Moving House Checklist

Moving house is one of the most stressful events we will experience in our lives –  whether you are a first time buyer or have moved many times – there are many things to consider to ensure your move runs smoothly.

Once you received confirmation from the estate agents that the offer on your new home has been accepted  or that the buyers have agreed a price on your new home, you will experience a feeling of both excitement and anticipation – now is a good time to prepare a plan of action,

SOLICITORS

The first step is to appoint a solicitor who will liaise with the estate agents  and keep you updated on the whole process – they should be able to provide you with an estimated date for the completion of the sale ( the day the money is transferred and you get the keys to your new home) – however this is subject to surveys, buyers/sellers being involved in a chain etc

REMOVALS

The next step is to start packing and decide how your are going to move.  If you are moving from  a 2 bedroom property or larger we always advise to try and obtain a quote from a reputable, local removal company.   It is always tempting to try and save money by doing it yourself, however when you consider all the costs such as van hire, insurance, fuel and more importantly the back breaking physical labour of lifting/carrying heavy furniture up and down stairs – using a professional removal company is a lot less stressful.   Arrange for a home visit to assess the amount your need to move, remember to include items from the attic, basement, garage and shed. 

SELF STORAGE

If the property you are buying requires renovation work/decorating or you are going into rented accommodation, you may decide to place all or part of your belongings into storage – this will make it easier for the trades people to carry out all the necessary work and avoid any damage to your belongings.

You may be downsizing from a large property and not everything will fit into your new home – place items you will not need into storage and you can sort them once you have moved.

Pop into your local storage centre and have a look at the facilities and the size of the storage units so you can get a better idea of the visual space – you will also be able to buy good quality packing materials such as strong boxes, bubble wrap, tape , mattress covers etc

PACKING

Now is the time to decide what you will be taking with you and what you no longer require, try and separate items into KEEP – CHARITY SHOP/RECYCLING – TIP

Get rid of or donate any unwanted items first  which should free up some space at home so you can see which items need to be packed for the move   Start packing non essential items such as ornaments, books, garage/shed items.   Use strong, double walled boxes and avoid bin bags and lightweight cardboard boxes from the supermarket which are likely to collapse when filled.  If  you have booked a storage unit, start taking items/boxes into storage which will fit into your car  leaving fewer items for the moving day.

WHO TO TELL YOU ARE MOVING

When you have received confirmation of the final moving date, it is important to start notifying people of your impending move:

Utility Companies – gas, electric, water- take final metre readings on the moving day

Landlines – Internet Service &  Mobile Phone providers

Redirect the mail to protect yourself from identity theft

Local Council Office with regards to Council Tax & Register to Vote

Bank – Credit Card Companies – DVLA

Doctor’s Surgery – Dentist – Opticians

HMRC

Home Insurance – cancel and transfer to new property

Schools your children attend

MOVING WITH PETS

Your pets will probably sense that something is going on so it is important to try an make them feel comfortable during your move – ideally try and make arrangements to leave them with family and friends on moving day  – if this is not possible, book them into kennels.

Place a tag on your pet with your name  and number just in case they decide to escape once you have moved in to your new home – there is more chance of them being returned to you.

MOVING DAY

On the day of the move –

Turn off all appliances – ensure the freezer has been defrosted and cleaned beforehand

Take final metre reading

Take a final look around the property to make sure you have not forgotten anything

Pack some essential items you will need as soon as you arrive at your new home such as a kettle, tea/coffee/milk, mugs/plates, washing up liquid, toilet roll, bed linen/towels,  spare light bulbs for the new house – just in case!

Pack all your important documents such as passports and any valuables into a small box and keep with you

If you have booked a removal firm, make sure the kettle is the last item to be packed away and the first item to be unpacked in the new house!

ARRIVING AT YOUR NEW HOME

The first thing to do is unpack your essential items – place all boxes and furniture in the appropriate rooms – ensure all the utilities have been connected – clean

Find the nearest takeaway!