9 Tips For Moving House If You Are A Wheelchair User

It was like a wheelchair slalom course to get to my writing space today. I dodged that packing box over there, went around that Lego, and drove over that random, lone shoe.

Ever since I wrote on looking for a house when you’re a wheelchair user, I’ve been waiting to share my tips on moving house when you’re a wheelchair user.

Real talk, I’ve moved around a lot. As a family, we’ve lived in two houses in The Frosty North.

And now we’re moving back to Edinburgh.

Before I got married I moved to five different places within another city. Before that, I went off to University and then transferred to another one.

And with every move, I’ve always taken my wheelchair with me. That’s the point of them.

As I write this, I’m surrounded by boxes and bags and clear plastic containers. There’s a hairbrush and a banana.

Because when you get banana boxes to move books, sometimes there’s a surprise in there.

I’ve lost my laptop in the shuffle a few times, but I’ve been using my kid’s lunch menu to jot down some notes.

Here are nine tips for moving house when you’re a wheelchair user. Because I am one, and I’ve moved a lot.

Some of these are a work in progress, still. Stick with me.

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Declutter Before You Move

This may seem like an obvious and general tip, and it is. But the less stuff you have the easier it is to move around in your old or new place. With every move, I’m less of a hoarder than I was before. Honest.

Have a save box, a give away box, a recycle box.

Give every member of your family the same three boxes. If that system works, repeat.

We’re keeping Isla’s baby stuff that makes me cry, our photos, books, and the fish tank. Everything else is a maybe.

Get Rid Of Stuff

Or at least make a plan to get rid of stuff.

For real. Don’t just declutter by moving your piles or boxes to different places. Make sure some stuff actually leaves the house. If getting rid of stuff makes you break out in hives, start where you know you’ll make progress.

For me, that’s clothes. I don’t buy new stuff often, and even though I have favorite sweatshirts from when I was 12, I get rid of stuff, too.

Last week, I recycled four bags of old clothes, with the help of this list of stuff you can actually get rid of. I didn’t make the list, but I’m super glad I found it.

Make Lists

I can’t climb ladders or stack more than three stackable things, I can’t move stuff bigger than my lap.

Granted, with every move there is more space on there. However, I can’t do most of the actual moving of moving.

But I can make lists and (gently?) organize other people. I can put labels on full boxes, write down which stacks to do first so other stacks don’t fall down. Whether my husband listens to my packing Jenga advice is another show.

Read here for tips to organise your home at any time

Accessible Packing

A phrase I’ve used a lot recently is ‘gimme a box’. It goes level with where I’m sitting and then I fill it with other stuff I can reach.

Stuff I can’t reach, I use my grabber. That tool was recommended to me when I was 8 years old, before all the moving.

Anyway. My favorite storage methods are giant clear plastic boxes and vacuum storage bags.

Move In Stages

Our first stage starts next week, a car-load of stuff to put in the new place. Followed soon after by a moving van mostly headed to our new storage facility, because we’re downsizing, too.

While we’re there we’re having the phone and broadband hooked up, which is another thing I’d recommend doing quickly after a move, so you don’t feel cut off from everything.

The final move is the weekend before the kid starts school.

Whatever your situation, not everything has to be done in the same two days.

Have an OFFICIAL STUFF folder

And then don’t lose it.

All of my disability-related paperwork goes in color-coded folders. This system comes from lots of moves and lots of having to hire new PAs for my real-life assistance.

Line Up Adaptations

For instance, the lead up to our current front door was paved and ramped soon after we moved in.

Somewhat surprising level access already at the new place, but here’s some info I found from Disability Rights UK about housing grants in Scotland.

Also soonish after I’ve moved anywhere new, there’s been an OT assessment to go through things and gadgets that might make life easier in the new place.

For me that means a bath-lift this time, and any other time there’s been a tub instead of a shower. When there’s a shower, there’s a shower-chair.

And if there’s a gap between getting the bath-lift and actually having a bath, there’s dry shampoo.

Pack A Suitcase

Pack a suitcase with the essentials you’ll need in your new home before you unpack your other stuff, but don’t wait too long to unpack and settle in.

Chill out

I admit, this is the hardest one for me. But everything that has to be done will get done.

And then you unpack.

Do you have any tips on moving house on wheels?

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