Moving can be a stressful affair if unprepared! Read our top tips which may help you settle the nerves and give you some peace of mind.
Choose a moving date
The date of your move is dictated by the Tenancy start date within your Tenancy Agreement. Plan well in advance for this date, as removal firms and cleaners can be hard to come by at short notice.
If you have the choice, and you can afford to leave your current property a few days before the expiration of your current tenancy, consider the following:
- Friday – this gives you the whole weekend to unpack, but ensure all your services will be switched on as a weekend without power and heating is a poor way to start life in your new property
- School holidays – allows the kids to get used to an area before starting a new school
- End of the month – which means there is usually a bit of spare cash around for those extra expenses
- Bank holiday – the extra day can be invaluable
Stagger your move
Again, if you have the luxury to start your Tenancy a few days before you will actually move in then you may find the time invaluable to arrange the following:
- Clean the new house – it’s not always easy to know whether the old occupants will clean the house appropriately
- Get urgent deliveries – you may wish to get new items, such as washing machines, installed before you bring the rest of your belongings
- Get connected – a few extra days can ensure your phone, electricity and gas are connected
- Home improvements – if you leave it longer before you move into your new house you can arrange for home improvements to be completed in the interim
If you do need to stagger the dates, you may want to ask the Landlord for some leniency and request a few days either way of your Tenancy to arrange some breathing space to get organized. If you don’t ask then you won’t know if it’s possible. In today’s market you may be surprised with the Landlords willingness to accommodate reasonable requests.
Move your belongings
Once you have found your new home, you need to get all of your belongings moved from where you currently live.
- Purge possessions – work out what you’ll take with you and what you’ll dispose of – auction sites such as eBay are great ways to get rid of what you don’t need
- List what you’ll need – make a list of items you’ll need to buy for your new house
- Get Removal quotes – approach a removals firm well in advance. You can get removals quotes to and from anywhere in the UK with our quote engine
You may also wish to consider storage if you have a lot to move or if you have to vacate your current property before you can move into your new one.
Get utilities connected
When you move home, you obviously have to contact the main services provided to your home, such as phone, gas, electricity and TV (cable or satellite) to get them disconnected and reconnected at your new property.
Check with your Landlord and/or Tenancy agreement with what may be already included and what you will need to arrange.
- Contact providers – contact utilities providers well in advance, if you do need to, before you move
- Better deal – If necessary, check comparison sites to see if you can get a cheaper deal elsewhere
- Meter readings – ensure you take meter readings before you leave your property
Inform companies and friends
There are so many people you may need to tell about your change of address, people often wonder whether it is worth moving at all. Here are some to get you started! Best to start your own list and check it off once all is complete.
- Banks and building societies
- Post Office
- Local Education Authority
- DVLA
- TV Licensing
- Doctors and Vets
