. Our favorite method is FindQ8. You choose real just list the area and you search and all the latest offerings are available for you, updated daily. We found our current apartment there.
2- If you look around for an apartment, and you will see tons of apartments, then make sure you are viewing it during the day time so you would know the amount of natural light that is let in by the windows. Check the parking spaces of the building, are there enough parking spaces for everyone? You will be surprised that not many care about parking, figuring you can probably park your helicopter in the helipad above your building!
3- If you see an apartment and you have a sinking feeling in your heart even if it ticks all the right boxes, then don't take it. DO NOT TAKE IT. There are one million and one apartments in this country, new ones coming up everyday. One day you will find the one for you that makes you happy to live in. You don't have to spend money to live in a place that makes you miserable and eventually drives you to move out!
4- Start packing the moment you decide moving. Before packing throw away anything that you can leave behind. Basically anything you've never used for over a year you can live without. The less you move the faster you are settled. Trust me, I am surrounded by one million boxes and they are driving me mad.
5- You can buy boxes for around 750-1.500 KD a box. You can also get empty boxes from Co-Ops by asking any of the guys that work there. The money you save can be used towards redecorating your new place especially if you have a lot of boxes to use.
6- When choosing boxes always go for the small and medium ones. Ask for Kitco, Mary biscuit, or comfort boxes because the smaller the box the less heavy it will be when filled up. Kleenex boxes are big and good for moving pillows and/or clothes.
7- There are many companies and many options for moving out there. Heed my advice and remember this: Always always ALWAYS hire Egyptian Sa3ayda movers. They are strong masha2 Allah and move in and out of the house in a flash as apposed to other movers who cannot move much or take forever talking and chatting. No wonder the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids!
8- The last thing you should pack (and unpack) is the carpets. If you make the mistake of packing them first and putting them on the floor so it would feel much homier and cosy, then be ready to hire a cleaning company to pick them up because there will become dirty.
9- Extra thick extra large black garbage bags with a handle are your moving buddy. Use them before the move, during the move, and after the move to pick up the debris.
10- Pack a bag for your first night in your new home just like you would pack for a weekend trip to Dubai. If you can afford move in several days rather than one day the first thing you should move is the bedroom. If not then make sure your bedroom is the first thing you have set up and unboxed.
Happy hunting/boxing/unboxing/moving!
P.S. If you require a brand new apartment that has never been lived in before be firm in your demands over the phone with the agent. Several times we've seen dirty apartments and when we said we wanted a new one they would say "Well it is new. Its only been lived in a year before!".
