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Moving House: 10 Tips For A Stress-Free Move

By Alexander Mason

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Published: 25Dec2011
Word count: 824
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Moving house is often considered to be one of the most stressful experiences in a person's life, but it doesn't have to be. Planning and making sure you know what you're doing before the big day will certainly help you to avoid any oversights. Check out our top 10 tips for moving house below and start looking forward to a seamless move!

1. Let everybody know

Possibly the most common oversight made by movers is forgetting to tell utility companies, banks, the DVLA, mobile phone companies, insurance firms, doctors/dentists, TV licence etc. that you've now moved. To get ahead, contact them beforehand; tell them your moving-in date; and "look forward" to receiving those bills/check-up reminders at your new address.

2. Pack a bag

If you've moved house before, you'll know that it can be a nightmare trying to rummage through all your boxes to find your toothbrush, socks, tin opener and the like. It's a good idea to pack a survival bag before you move, which contains all the necessities you're likely to need whilst you're still unpacking during the first few days. Just remember not to pack your bag away!

3. The keys to the castle

You've been leading up to the move for months. You've got the date and you've been super organised with your packing. But do you know when you'll get the keys to your new property? Make sure you've agreed with the estate agent/seller how you will hand over the keys. Ideally, you should try and get the keys a couple of days before you move in. And for the keys you're leaving behind, labelling them clearly will obviously help their new owners out as well!

4. Don't skimp on your survey

Having a sound and thorough home buyers survey carried out is undoubtedly wise. But many people try to get by with the bare minimum, influenced by the cost. The problem is, a basic valuation will only show up visible problems that you yourself would be able to identify. Particularly with older buildings, it's always recommended to get a structural engineer to carry out a home buyers report or building survey. They may cost more, but they could save you a fortune in the long run.

5. Don't use your outdoor furniture

It's easy to forget, but you're not only moving the contents of your house when you move- you're also moving anything contained in the garden and garage. Save yourself time and unnecessary fuss by storing garden furniture in your garage a week or two before you move, so that come the big day everything is organised and, above all, dry! (If you don't have a garage, why not ask a friend or find some room in your house- remember it's only temporary.)

6. Feed your mobile

If you have to coordinate friends, family, professional movers and estate agents, it's a good idea to make sure your mobile phone is fully charged the night before you move. The last thing you want is for your phone to cut out when you're trying to find out where your furniture is!

7. Take your time… literally

You may be surprised by how many people use the kitchen clock to keep track of the moving day, only to forget to take it with them when they finally say goodbye to their house!

8. Pack, don't wrap!

Wrapping your valuables seems like the "thing-to-do" when packing, but consider why you're wrapping the item. If it's easily breakable (like bone china, for example), it's better to put the item in a box and fill it with packing like bubble-wrap or old newspapers. It's the jolts and vibrations of the moving process that break your possessions, so this will help to absorb the movements and reduce the chance of anything breaking.

9. Make lists

Having a system to organise all of your boxes and items will help you to locate items as you need them once you've moved in. It will also help you to make sure that you haven't lost anything during the move. Itemised lists and colour-coded labels for different rooms work particularly well.

10. Food for thought

Be mindful about stocking up your fridge during the week leading up to your move. Many removal companies won't take a fully laden fridge, and any perishable food stuffs could go off if it defrosts. Also, remember to use sticky tape on bottle lids to avoid any leakages.

Allcott Associates LLP Residential was set up as an independent practice of Surveyors and Structural Engineers. In contrast to other firms, we have no affiliations to any mortgage lenders, meaning our customers avoid paying extra costs for referral fees.

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