The complete guide to Moving House
Moving house is up there as one of the most stressful experiences of our lives but does it have to be that way? Heres our Moving House Guide to help you smooth out the process
The Early Stages
Have you instructed a conveyancer? No... Find one here.
Booking a Removal Company
The first thing you need to do is decide whether you are going to pack yourself or have a company do this for you. Yes, this service does exist and does come with a cost.
Once you have decided to do this you need either; Look to rent a Van if you are going to move everything yourself or find a removal company. It is best practice to book as early as possible and also shop around.
Removal companies who are registered with the British Association of Removers (BAR) are covered under the Advance Payments Guarantee so any payment you make as a deposit for their services is secured. They are also proven to have an excellent track record, you can find out more about the association here.
It is important to know that it is not a requirement for removal companies to be part (BAR), there are plenty of high-quality reliable removal companies not associated.
Have a good clear out!
It may be too early to start packing, but it is never too early to have a good clearout of unwanted items. You know that cupboard, that drawer, the shed, or the loft perhaps, anywhere that you have stored you unwanted items, now is the time to start condensing. These items can be thrown away, sold or donated, but you need plenty of time to rummge through and decide what you want to keep or remove.
Do you have something that you think s valuable but you dont want to keep, maybe its worth speaking to an expert to have it valued. If you do want to keep maybe you need to look at getting it insured ready for moving.
Now the date has been set!
Once you have been given a set date to move into your new house, it's time to hammer the process. Here's what you need to look at next
- Update the removal company about the date and set a time
- Start the packing process by ensuring you've got plenty of boxes, labels, marker Pens and sellotape.
- Inform all the companies that you have set aside and pay outstanding bills.
- Plan your meals to start defrosting your freezer. Depending on the ice build-up, you may need to begin the process at least 24 hours before moving.
- Have Kids and/or pets? Find them a sitter for the day!
- Start dismantling some of the non-essential furniture.
- Start packing and Labelling them boxes with which room and what the general contents are.
On the day of the Move
Make sure your removers have directions to your new house, so everything goes without a hiccup. Once everything is in the van, have a double-check to make sure nothing has been missed. Take photos of your meter readings, and don't forget to do the same once you arrive at your new house.
You may need to hand your keys to your estate agent on the way to your new house, so make sure you double-check with your estate agent when you can collect your new keys and when they want your keys handed over.
Since all the boxes are labelled, getting the essential items unpacked will be a doddle.
