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Five tips for a successful house move

Five tips for a successful house move

Moving house is traditionally one of the most stressful experiences you can go through yet, most of us put off thinking about it until it's almost moving day and then scramble to do everything at once. No matter how good you are at leaving everything till the last minute, it helps to plan your move well in advance, especially the parts you don’t necessarily associate with moving like food shopping or budgeting. 


1. Scale down:


Groceries

On the run up to your move start using up the stocks in your cupboards and freezer. We often forget that consumables are a headache to move so in the last few weeks before moving, be more conscious of your shopping habits and only buy what you’re confident you’re going to eat. This is not the time to try a new brand of cereal or filling up the freezer for convenience. The last thing you want on moving day is to have to leave behind a freezer full of frozen meals because your new one is too small, or bin a value pack of tinned tomatoes, bought on offer, which are going to expire soon. Your wallet, your new house and the planet will thank you for it. 

The same principle can be applied to the rest of your belongings. Clothes that you haven’t worn in over a year can be donated or freecycled, and books that are just gathering dust on your shelves can be sold. The more items you can bear to part with, the easier this will make your move and adjustment to your new home. 

Packing

Look for a mover that offers a comprehensive service. They should be able to pack and transport your belongings to your schedule and provide their own boxes and supplies. Wardrobe boxes for example, are a great professional product as they save you having to unhang and rehang all your clothes.

If you’re not hiring a professional mover to pack your effects, you should start thinking of how you’re going to do this. Ask your local businesses for boxes and opt for ones that are large and sturdy. 
If you’re doing your own packing, start with the items you use least like the spare bedroom, study, attic and garage. It’s easy to forget the rooms you don’t go into much but they can be the most stressful as they’re usually cluttered. 

Budget

If you're moving into a new rental property remember you might need cash for a deposit before your old one is released so speak to your landlord and find out exactly when you'll be getting your money or else you might have to make other arrangements. 

You'll also need to think about hiring a van, buying boxes and packing supplies, sourcing temporary storage and even finding a cleaning service if you don't have time to do this yourself. Of course the right moving partner should be able to address all these issues for you. 


2. Manage your utilities early

Notify your providers on the days leading up to your move and give them your new address. That way they can discontinue your service the day you move out; if they already supply the new property, it’ll be simpler for them to switch you over if they’re prepared. If you’re switching providers contact the companies you’re interested in so that they connect you as soon as you move in. There’s nothing worse than living in a new house and waiting four weeks to get set up with web access.

Remember to notify the council that you’ll no longer be paying council tax at your old property, especially if you rent, as some rental agencies can often neglect this part if it means they can lump the cost onto you rather than the owner they represent. You’ll also need to update the electoral register, alert your bank and credit card company as well as the insurance company and any annual subscriptions you might have in place. Finally make sure to set up a redirect for your post, no matter how well you know the people moving in. Forcing them to forward your post can be tiresome and you can be confident they haven’t missed anything. Some companies send final bills at the end of the quarter and you don’t want to miss that, as not paying could affect your credit score. 
If you own a car remember to notify the DVLA and change the address on both your license and log book as it is illegal to have the wrong address on your driver’s license. 


3. Entertain Pets & Kids 

If you’re moving over the weekend, it might be easier for you to leave your kids with your parents or friends. This will keep them safe and out of the way while you’re busy attending to the move. 
Do the same for pets, which will get a lot more stressed during this process. Once at your new property make sure to have their favourite bedding and toys available immediately so that they get a sense of home and keep them close to you overnight to make sure they’ve not been traumatised by the process. 


4. Be practical

Work

If you’re moving during a peak holiday season make sure to give your boss plenty of warning about the move and book a couple days off to get settled and unpack. There’s nothing worse than planning the move only to find out that a bunch of your colleagues will be out of the country leaving you unable to move on the specified date.

5. After you’ve moved in

Once you’ve got your keys it would be a good idea to get into the new property early and do a deep clean before all the boxes arrive. This will give you access to all the nooks and crannies which will soon be full of boxes, furniture and family members so take advantage of the space while you can. 

Change the locks

This one goes without saying. Estate agents, friends and family or previous owners could have a set of your keys so don’t take it at face value. Grab a new lock at your local homeware supplier and change them yourself as soon as you’ve moved in to avoid any nasty surprises. Don’t forget the garage and back doors if applicable. 

Meters & Mains

Once you’ve moved in find the meters and make a note of their numbers to give to your new utility companies. In addition, knowing where the mains are will serve you well in case of emergency or if a fuse drops.

Register with a new GP

Find out whether your local GP’s are taking new patients and register as soon as you can. You don’t want to leave this until you need to see a doctor, especially in your old one is miles away and you feel sick. Same goes with a vet if you have pets. 

If there's anything you'd like to discuss about your move, either in the UK or overseas, get in touch with us today and we'll do our best to advise and support and guide you through every step of the process.
 

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