Moving house can be an incredibly stressful time. Not only will you have the potential anxiety of leaving behind a loved home, but you might also be apprehensive about living somewhere new. You’ll want the whole moving process to go smoothly so you can start living in your new home on the right foot. This can put a lot of pressure on the move, and with so much going on, it can be difficult to get everything right.
As the UK’s leading removals company, Britannia Movers has put together our expert guide to help you take the stress out of moving.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Your actual moving day will likely only take one or two days; however, you should start planning in advance. Think about how long it will take to pack up all your items – how big is your home, and how much stuff will need to be moved? If you’re performing all your own packing, a one-bedroom flat will usually need around two days to get everything packed, and a three-bedroom home could need up to five or six days. You’ll want to make sure everything is packed up and ready to move on moving day, so you can just focus on transporting everything to your new place.
You’ll also want to give yourself enough time to sort out your utilities, give final readings in your old place and set up new accounts for your new home. The less you leave for the last minute, the less stressed you’ll feel on moving day.
Make a List
Making a list is a great way of helping you to keep organised and on top of everything for your house move. There will inevitably be a lot going on during the whole process, and a list will help you to monitor what needs to be done so nothing gets forgotten. It can be helpful to keep a weekly diary, so you can jot down week to week what will need to be done.
Include on your list key dates for moving, as well as when you will need to sort out utilities and other bills, redirect post, and start packing. You might also want to include key dates for other things going on too – your day-to-day life won’t stop whilst you move, so keeping on top of these things too will help you to feel much less stressed. Britannia Movers’ helpful moving house checklist includes everything you need to prepare for moving and for moving days itself.
Pick a Trusted Removal Company
The best way to make your move stress-free is to work with a trusted removal company. You should give yourself plenty of time to research local removals companies in your area, get some quotes and look at customer reviews to make sure they’re reliable. Check that the firm can provide the services you require. For example, Britannia Movers will carry out a pre-move survey, to ensure we’re prepared for everything required ahead of moving day. We also offer professional packing services, which can take more of the hassle out of moving, as you’ll know your items will be transported to your new home safely and securely.
Once you’ve chosen your removal company, you should book in with them as soon as possible. Most people like to move over a weekend or in the school holidays, so these dates can get booked up quite far in advance. As soon as you have a date for completion day from your solicitors, you should speak to your removal company to get them secured.
Declutter Before You Move
You might not be able to start packing properly until the week before you move. However, you can start decluttering as soon as you know you’ll be moving. This will make the moving process much easier, as you’ll have fewer items to pack and transport. It could also save you money, as you may need less space on the moving van and the removals firm will need less time to pack and move your items.
Go through room by room to sort out what can be thrown away, what can be recycled, and what can be sold or donated. If you find you have items that you won’t necessarily need in your new home, but you don’t want to get rid of it, consider using self-storage. This way you can keep them safe and secure and access them whenever you need, without them taking up space in your home.
Organise Your Paperwork
Things can get messy when you’re moving. To save stress when you’re looking for an important document, collect paperwork into one file or box and keep it somewhere safe and easily accessible. This should include your ID, like passports and birth certificates, as well as documents needed for the move itself, like the house deeds and any insurance policies.
It can also be helpful to keep electronic copies of documents, especially those that you might need for buying and selling your property. Keeping them in a file on the cloud means that they’ll always be to hand, which can help prevent delays when it comes to moving.
Pack a Moving Day Essentials Kit
When you move, you could find it helpful to pack a box or two with your moving day essentials. This will include everything you need to keep you going through that first day and night in your new home, such as snacks, toiletries, chargers, and a kettle and mugs to make a hot drink. You might also want to include some home comforts for the whole family, like a candle of your favourite scent to light on the first night in the new place, or your children’s favourite toys. Your essentials kit should keep you hydrated and energized whilst you move but also help you to feel relaxed and settled for your first night.
If you’re planning a move, Britannia Movers International offers a full range of professional and reliable removals and storage services, whether you’re moving across the country or overseas. Contact us to find out more information or get a request a Quote here.
