So you and your family will most likely be excited of the idea of moving house. The thought of settling into your new surroundings signifies an end of one era and the fresh beginnings of a new one. However, quite naturally, it is only the moving process that blunts the excitement, with the inevitability of having to go through this tedious and tiring process slowly hovers closer towards you like an ominous cloud.
When moving house, it is essential that you plan prudently to make the whole process as efficient as possible. Having an effective moving checklist can do wonders by reducing the amount of emotional stress that you can put yourself under. We have prepared a special house moving guide of the absolute essentials for what we believe cannot be overlooked up to 2 weeks before the big day!
2 months before moving house
Approximately two months prior to moving is a good time to start going through your checklist. During this process, you need to focus on sorting out all of the legalities to help make moving from point A to point B as smooth as possible. Most importantly, begin by selecting your favoured conveyancing solicitor after reviewing multiple quotes and reviews
- Get a conveyance solicitor
- Arrange your mortgage
- Take time out to research on your new area about the local news and facilities
- If you are currently renting, notify your moving-out date with your landlord
- Check to see whether if your possessions are covered by insurance
6 weeks before moving house
Six weeks prior to your move is a good time to start thinking about the logistical side. As well as it being a great opportunity to dispose of any unwanted items, you should make a full checklist of all your most valuable items so that you will know what you are transferring to your new home.
- Begin with purging. Moving home is an excellent opportunity to try and get rid of all the belongings that you don’t want or need anymore. Before packing, rummage through all of your stuff and dispose of everything that you want to throw away or donate. A good rule of thumb would be to allow yourself at least one day per room to throw away any unwanted items. As well as clearing up space in your new home, it will lower the cost of your move. Removal companies charge you by volume, so the less you have the cheaper it will be.
- Purchase packaging materials. Your removal company may provide you with some.
- Stack up on the boxes. Just like you need a toothbrush or brushing your teeth, moving boxes are essential when moving home. Expect to have around 100 boxes for a three bedroom home. Moving home isn’t cheap, so try and reduce your costs by asking shops in your area to see if they can give you packing boxes for free. A very green approach would be to purchase recycled boxes.
- Measure the space. Perhaps not the most obvious pointer on the house-move checklist is taking new measurements of the new space that you’re moving into. There will be nothing more frustrating than going through all the effort of moving your furniture only to realise that the new living room doesn’t have enough space to accommodate it all. Plan in advance to save time, money and effort.
- Get five quotes from different removal companies.
Check the parking situation at your new home for big vehicles. This will prevent any unnecessary parking restrictions that will likely leave you with a headache. Your removal firm may need to apply to the council for a permit.
2 Weeks Before the Moving Date
By this point, you should have been informed on the structural condition of your new property by your Chartered Surveyor. Assuming that there isn’t anything wrong with the condition of your home, you can now discuss with your lawyer about exchanging contracts and finalising your moving date. This will then allow you to decide on your removal company and to make special parking arrangements and permits for the removal vans. It is also advised to figure out what route is best to your new home to ensure that it is suitable for a large removals van.
- Finalising details with your solicitor about your moving date as well as exchanging contracts.
- Select and confirm your removals company.
- Plan the route that you will take to your new home.
- Organise your new home to get cleaned before your moving date.
- Inform relevant utility companies of your transfer
- Make sure that your car has enough space for everything that you are taking with you
Plan Your Packing
This is possibly the biggest obstacle to overcome when moving house since many things can go wrong if you do not plan accordingly. Plan prudently and expect to have a smooth transfer into your new home.
- Start packing with the rooms you least need.
- Pack one room at a time. Having this systematic approach will help keep you more organised as well as being able to think more linearly.
- Label every box. Make sure to label on the sides of each box to make it easier to recognise them when you stack them.
- Packing heavier boxes. When packing heavier items, make sure that you place them into smaller boxes. Also, make sure that you place heavier boxes at the bottom when stacking to prevent damaging or breaking any of your possessions.
