Moving House
Tips for the Moving In Day – moving house can be an exciting and daunting prospect at the same time. The list of things to organise can seem endless. This article provides a short overview of the important points to remember, prior to moving out of your old home, during the move and the first few days in your new accommodation.
Packing Boxes and Sorting Out – if you have a lot of personal possessions, remember to buy some large, heavy-duty cardboard boxes. Make sure you mark the content of the top of each box, clearly on it’s outside, with a marker pen – then seal the box securely. If you currently live in rented accommodation, check the terms of the tenancy agreement, regarding talents responsibilities on moving out day. In particular, it is normal practice that furniture and fixtures be replaced if broken and ideally placed in the same room they were noted on the inventory during check-in. Any repairs or maintenance issues should have been dealt with long before checkout day, so that the new occupants do not complain to the letting agent or estate agent, accordingly. Clean and de-clutter you existing home well before moving day. If you have been living in the property for a number of years, the scale of the task does not become clear, until the furniture and possessions have been moved out of the way of dust, dirt and grime. Outside of the home, you may have items in the garden which you would like to take with you. Protect the root balls of any plants with adequate packaging and make sure they are fully watered, as the journey will likely stress any natural plants or flowers.
Changes of Addresses– before you move out, be sure to telephone all the relevant companies, the day you’re moving house and on what date. In particular, some utility companies will only accept a final meter reading on the day of moving out. Therefore, make sure you have copies of all your utility bills handy when you call so you can find out the process. The main organisations you will have to remember to notify of your new change of address will be:- your bank, DVLA, utility companies, telephone provider, Internet provider, sewage and water provider, insurance company, TV licensing, mobile phone company, credit card company, local council, savings bonds, your employer, pension companies, Inland Revenue, your solicitor, dentist, doctor, gym, library, schools and not forgetting your family and friends.
Fridge & Freezer it seems obvious, but do remember to turn off your fridge and freezer and defrost them in good time before moving out day. Empty any perishables and consume as appropriate. The reverse is true when moving into the new home. As soon as you get there, remember to turn on your major appliances and check the boiler is working so you will have hot water for that evening.
Post Re-direct postal redirection may involve proving your identity of your local post office with some form of ID. Don’t leave this process until the last minute, as it is vital you do not unnecessarily expose your personal financial information to strangers in new address. In particular, your utility companies will be sending your final bills to your new address. As computers sometimes initiate automatic letter sending, it is vital each utility company send your final bill to the correct address, (not the old one). This will avoid the potential risk of unpaid bills creating black marks against your credit record in future.
Parking the last thing you want on the moving out day is to have your parking space blocked by a neighbour or even worse a stranger’s car, (you cannot contact politely ask to come and move it). If you live in a city and car parking is restricted and demand for spaces is competitive, it is a good idea to block the space in good time., to ensure the removal van or your car is as close to your front entrance as possible. Many inner city residential areas acquire residential parking permits, in the form of tickets or vouchers. Don’t leave paying for these parking vouchers until the last minute, otherwise you might have to carry your worldly possessions halfway down the road, to reach your parked car or removal van.
Prepare a Short Term Box – during moving day it is a good idea to have a box of essentials packed up and ready, and as finding food and other essential items such as teabags and milk, may become inaccessible due to the move. It is possible that the previous tenants or owners disconnected utilities, and in the chaos of boxes and removal men, access to the simple basic things might be restricted. If you have kids, it’s a good idea to pack some of their favourite games in the short-term box, along with some snacks and goodies – to make the whole experience fun (or les stressful). It is also sensible to pack some of everyone’s toiletries, so at the end of the day you can relax and feel clean and refreshed (despite the inevitable chaos of boxes and mess everywhere). Include a map of your new home if you’re unsure of the new area you are moving to. Copy down the phone numbers of property agents and any other essential paperwork, accordingly – in case there are problems entering or accessing the property in any way.
Leaving Instructions for the Next Occupants as a gesture of goodwill, it is nice to leave property as you’d expect to find it. By leaving the next occupants a list of key contact names such as the names and addresses of the utility companies, goodwill is established. Flowers. or a bottle of wine or a box of teabags, milk and biscuits would also help leave them feeling welcome – remember they are facing exactly the same stressful moving issue you are. This can pay dividends if in the future your post gets incorrectly delivered to your old address and you need to contact the new occupants to retrieve it.
Reading the Final Utility Metres make sure you read electric meter, gas meter, telephone provider, broadband provider, water and sewage companies, and local council to inform them that you are no longer responsible for any outstanding bills following the moving day. They will want to know your forwarding address details to ensure that the final bill can be folded correctly.
Removal Companies if you are using a removal company to assist you in the move, be sure you understand when they are going to arrive and what they will or won’t pack and unpack. Some firms offer a complete package, others may insist that you pack delicate items yourself, to avoid the potential for accidents. Ensure you have a map of your new home for both the removals van driver and yourself. Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged up, in case of emergencies during the transfer between homes or you simply get lost on the way. If you are moving all of your possessions yourself, using your own car, make sure it is properly serviced and adequate the job. Make sure all of your boxes are placed in the correct rooms where the contents of the box is likely to reside. In other words, books and furniture in the dining room, kitchen utensils in the kitchen and so on.
Security for Your New Home if you are a tenant moving into a new rental property, make sure you’re letting agent has provided an adequate number of keys to the new property. If not, gets the keys cut quickly to avoid getting locked out of your new home. New tenants are always vulnerable from burglars during the moving day, as the property is likely to be entered frequently, as boxes are shifted and unloaded and unpacked. Keep an eye outside on the removal van, if you live in an area where there is a risk an opportunistic thief helping themselves to the back of something of your removal lorry. Once everything is unpacked and you’re finally in your new home, take a few minutes to understand any security arrangements such as doors and window locks, to understand how they work. Remember to ask the property agent to tell you the security code for the burglar alarm, if appropriate. Sit down for a well earned cup of tea!
Let Everyone Know devised a single letter with your old and new address details on including your new telephone number and perhaps a map. Post or e-mail this letter to all your friends and family, business colleagues and anybody else who needs that you have moved home.
