Friday, 1 September 2017
16/03/2017
Moving house is a huge task, and there is a lot to remember. More often than not, we tend to forget a few things until the last minute which can increase stress levels and make your move day extremely chaotic.
The purpose of this post is to cover the main points to consider when moving to make the task as stress-free as possible. Obviously, each move is different, so it is almost impossible to go over everything on one checklist.
Nonetheless, we hope this informative and helps you when the time comes for you to move.
This seems like an obvious one, but it is still one of the most vital components to ensure a stress-free move. Remember to pack up as much as you can into boxes and bags and don’t forget to label them.
That way, when it comes to moving day, you’ll be able to load the van in a specific order and know exactly where everything is once you arrive at your new home.
The earlier you start packing, the better; there’s nothing worse than packing up boxes on the day of your move! Try to only leave the absolute essentials out – the items you cannot go a day without – and pack them all into one box the day before your move.
If in doubt, chuck it out. The beginning process of packing is the hardest part – where do you start? A good trick is to sort everything into three piles: keep, charity, bin. Obviously, you may want to keep some items but may not need them, for these items we advise for you to arrange a place for them to be stored.
One of the most important stages of moving is letting everyone know. And that doesn’t just mean telling your friends; there’s a whole bunch of people that need be notified about your move.
Firstly, you’ll need to reregister to vote in your new town, if you don’t do this you’ll lose your privilege to vote in future elections.
You’ll then need to change the address on your driver’s license, the car insurance, and your car ownership certificate to ensure everything is set up and ready when it comes to moving day. You can do this by calling up the DVLA and your insurer.
As well as car insurance, you’ll also have to notify all the other companies that insure you for different things. As well as this, inland revenue needs to know about your move. You can do this by contacting your local tax office and quoting your reference number – this can be found on your payslip or P60.
Your current landlord or tenant(s) will need to be notified about your move too. Make sure you give them enough time depending on the situation. For example, you should let your landlord know one month in advance to ensure you’re up to date with payment.
As well as the above, you’ll need to change your address on the following:
On the actual day of the move, you need to think about the quickest, most convenient way to get everything done. If you have small children or pets, it’s a good idea to ask someone to look after them.
There will be a million things on your mind on the day of your move, so having to worry about your pets and children too can drastically increase stress levels. Simply remove this stressor by getting a close friend or relative to look after them for a couple of hours.
As soon as the contracts have been exchanged, decide on a moving date – this date is usually the completion date. Make sure this is the day you move on, changing dates will add to stress levels as it can become unorganised and chaotic.
Try to avoid Fridays and bank holidays, too. Removal firms usually charge a higher premium on these days and will probably not have as much time compared to a mid-week move.
Ensure your possessions are insured for transit (this is usually provided by the removal company), make sure your new home has been thoroughly cleaned (either do this yourself or hire a professional cleaning company), arrange the removal company as soon as possible, and have a large clear out before the removal company arrives.
When looking for a removal company, get quotes from various organisations and compare them to the cost and effort of hiring a van and doing it yourself. Sometimes you may be better off doing it yourself depending on how far the move is and how much you are moving.
Finally, go through all the formalities. This includes arranging a final meter reading and other bill payments. Try to be as up to date with payments as possible to increase the smoothness of the move.
Also, check to see if your home insurance covers you for the day of the move. This is important just in case your furniture gets damaged during the move.
Of course, every home is different, so it’s a good idea to write your own personal list covering all the unique aspects of your home.
