How to take the stress out of moving house
Homebuyers need only take small steps to make moving to a new home a hassle-free experience, according to estate agents.
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) today urged those considering a property move to plan well in advance to avoid unnecessary stress on the day.
Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the NAEA , said: "Moving into a house should be an exciting time, but too many people leave preparation until the last minute, which often adds avoidable pressure and expense.
"Making a few simple checks and arrangements in advance should keep problems to a minimum."
The NAEA has the following advice for movers:
Get multiple quotes from removal companies - Once you are clear about your move in date, it is worth beginning to research removal costs. Hiring a removal firm can certainly ease the burden, but don't settle for the first one you come across. Many offer different levels of service including simple transportation of items right through to packing them for you, so it is worth shopping around. If you are downsizing to a smaller property, look at storage space rental costs too. Remember, it might work out cheaper sourcing this service independently from the company you choose to transport your items.
The NAEA would also recommend using a removal firm that is a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR), the trade association that maintains professional standards within the industry. You can search for your nearest BAR registered firm by visiting bar.co.uk
Don't rule out moving yourself - Not all moves require hiring the services of a removal company. Work out the distance to your new property, and most importantly the size of vehicle you require to transport your possessions. If you are willing to put the work in yourself, it can save a lot of money. That said, special furniture might well require experienced removers to pack and protect it so as to avoid damage during transit so don't be over ambitious. Should you decide to do it yourself, research self-hire services in the same way, being careful to check you have the correct vehicle license for the type of vehicle you end up selecting.
Set up services as soon as possible - It is frustrating to move into a new property only to find the gas and electricity isn't working. It is worth checking with the agent for the previous providers so you can call them to change the name on the contract or set up new accounts. Also, make sure that phone and broadband services are enabled prior to moving in as these often take a number of weeks to become active.
Check who holds the key to the door - This might sound like an obvious step but it is surprising how many new homeowners forget to check the date for when the keys will be released for the property. Ensure you clarify whether your new keys will be released by your solicitor/conveyancer or your agent, and when. Often it will be on moving day, not before..
Research access points on the day - Logistical considerations are often overlooked but making sure there is adequate access to the property for large vehicles will ensure no hidden surprises on the day of the move. It is always good to check that access will still be available to neighbours and other vehicles using the road outside the property during offload.
Plan your packing well in advance - Packing up your old house may appear a daunting task, but it needn't be. Many people make the mistake of packing up rooms according to what will fit best into boxes but it makes much more sense to plan where you want to put items in the new property. Labelling goes without saying but working on a floor plan for where you want everything to end up will help you to work out whether it will fit or not at the other end.
Dismantle heavy furniture first - It's very tempting to focus on packing the smaller items that can be easily put into boxes first but tackling larger furniture like cabinets and wardrobes should be made a priority as this usually takes longer. It is worth transferring these items to the front of the house in the days leading up to the move so they can be loaded first.
Pack a ‘basics' box - It is very easy to forget the essentials when moving house but ensuring that you have a spare change of clothes, a wash bag and a charger for your phone can be very helpful. You want to avoid a situation where you have to search through boxes on the day you move in to find the basics.