Things to consider when moving home

Whilst moving home is often a positive thing, the process itself can be quite stressful. To make the move as smooth as possible, we’ve compiled some tips that may come in handy.

DIY or Professional?

Decide first whether you want to move all your belongings off your own back or hire out a professional removal company. In most cases, a professional company will be needed and will save you the hassle of breaking your back lugging about heavy objects. If you don’t have that many possessions and want to save money on hired help, make sure you that you get the right van – if it’s too small you would end up having to do more than one journey. Additionally, it’s generally cheaper to book vans on a weekday.

If you choose to go with a professional removal company, make sure you hire one at least two weeks before you move and check that the company is a member of the British Association of Removers. Shop around, get a few quotes from different companies, see if they can offer you any discounts. It does no harm to ask!

Packing

Moving can be the perfect opportunity to finally get rid of unwanted possessions – not much point in taking that broken ironing board or that old office chair to your brand new home. Donate the stuff that’s still in working order to charity shops and throw the rest in the rubbish – you don’t want to clog up the removal van or your new home with unnecessary items.

Also, give yourself plenty of time. Packing often takes longer than you might think, and some items will need more care and attention than others. Make sure you have lots of tape and boxes (strong ones that won’t break would be advisable), and consider using bubble wrap for your more valuable items.

Plan ahead, label the boxes (this will save you a lot of time at the other end), don’t overfill, and keep those fragile items safe.

Checklist

Getting everything ready for moving day can be an exhausting experience. The to-do list can seem overwhelming and you might start to think it is more trouble than it’s worth. This is where the humble but handy checklist comes into play.

List everything you need to do and tick it off as you go. Also, make a list of all your possessions so you don’t leave anything behind when packing up.

Who to tell?

When you move out, you’ll need to tell quite a few people that you’re doing so. Again, making a list of all those you need to contact would make things easier. Here are some of the most important ones to remember:

·         Water, gas and electricity companies

·         Telephone and internet service provider

·         Banks, loan companies and credit card companies

·         Inland Revenue, DVLA and local council

·         Employers, the schools your children attend

·         Doctors, Dentist, Opticians

This isn’t exhaustive, and you should double check if you need to give anyone else your new address before you move out.

Oh, and don’t forget to tell your friends, family and neighbours that you’re moving out and where you’re moving to!

We are estate agents working across the south of England, for more information and advice on selling your property, please contact us on: 0844 809 9931. What’s more, find out how much your property could be worth using our instant online valuation tool.