Moving Home Checklist
Moving Home Checklist
It’s often said that moving house is right up there in the stress stakes with divorce and bereavement. But does it really have to be such an upheaval? We think that making lists and ticking off jobs as they’re completed can reduce stress levels considerably. So here’s a basic checklist of the main jobs you need to do.
Find the Right Day for the Move
Most people want to move house on a Friday. If you can plan your move for another day of the week, you could avoid a lot of stress with lawyers and waiting for money to be transferred. You might even be able to strike a better deal with a removals company if you’re moving at a less busy time.
Find a Removals Company
Don’t leave your search for a removals firm to the last minute. Most will pencil you in for your expected moving date and wait for confirmation until you exchange contracts. Ask friends and family for recommendations, and get at least three people in to quote. If you’re prepared to do the packing yourself, you could cut moving costs. On the other hand, having everything packed for you might be a price worth paying.
Organise Storage
If you’re in a position where you need to store furniture or other items between property moves, or perhaps are moving to a smaller property then look around for suitable self-storage centres local to you. Ensure you consider the security which is available when deciding which centre to choose. Find out if they also have a free furniture collection service too, and don’t forget to make sure you pack your furniture well, and avoid any damp or condensation. Remember to ensure everything is dry and all fridges and freezers are fully defrosted before going into storage.
Contact Utility Companies
Make a list of all the companies who supply gas, electricity, phone or broadband services to your home. Call them and let them know you’re moving, or fill in the appropriate web form. Ask about the process for giving final meter readings for gas, water or electricity. Give someone the job of doing this on the moving day.
Organise a Mail Redirection
Fill in a form online through the Post Office website to have post redirected to your new address. Six months should be sufficient. Once you’ve moved, let banks, building societies, your employer, the children’s school and other companies you deal with know about your new address. They might ask you to write to them to confirm details.
Have a Massive Clear Out
We’re all guilty of having too much stuff in our homes and moving is the perfect opportunity to get rid of it all. Anything you haven’t used for over a year can probably be ditched. Rather than throwing it all out, think about doing a car boot sale, or selling bigger items on Gumtree or Ebay.
Label Everything
If you’re packing yourself, start as soon as possible. Don’t assume you’ll remember what’s in each box, as you probably won’t. Label everything using large felt-tip letters. There’s no need to write a huge long list of what’s in each box. Just labelling with the room they belong in will make things easier on moving day.
Arrange Pet Care
Pets and kids can make moving house more stressful than it need be. Consider booking family pets into boarding kennels for a few days before you move and a few days after so they don’t get stressed with the disruption. If you have understanding relatives or friends who are prepared to have your kids for a couple of days, even better.
