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Moving house can be one of the most stressful things you can do. Even more so if you are buying a new home as there will be things such as mortgages, solicitors, and estate agents to deal with before you can even think about physically packing boxes. Follow this guide if you want your house move to go as smoothly as possible.
Do Your Research
Make sure you do your research before you move. If you are moving to a new area, check it out to make sure you like the surroundings, and spend some time there when you are not looking at houses to get a feel for the location. Some locations are more expensive than others but there are often good reasons for this variation. You can consult online guides to learn about the best areas to live in and their pros and cons. For example, this guide from On the Dot Removals tells you everything you need to know about the Bristol housing market.
Removals
A removal company can take the headache out of moving day. It may cost a little extra but for a stress-free move, it is a good idea to let the removal company do everything such as packing, moving, and unpacking for you rather than having to do it all yourself. Make sure your de-clutter your home before they arrive though as this service will involve the removal people packing up and moving everything, including your clutter if you do not have a clear out first. This can cause you stress when you get to your new home as there is more to unpack.
Essentials
Pack some essentials yourself and take these with you rather than putting them in the removal van. That way you know where they are as soon as you get to your new home, and you do not have to spend time unpacking boxes to find them. Items such as a kettle, tea and coffee, and cups are going to be very welcome on arrival.
You won’t know in advance what items your sellers will leave for you. Some take all their lightbulbs and toilet rolls with them, leaving you with none, so make sure you have a supply of these in your essentials bag.
You will also be glad you remembered to pack a phone charger in your essentials bag as this is a small item and you could be rooting through boxes for a couple of days before you find it if it is not close to hand.
Get a Good Solicitor
Ask friends and family for recommendations for solicitors. A great solicitor will be able to answer any questions you have about paperwork, and they will find out information such as whether you are moving to a listed building or if the home you want to buy is built on safe ground. Some homes are built over unused pits or in flood risk areas and it is better to be safe than sorry. They will be able to explain their findings in words you can understand rather than baffling you with legal jargon and they will make sure that your home move goes smoothly.
Book Additional Care Well in Advance
If you have kids or pets, make sure that you have them taken care of on moving day. Toddlers will love to explore boxes, but it is far better for them to have empty ones to play with rather than those that are filled with priceless antiques. Pets can go missing or hide among all the commotion and you don’t want to spend a lot of time searching for your lost cat when your buyers are waiting to move in. Babysitters and pet care are a must, and it is often a good idea to keep them away for a couple of nights or more to give you time to settle and organise their space before you welcome them to their new home.
Food
It is a good idea to stop food shopping a week or so before you move as this will mean you can run your fridge and freezer down and you don’t have as much to worry about on moving day. Order a food delivery service to arrive at your new home on the evening you move in or the following morning. That way you are not without supplies for long, but you have time to sort the kitchen out a bit before it arrives.
Follow these guidelines to make your house move go smoothly and remember that however stressful things may get, it will all be worth it in the end.