You’ve finally found your dream home, exchanged contracts and your mortgage is sorted. Now that you’re ready to move, there may be some things you may not have accounted for. Whether it’s finding the fuse box in your new property or telling your broadband provider you’re moving, we want to ensure you don’t get caught out at the last minute. That's why we’ve put together a simple checklist to help you move home without a hitch.
Moving date
The first thing on your list should be to get your moving date officially confirmed by your conveyancers and the other homeowners in your chain. If you’re going to be renting, you may be able to move across a number of days, so keep this in mind if this sounds appealing to you. On the other hand, if you’re at the end of the chain, you may be waiting a long time for all of the transactions to go through. It’s best to find out your place in the chain before moving day and then you can easily plan your day around the timings.
Utility suppliers
Once you have a moving date, be sure to let all of your utility suppliers know that you’re moving house. Electricity, gas, phone and broadband suppliers will all need to know when you’re leaving the property. In most cases, you’ll be transferring your phone and broadband to your new property, rather than terminating the contract. This is why you need to give as much notice as possible because moving your service to your new property can take several weeks.
The Internet connection can also take a few days of setting up once you’re in your new home so if you’re in need of any appliance instructions be sure to download them so you can access these without the internet. You may also benefit from downloading some of your favourite films, prior to your move so that you have something to watch if you’re waiting on installations.
Finally, it’s vital that you take a meter reading before you move to your new home. Your meter reading will then need passing on to your suppliers so they know your usage etc. You may also find it easier to take a photo of your meter so that your readings are stored in your phone and not on a piece of paper that can easily get lost.
Removal costs
When it comes to moving home, removal costs can vary depending on the type of service you need. If you’re moving into a small property or if cost is a big worry for you, you’ll probably benefit more from hiring one van and doing the removals with your friends and family. However, this can be a heavily stressful way to move home, so if you’d prefer a much less stressful move, you should consider hiring a removal company like HomeMoovers. With us, it is also super quick and easy to get a quote for the price of your removal service needs, so you can factor this easily into your budget. Additionally, no matter the type of service you pick, always ensure any valuables and personal documents are kept in a safe place or on your person.
Declutter!
Now that you’re moving home, this is the perfect time to go through all your belongings and declutter anything you no longer need. From clothes to electronics and even furniture, you should decide what is actually worth keeping and what can be donated to charity or recycled. Decluttering before you move will save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to taking everything to your new home.
Note down where everything is in your new home
Let’s be honest, most of us wait until a radiator is pouring with water before we ask where the stopcock is. This is your sign to make sure this isn’t you. When you move into your new home, be sure to ask the previous owners where the following items are:
Stopcock
Instructions for appliances
Energy meters
Thermostat
Fuse box
If you’re also selling your home, write a list of all the locations of these items and leave it somewhere for the new owners. Small gestures like these always go a long way.
Pack everything
Now that you’ve had a good clear out, packing to move should be much easier. Make sure you label all of the boxes correctly so that they’re placed in the right room in your new home as it may not be you who’s putting them away. It would also be wise to make a list of what is inside each box so that you’ll know if something is missing and you won’t have to go hunting through every box for one item.
Pay up and let people know you’re moving
Before you move, settle all bills in your old home so that they don’t make their way back to you in your new home. You should also be sure to contact the following list and let them know you’ve changed your address:
Work
Bank
Insurance, pension and credit card companies
Council and electoral roll
TV licence
Doctors and dentist
DVLA
National insurance
Top tip: Don’t forget to delete your old address from any online retailers, as this will prevent you from ordering a parcel to your old home.
Move-in
Once everything is unloaded, you should probably do a deep clean of your new home before unpacking. Then, start unpacking room by room as this is much easier than having stuff everywhere. Also, be sure to check all appliances are up and running. Double-check you have the keys to all doors, windows and cupboards and when the bins are collected. Finally, you can put your feet up and take the rest of the evening off.
If you’re moving home and are in need of removal services, get a free online quote from Home Moovers today!