Moving House - Tips For A Successful Move

Expert tips for a stress-free move: Plan ahead, consider professional movers, involve kids, declutter, clean thoroughly, and save money.

It can be a stressful and complicated thing to do but nearly everyone moves home at least once during their lifetime. They will all have their own advice and tips when it comes to moving home. Some questions may even have more than one answer, depending on who you ask!

There are a few things that are the same, no matter the move. Planning your move is a must as you don’t want to be doing everything last minute unless you want utter chaos. You want enough time to contact removal companies, pack your items and speak to utility providers, among many other things.

There’s also the question of whether your new property completely fits all of your needs. The earlier you get this all done, the less stressful and chaotic it will be. Be sure to take on board any tips and advice you get but be wary of tips that seem too good to be true (usually surrounding the paperwork, law, or financial matters). The last thing you want to do is to get into trouble.

Here are some of the popular questions about moving house you should be asking.

Do I Need A Professional Removal Company?

Only you can truly answer this question. Are you comfortable hiring a van and removing it all yourself – bearing in mind that the costs could exceed hiring a removal company, you could injure yourself and your possessions may not be insured for the journey unless you get additional coverage from your contents insurance provider.

So many people try to save money by not hiring professional removal companies or men with vans. But usually the cost is a lot less than hiring a vehicle yourself. They will also work in a more timely and efficient way, getting you moved in no time at all – would you be able to get everything moved in the time they can?

It is, of course, vital that you choose the right company for your needs. You will want to check out their online reviews – you want a reputable company with an affordable price. Don’t be drawn in by extremely low prices if their reviews aren’t great – these people are transporting your life from A to B, so you want the best people for the job. You should gather quotes from a few local companies and let them know the moving dates, the two locations and how much you will be taking with you. They can then price accordingly, and you can make your decision from there.

How Do I Help Children Adjust To A Move?

Moving house is stressful enough as it is but it’s even more stressful and difficult when you have children involved. The process of moving house can be stressful, confusing, and often traumatic for them so it is important to get them involved as much as possible.

Let them know what to expect, get them to help you with packing and let them see the new property before you move in there. If moving areas, you need to ensure you get your child signed up with a new GP, dentist, and perhaps even school.

What Are The Best Ways To De-clutter?

So many people take the time to de-clutter when they realise they are going to be moving house. The less they have to take with them, the better. If there are any items you no longer want or need, then you should de-clutter them. Sell them if they are in good condition – Facebook Marketplace or local Facebook groups are great places for this - or donate if you don’t have time to sell them and want to help out a good cause. You could even use freecycling or reuse websites or Facebook groups to get rid of your old stuff.

Should I Clean The Property Before I Move Out?

If you want to get your deposit back, yes! As part of a tenancy agreement, you will need to return your home to the same state it was when you arrived; otherwise, your landlord can easily make deductions. You can choose to clean the property yourself as long as you do it thoroughly – the inventory that was taken when you moved in makes for a great checklist.

If you don’t have the time to clean or don’t believe you are able to do a good enough job, you could book an end-of-tenancy cleaning service with a local cleaner or cleaning firm. They know exactly how to get the property up to tip-top standards to get your deposit back.

Can I Save Money When Moving House?

Yes, there are plenty of ways you can save money when moving house. Whilst people think renting a vehicle and doing the job yourself is cheaper, it often works out more expensive and is actually cheaper to hire a removal firm.

You can also look for free packaging – ask your local shops for any cardboard boxes they may be throwing away or recycling. You could sell some of your old possessions too! You could even pick up some free items for your new home on the freecycling sites once you’ve moved in.

These are just a few tips – which is your favourite?