Moving house is regularly listed as one of life's most stressful events, with so much to arrange, oversee and do - from securing a parking space for your removal van to reading the meters. Here's our guide to moving house the easy way.
This article covers:
- Dump the junk before you move home
- Who will move your belongings?
- Getting the most from the removal company
- What the removal company will need to know
- Moving home - the DIY route
- What to prepare in advance
- Moving day
- Don't forget to…
Dump the junk before you move home
Before you move get rid of your unwanted junk. This can be a daunting task if you're a hoarder, so concentrate on one area at a time. Make three piles: 'keep and use', 'give away or sell' and 'keep and store'. Turn unwanted items into cash at a car boot sale or on eBay, and give the rest to a charity shop. Invest in a shredder to deal with old paperwork.
Who will move your belongings?
Using a removal company is often best. Get several quotes from moving companies and bear in mind that two-thirds of moves happen on Fridays, so midweek may be cheaper and less stressful. If you can, plan your removal four to six weeks before your move date; do not wait until the exchange of contracts, which can sometimes be the same week as your completion date. For peace of mind choose a removal company belonging to the British Association of Removers or National Guild of Removers and Storers. As a member the company will have a set of trading conditions for their moving services and a code of conduct, and will be fully insured.
Getting the most from the removal company
Many removal companies will pack your items for you as well as transport them, although this will cost extra. Make sure you know what service you're getting for your money. Once you have verbally agreed to use a company, a written quotation will be sent with an acceptance form for you to sign and return.
What the removal company will need to know
Let the removers know the amount of furniture you're moving; a rough guess of how many boxes they need to pack (if required); and the exact time you want the team to arrive on the move day itself. You also need to provide clear instructions and directions to your new property. Be sure to arrange a parking space for the removal van outside your new home and notify the removal company well in advance of pieces of furniture that won't go through any access doors.
Moving home - the DIY route
Make sure you hire a van big enough to accommodate your items in one trip. It's often cheaper to hire vans on weekdays but if you move at the weekend, you may be able to make the most of special two-day rates. Enlist some help - friends or family can often be persuaded by the promise of a drink or two at the end of the day.
What to prepare in advance
It's worth packing an 'essentials' box that you can have instant access to when you get to your new home. This should travel with you and not with the removal team and is a great idea if you a relocating some distance. The box could include:
a duvet cleaning materials
sheets a change of clothes
towels a mobile phone and charger
a kettle money
coffee and tea food
toilet rolls disposable cups
soap sugar and powdered milk
There are some tasks you'll have responsibility for, such as dismantling self-assembly furniture and taking down curtains, fixtures and fittings. Wrap houseplants in newspaper to protect them from draughts and to prevent leaves from bruising. Once at your new property, stand them in the warm and don't unwrap them until all of your items have been moved in.
Moving day
Make sure that children and pets are taken care of elsewhere and ensure that all essential documents are kept on your person.
Everything will be loaded onto the back of the van and secured. Your home will then be checked thoroughly before the removers head off to your new home.
Don't forget to…
· give your removal company a mobile number for you on the removal day
· run-down your freezer and fridge contents
· disconnect your mains services
· cancel all rental agreements
· notify all essential contacts of your new address
· redirect your post
· clear the loft
· label boxes with the name of the room they are to be placed in your new home
· cancel home deliveries like milk and newspapers
· drop your old keys, and spare sets, at the estate agents
· send change of address cards to friends and relatives
· leave valuable items and important documentation with someone trustworthy so they are not lost in the move
This article was last updated on 6th September 2006