How to survive a house move
5 January 2010
Tracy Kellett of BDI Home Finders tells Money Market's Marianne Curphey how to move house like a professional. She should know - she's done it 26 times.
Top tips on surviving a house move
- Have a thorough declutter: get a skip and be ruthless. Sell what you don't want on auction sites or boot fairs and give the rest to charity shops.
- The period between exchange and completion can be short and often gets very stressful. It’s hard to book movers when you don’t know exactly when completion will happen. I advise my clients to try to negotiate a couple of dates with the movers that are a couple of weeks apart. A deposit can often help to secure an arrangement like this.
- Employing someone to pack for you can really cut down on the stress of moving home.
- Always check carefully the insurance of the home movers. You need to make sure that any damages will be replaced on a new for old basis. Check whether a company is registered with the British Association of Removers. They set the standards within the trade and membership is a good benchmark.
- Consider using a specialist removals firm in addition if you have expensive or unusual items such as antiques/ a piano to move.
- Clearly label boxes as you pack them with the room they are destined for and an easily recognisable description of contents.
- Do not pack things into boxes with the intention of putting those boxes straight into the loft at the new property.
- Find a good removal firm - get quotes from at least three companies and if possible get personal recommedations from friends or colleagues.
- Get your removal firm to professionally pack anything fragile - they're the experts.
- Clearly identify the things that you will need urgently at your new home ie. kettle, mugs tea etc and bedding for all the beds you will need to make up for the first night. A useful time saver is to put the duvet covers and pillow cases onto your bedding before you put them into the boxes - believe me you will be so grateful when you only need to pull your duvet out of the box and shake it out onto the bed at the end of a long moving day.
- If you have young children make sure their favourite toys are easily found at the other end - it might make the settling in more bearable.
- Think about your pets. If possible give them a calm room where they can stay undisturbed until it is time to go.
- Take final readings from electricity/gas/water meters and don't forget to do the same at your new home when you arrive. Talk to all your utility providers and tell them what date you are moving - don't forget your council tax (you might be due a rebate).
- If you need any regular medication make sure you have enough to see you through the first few days - the last thing you need to panic about is finding a doctor for an emergency prescription.
- If possible have someone waiting at the new property so you don't have to panic about getting your old property locked up and then racing to meet your removal truck. Ensure the person at the new property knows which rooms are which - if a removal guy arrives with a box for bedroom three do they know which one that is etc?
- Think about changing the locks at your new property - do you know everyone who had keys before you took ownership?
- If you need parking permits make sure you get organised before you move and if necessary talk to the local council parking department about permission for the removal trucks.
Good luck with move!
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