Moving Tips and Strategies for Managing Your Move.
Moving to a new street or a flat is an event most would rather do without. Although the idea of new surroundings and views are the final to the dream, the beginning of any move starts weeks even months before the actual move.
Eight Weeks To Go
If you’ve accepted an offer on your home, while nothing is set in stone it’s worth starting to gather certain information. Getting your affairs in order and compiling a list of professionals to work with will stand you in good stead in the weeks to come.
Clearly, you need to organise your onward accommodation or storage. If you are buying a new home, ensure you have a mortagage in principle and a solicitor in place.
If you have any exceptionally valuable belongings, take them to an expert to assess the exact figure to be sure you have adequate insurance.
• Declutter. Go through every room, clearing out what you don’t need and don’t want to take with you. It’s a pain but will save so much time when you arrive.
• Start collecting packing materials – boxes, newspaper, bags etc.
• Ensure your children’s school records are transferred to their new school.
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Four Weeks To Go
The exchange of contracts means you’ve passed the point of no return, and the move is definitely on. You’ll be glad of everything you’ve tackled ahead of time as now you need to start the process of contacting pretty much everyone in your address book, both personal and the utilities. First on the list should be organisations who send you bills connected to the house you are leaving.
• Confirm the date of the move so you have a fixed point of reference.
• Make a floor plan of your new home, colour code each room, and stick co-ordinating stickers on each box so the removers know where to deposit it.
• If you have a lawnmower or any other power equipment, drain them of oil and gasoline. Moving companies will not move them if they are full.
• Notify landlord of your intention to move / If you are moving from a high rise, reserve the lift for the moving day.
• Notify your contents insurer and arrange to move the cover to the new address from the day you move in. Buildings insurance needs to start on your new home from the day you exchange contracts. Also remember other policies including: life; motor; medical; pets.
Let your Gas supplier know your move is imminent, and remember you'll need to take final readings just before you leave.
• Inform your Electricty company and take readings before you leave.
• Inform your Phone service provider – both landline and mobile services of the date of the move and your new address.
• Inform your local Council, regarding Council Tax – Most councils have websites, so visit yours to submit details of when you leave your old house and move into your new.
• Inform your Water supplier – Let them know the date you are moving out and take a reading before you leave.
• Inform your Employer – Let your HR department know your new details, and inform the tax office if you are self employed.
• If you have children inform their Schools – to update there contacts.
• Find a Locksmith – Book a slot to change the locks in your new home as soon as you arrive.
• Solicitor – If your conveyancer is not your usual solicitor, be sure to let them know your new information.
• Internet Service Provider and cable/satellite TV – Arrange for the service to be transferred or shop around for a better deal.
If you are on Benefits - Update your records for any social security payments you may receive.
• If you’ve decided to pack for yourself, the marathon begins! Work through non-essential items – books, ornaments, out-of-season clothes, toys – and mark the boxes with what’s inside and what room it needs to end up in.
• Send change of address cards or use an online service to notify friends and family of your new details and the date.
• Confirm the details with your removal company.
• Begin sorting out those items you will not going use . Sort belongings into those you will dispose of, take with you, and move with mover.
• Plan how you will arrange furniture in your new home, and make a list of things you will need to buy.
• Arrange a time to collect the keys from the estate agent.
• Notify financial companies, these include your bank, credit card, investments, savings accounts, loans, life assurances, pensions, and shares.
• Deregister with doctor, dentists, optician if you’re moving out of the area or notify your existing suppliers of your change of contact details.
• Redirect your post, It takes five days to set up the instruction to redirect your post, so to be on the safe side visit the post office or complete the online form.
• Notify deliveries such as milk and newspapers that you are moving and the date on which you’d like the service to stop.
• Electoral register, don’t lose your right to vote – go online to update your details.
• TV licence, If you don’t notify TV Licensing of your new address, you could end up being unlicensed in your new home, risking prosecution and a fine.
The Night Before Aside from the last-minute packing, there are a few more things to do to help the moving day itself run smoothly.
• Pack a bag for each member of the family containing their essentials: change of clothes, nightwear, toiletries, and not forgetting bed linen and towels.
• Organise a box for the kitchen containing tea, coffee, milk, mugs, cutlery, and the kettle. If you are staying in the same area, include a couple of takeaway menus, as you won’t feel like cooking – and may not have the means to – by the end of the day. You may also want to pop in a bottle of bubbly – ideal as there’s no need for a bottle opener!
• As you will probably arrive in advance of the van, keep cleaning materials and the vacuum cleaner with you – you may have the chance to give the house a quick once-over before every room is filled with boxes.
• You may want to put together a mini-toolkit with a screwdriver and allen key, knife, tape, light bulbs, candles.
• Keep important numbers with you, such as the solicitor and estate agent, and a pen and paper. A copy of the Yellow Pages may be handy if you have room – you never know if you’ll need to call a plumber or glazier.
• Charge mobile phones.
• Defrost the freezer.
• Put valuables and documents in a safe place.
Moving day
Sit back and enjoy the day, you did enough in the past few weeks now let the removal crew do the rest for you…
If you haven’t booked your removal company yet, go on to our website and fill out a quick simple form by providing few details of your move. It’s free-no obligations and up to 5 local removal companies will contact you with their best quotes. Chose the one you like and book your removal company to help you move. Compare quotes at www.compareremovalcompanies.com it’s that simple.