Moving Tips

Moving home checklist:

Moving house is said to be in the top three most stressful experiences in life.

We are here to make your move as stress free as possible on moving day and it always helps with your own stress levels to be as organised as possible.

Here is a list to help you to get prepared for your move.

1. Hand in Your Notice

If you’re renting, you need to remember to hand in your notice of intent to leave to your landlord or estate agent. Check how long this period is – sometimes it’s one month, sometimes it might be two. If you have been living in your current home for less than a year, you may be in a contract with a break clause. Make sure of your preferred moving date before you give notice.

2. Declutter and Contact us.

When you book with us we will need the addresses of each house, a list of furniture and appliances you are moving and an idea on the amount of boxes and bags, you can also send us video walkthroughs, pictures or we can arrange a visit.

Donate things you don’t need – you can also begin packing those non-essential items.

Make sure you have enough boxes and packaging supplies.

3. Think About the Kids and Pets

If you’re moving small or furry family members, you may need to confirm new school placements, or at least inform the old school of the address change. As for your pets, if you need to book kennels or a cattery for your moving dates, do this well in advance. Think about how they will be moved and arrange for the care of children if necessary.

4. Update Your Details

There are many places where you will need to update your details. Think about who to notify. If you’re moving to a new area, you will need to register with a new doctor and dentist. If not, include your current care providers in the list of places you need to change your address.

Who you should notify of change of address:

The local council for council tax purposes

Your employer

Your utility companies (Gas & Electric)

Your GP & Dentist

Your phone and internet providers

Your bank(s)

The DVLA

TV licensing

Inland Revenue

Electoral Roll (updating your registration)

your insurance providers (including pets, car and travel insurance)

Also make sure you have home insurance at your new address.

5. Check Your Car and Route

If you are going to be driving some distance on moving day, check your underbonnet levels, lights and car tyre pressures. Confirm your route and make sure there are places to stop off if needed, for fuel and breaks.

6. Pack Up and Shut Down

You will want to start packing more seriously about two weeks in advance. As the big day gets closer, you will want to make sure you’re nearly all packed up. Doing this far in advance means you will be calm enough to mark up your boxes in a way that makes sense. Begin thinking about clearing out your kitchen cabinets and defrosting and drying out your fridge/freezer. Remember your loft and garage!

7. Tell Your Friends

You will want to inform your friends and family of your new address, and also ask them for help and support if you need. Make sure you have also notified your current neighbours, and check in with them to be certain there is room for your moving van to avoid any difficulties on the day.

8. Officially Confirm

Be sure to confirm with your solicitor or estate agent that the move can go ahead as planned. You will want to be aware of any delays well in advance. Check this a week before you are set to move.

9. Keep Your Valuables Close

Keep valuables, important documents and paperwork in a safe place away from the chaos of packing. Include any documents you need for moving. You can keep this with you on moving day.

Know where you've put all your important documents, such as:

Tax paperwork

Birth certificates

Marriage certificate

Passport

Driving licence

10. The Day Before

The day before you move can feel a little high pressure. Make certain that your mobile phone is charged and that your essential items are in a clearly marked box. We will send a message the night before to make sure everything is good to go. You may want to double check your own route.

Think about what you may need on your first night too and let us know what boxes / bags they are in so we can stack them where they are easy to get too.

For example:

Bedding

Toilet paper

Toiletries for the whole family: (toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner)

Hand soap

Towel for each family member

Pyjamas for whole family

Work clothes

First aid kit

For the kids

Bedding/travel cot

Favourite toy if necessary

Change of clothes

Entertainment: iPad/laptop/charger, headphones, crayons/colouring book, few toys

Night light

For the pets

Pet food

Lead/collar

Toys

Food and water bowls

Litter box/waste bags

Crate

Any medication

To Eat

Paper plates/cups

Basic cutlery

Dinner (or takeaway menu!)

Breakfast items

Snacks

Water

Kettle, tea/coffee, filters, mugs, milk, squash

Corskcrew or bottle opener and most importantly something bubbly

11. Organise Your Boxes

Try to keep your boxes for each room on one side or in one corner so we can get to furniture, if this isn't possible don't worry, we will still get the job done.

12. Record Meter Readings

On the day itself, record your utility meter readings. This includes water, gas and electricity. Photograph each of these so you can contact your providers to confirm your move.

13. Van loading

If you have chosen our man and van service make sure you have someone strong and fit to help load and unload (its harder than you may think). Our porter will fit the door cover and floor mat to protect while moving furniture, he will also wrap sofas and Tvs where needed and blanket and strap all furniture and items on the van so they will be transported safely.

If you have chosen our removal service sit back and have a cuppa as we will do all the loading and unloading for you and put your items where you need them in your new home, we will also do dismantling and assembly required in place if this is a service you have chosen.

14. One Last Walkthrough

Once the vehicles are loaded check over your house one final time. Have you forgotten toiletries in the bathrooms or dressing gowns on the back of doors? Are any greenhouses or garages fully clear?

15. Saying Goodbye

On your final goodbye to your house, you will want to check everywhere is clear. Clean down your house from top to bottom and remove any trash. Don’t forget to leave all your sets of keys for the new owners, as you have arranged. Remember to leave keys to any outbuildings or interior doors if necessary and don't forget that final photo before you leave.

We hope this list helps you all and gives you an idea of what is involved. it seems like a lot but stay calm and everything will be fine

There are many ways of being organised for your move, these are the basics:

Label boxes

Once boxes are packed, don't forget to label them with what room they need to go into and if the contents are fragile, That way we can place boxes in the rooms required and can be extra careful with boxes labelled fragile.

Have plenty of supplies

Boxes, bubble wrap and Tape are the minimum you will need for packing - Always get more than you think you will need and try not to over pack boxes or use huge boxes that will be impossible to move once filled.

Wrap any delicate furniture

It is always wise to wrap any delicate furniture such as glass or plaster but we do carry various blankets and covers to stop them getting damaged whilst being transported

Keep a bag of essentials

Keep a bag for essentials - Paperwork, your phones, wallets and purses, Some food and a drink are all handy to have to hand. Once items are packed onto the van it can be difficult to get to them until we unload.

Keep a few tools handy

Keep a couple of screwdrivers, an adjustable spanner and allen keys handy - we do try to carry these items on the van because they can come in handy if we have trouble getting certain items through doorways etc at each end.

If you are feeling really organised there are a few different systems you can use. One of our favourites was this one with coloured labels and a guidance chart attached to the stairs so we could check where boxes and items were going as we carried them into the property.