Packing and moving house is one of the most stressful yet rewarding experiences!

Here are a few tips to help things go as smoothly as possible.

Decided To Move?

Moving home consist of packing and transporting often thousands of different objects, each of different shape, value and size, from one location to another.

Once you decide to sell, start packing your contents into cardboards boxes for storage in the shed or garage: it can make you house look less cluttered to prospective buyers. Our silica gel sachets can be dropped into your cardboard boxes to prevent moisture damage.

Countdown To Moving Action Plan

Start planning your move as soon as a moving date is finalised.

6-10 Weeks Before Move Date

Sort out your clutter…

De-cluttering can be a task in itself, the key is not to become overwhelmed. Start with the garage, shed and loft first as these are likely to contain the most clutter, and then work through the house.

Take a good look at all the possessions you have accumulated over the years and sort it out into three lots:

· Things you’re taking with you when you move

· Things you don’t want to take with you but can give to charity

· Rubbish – to be binned

Not only will you reduce the amount of things you have to pack and move but it will be a great way to see things from a fresh perspective in time for your move in a new home. A good start is to get yourself a removal kit – each kit contains all you need to start packing including a selection of boxes of various sizes, tape, bubble wrap and wrapping paper.

Check out your new area…

Do some research into your new area to find out about shops, libraries, medical centres and dental surgeries, etc. To help your children settle in to their new home, take them on a visit to their new school and let them spend some time meeting classmates so they’ll already have made some new friends before their first day. Have a chat with your new neighbours and find out about local recreational facilities such as swimming pool or cinema, and find out about clubs your children can join so they’ll have something new to be excited about.

Start getting quotes from removal companies…

Ask your friends for recommendations of removal companies that have successfully completed house moves for them. Remember to tell the removal company exactly how many rooms you have in your house (e.g. three bedrooms, two reception rooms, etc) and also tell them if you have any unusually large or awkwardly shaped pieces of furniture. Even better, ask the removal companies to come round to your home so you can go through exactly what will need to be moved. If you are moving to or from a flat, remember to tell the movers what floor you are on, if there’s a lift or staircase and if there are any parking restrictions outside the building.

5-3 Weeks Before Move Date

Get your mail redirected…

Fill out and return a postal redirection form from the Royal Mail to ensure your mail is re-directed to your new home address. You pick up a form at your local Post Office or download one from www.royalmail.com. Tell Organisations You Are Moving... Start to notify your relevant companies, organisations and clubs etc that you will be moving. See our handy Home Movers Checklist. Remember the utilities companies will usually ask you to phone on the day you are moving with final meter readings.

Continue Packing…

Your packing should be well under way by now, starting with the items you use infrequently or those non-essentials items such as pictures and books.

See our handy Packing Guide to show you how to pack efficiently and maximise the protection for your furniture and household items.

It’s a good idea to clearly label your boxes with details of their room in the new house so removers know what rooms to put the boxes in on the day of your move. We’d also suggest a quick list of their contents. Don’t worry our home moving kits come with marker pens!

It’s also a good idea to keep an inventory of all the items of furniture and boxes to be moved.

If you’re running out of packaging materials, don’t panic! You’ve still got plenty of time to stock up on extra packing products such as boxes, bubble wrap, tissue paper and tape. Also get furniture protection such as sofa protectors, mattress protectors and furniture blankets to prevent damage and dirt. If you buy before 3pm, we’ll deliver next working day.

Make arrangements and return things…

Book time off work for your move and to minimise upset or danger, make arrangements for someone to look after your children and pets on the removal day.

Return borrowed items such as DVDs and videos, library books, neighbours gardening tools and homewares, etc.

Keys and Manuals…

Look out all the keys for your house, including those for windows, the garage and the garden shed and any spare sets you have given to family, friends or neighbours. It’s a good idea to label each key for the new owners.

Also look out any manuals you have for appliances you are leaving behind and for integral items such as the boiler or alarm system. Put these in a folder for the new owners.

2 Weeks Before Move Date

Confirm, Cancel and Clean…

Confirm your moving date and time with the removals company and all the items that will need to be moved.

Cancel deliveries of milk, newspapers, grocery deliveries, and services such as gardener, cleaner, window cleaner, etc.

Launder clothes and linen and pack away as much as possible. A great way to move clothes is by using wardrobe cases. These boxes have a handy hanging rail so you don’t need to remove your clothes from their hangers. Also get cardboard suitcases, great for managing the contents of drawers. Both are simple and time saving!

Start to clean your house in preparation for the move beginning with the least-used rooms.

1 Week Before Move Date

Boxes, boxes and more boxes…

Get a box together with all the items you’ll need for your first night in your new home such as cleaning materials, toiletries, toilet roll, bedding, nightwear, change of clothes. Also remember to pack essential medicines and tea, coffee, mugs, spoons and a kettle to take in your car on the day of the move.

Keep a separate box aside for any valuable items such as jewellery, cash and important documents such as passports, etc. so these can be kept with you in your car on the moving day also.

A Day or Two Before Move Date

Last minute checks and tasks…

Check out some local takeaways near to your new home as you won’t feel like cooking after a busy day moving.

Ensure everything, except for essential items, has been packed and labeled and run through the inventory to ensure nothing has been forgotten.

Defrost your fridge and freezer, ensuring they are completely dry and the doors remain open to prevent mildew.

Prepare your washing machine for moving and disconnect the power and water.

The Big Day

Hang on in there…It’s nearly over!

On the morning of your move, have a final clean of your house and ensure all windows, garages and sheds are locked and that the utility supplies have been switched off. Phone the utility companies with a note of your final metre readings.

You must be present at the time the move takes place. Take the removals team around the house and into each room, confirming what needs to be moved and any specific instructions.

After everything has been loaded onto the van, have a final check around including all cupboards, to ensure nothing has been missed. Ensure the removals team knows where they are going, and tell them of any access or parking problems.

Turn off the electricity and water supplies. Lock all the windows and doors. Leave keys and documentation relating to the house in the agreed place with a note for the new owners explaining what you have done. It might be nice to leave a gift for the new residents – some flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine.

Make sure you are at the other end when the removal team arrives so you can direct them to where items should be placed and tick off against the inventory.

As soon as possible after the move, check the conditions of your belongings: any claims for damage or breakages must be made as soon as possible.

Order takeaway food and open the champagne!

Congratulate yourself on a successful house move and vow never to move again (until you see the next house of your dreams!)