Tips for moving house
Whether you are packing up your life and relocating across town or even across the country, moving day can be just as stressful as it is exciting. Being organised and planning ahead can help make your move as smooth as possible. Help make the big day a lot less stressful and easier with our handy tips for moving home.
1. Start packing early
While you might not want to pack up essentials like your kettle just yet, it's a good idea to begin by emptying cupboards and sorting items. Decide what you'll take with you, what will stay, and what should be binned or sold. Start collecting boxes as soon as possible - you'll need more than you think. It may seem obvious, but many people overlook this: place labels on multiple sides of the boxes so you can easily identify items, even when they’re stacked.
2. Get quotes from removal companies
Contact removal firms to get quotes and check their availability. You'll need to decide whether to pack your belongings yourself or hire professionals. Though hiring experts is more expensive, it can save you time and stress.
3. Enlist the help of family and friends
If you plan on doing the move yourself, make sure to enlist a few strong family members and friends to help. Check their availability and manage their expectations for the move.
4. Plan meals in advance
Packing food can take up unnecessary space, and tossing out perfectly good food is simply wasteful. To avoid this, start about one or two weeks before your move by going through your fridge and freezer. Plan your meals carefully to use up as much food as possible before the big day.
5. Arrange childcare and pet care
If you have children or pets, consider arranging for someone to care for them on moving day. With removal teams constantly coming and going, your home might feel chaotic, and not having to worry about kids or pets escaping will reduce your stress.
6. Make a list of who to advise of your move
Think about who you need to notify about your move. This will include government bodies (DVLA, Inland Revenue, Electoral Role, etc), financial institutions (bank, credit card provider, insurance provider, etc), Utilities (gas/electricity provider, broadband, TV Licensing, etc) and health/educational (school, doctor, dentist, etc). Downloading a more comprehensive checklist is a good idea. You might also want to set up a Royal Mail redirect service to ensure your mail is forwarded to your new address.
7. Set aside essentials for moving day
Pack an essentials box with items you'll need on moving day and as soon as you arrive at your new home. Include things like bed linens, towels, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies so you can quickly settle in. And of course, keep a kettle, tea, coffee, and some chocolate biscuits handy—these will be essential for you and your moving team.
8. Make a plan for setting up in your new home
Decide which rooms you want to set up first in your new home and focus on getting them ready. Finally, take some time to enjoy your last few weeks in your current home and start looking forward to the new one!
Frequently asked questions about moving house
When can I get the keys for my new house?
Once you’ve got the moving date sorted, it’s quite likely you’ll be wondering when exactly you’ll be able to get the keys and actually move into your new home. On the morning of settlement, you should load up your removals van then wait for your solicitor’s telephone call (make sure to keep your mobile phone handy). Unfortunately, solicitors cannot guarantee what time you will get your keys – it depends on several factors such as when the signed deeds are received along with the final legal report.
Can I measure my new house before I get the keys?
You may want to access your house before moving to take some measurements in order to check what furniture and other household items can come with you and you are able to access the home before moving in. Once missives are concluded, you may be allowed access to the property again on two occasions with reasonable notice, prior to the date of entry. Your solicitor estate agent will organise this for you.
When should I book a removal company for moving to a new house?
To book a removals company, you’ll need to find out the date of entry, but it might not be practical to wait for this to be confirmed before arranging removals. The date of entry is not guaranteed until missives are concluded so technically you should only book removals at that point. This is often not practical, however, so get quotations early and ask about fees for rescheduling.
Moving house checklist
One of the best ways to ensure that you are organised and prepared for moving day is to work from a comprehensive moving house checklist. It can be all too easy to get overwhelmed by the actual moving process rather than enjoying a really exciting time, so why not visit our step by step guide to moving home in Scotland page where you can download the ESPC Moving Home Checklist.