We have gathered together some tips for moving house which will hopefully help you make your move seamless. Moving is said to be one of the most stressful things to do so it definitely pays to be as organised as possible.
First and foremost you need to decide – Self pack or Professional pack?!
Self packing may save you money but often a professional pack is not a huge extra cost, especially if you have a firm moving you, and they will get the job done in just a few hours. If you choose to pack yourself you will realistically need to start the process at least a month before you move.
Chosen a professional pack?
Do your research carefully and get quotes from at least 3 different companies. Ask friends and family if they have used a firm that they would recommend. Social media groups and forums can be a useful source of information on local firms. Make sure that the quotes you receive are comparable and always read the fine print. It’s also important to look at the refund procedure and policy in case of damage.
Declutter!
Whether you are moving yourself or not a thorough declutter is essential before you move. There is no point in moving items that you no longer need, and there’s definitely no point in paying someone to move items you don’t want! Be as ruthless as possible. Go item by item or room by room with bags ready for charity shop, items to sell and those that just need to go in the bin – have a plan and stick to it. There are even professionals that you can seek out to help you like Sarah from right-size.co.uk who can get you organised if you are feeling overwhelmed!
There are a number of ways to get rid of your unwanted clutter
Moving a long distance?
To-Do-List – Create a detailed to do list with a calendar
List things that need doing before and after moving day as well as those things that need to happen on the day itself – break things up into manageable tasks
If you are moving yourself – plan the dates you expect to get items packed up by – start early so that you have plenty of time. It will be far less daunting if you break it down into manageable tasks.
Remember that if you are buying you will need to put buildings insurance in place on exchange date so make sure you have researched that in advance and got it lined up ready to go on exchange day.
It’s a good idea to check if you have boxes for your electrical appliances as these will likely protect these items better than standard boxes.
Moving Day Kit – essentials for a smooth moving day:
Consider packing a separate overnight bag, especially if you are moving yourself, with towels, toiletries etc for at least 3 days.
Suppliers
Call them a week before the move to find out when you will need to do things. Make a note on your calendar.
Children and/or Pets
Arrange babysitters well in advance for moving day and if possible the days before and after the move. It would be worth putting together a few items to entertain the children as they are likely to be very excited about the move.
Even if you have professional packers coming in there may be some items that you will want to, or may need to pack. It would be a good idea to remove items from the walls like shelves and pictures ahead of moving day so that you can repair any damage to the walls. A tub of Polyfilla is a good item to have on hand.
Change your address
Make a list as soon as possible. Start to change addresses a week before the move, so long as you have exchanged contracts. Set up a redirect with Royal Mail so that anything you have missed will be forwarded on to you.
Packing yourself?
Heavy items go in the smaller boxes and at the bottom
Tape your boxes shut with packing tape
Label your boxes with what’s inside and the room they are to go
Protect fragile items – use blankets, bubble wrap, packing paper
Load boxes from each room in groups to make the unpacking easier
Heavy furniture should go into the lorry first
Toiletries top tip
Cover tops with clingfilm – unscrew the caps, cover and reseal
Stop buying food at least a week before the move and eat up the leftovers in your fridge freezer and cupboards. Defrost your fridge and freezer at least a day before the move. Empty and give them a good clean for a fresh start in your new home.
Important documents – keep these together and in a safe place
Renting?
Before unloading into your new home take some photographs of the property to show any existing damage not caused by you.
First job in new home?
Make the beds! This is so important so that at the end of the day you can just crash.
Remember to look after everyone on moving day by providing refreshments whether you are paying the help or not! Tea, coffee and biscuits are essential!
Hazardous materials
These need to be protected in transport so make sure you pack these together safely.
Good luck with your move!
Do let us know how you get on and if you think we missed any points off our list!
Please note that any services linked to or referenced within this blog have no links with Zoom995. Please do seek references yourself before employing the services of any professional to assist you with your move.
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