Moving House? Top tips to box clever

MOVING house is regularly listed as one of life’s most stressful events, so it is important to do all you can to make sure it runs as smoothly as possible.

For the less organised, packing up your belongings can seem daunting.

David Henderson, at Strutt & Parker Moreton in Marsh gives his top tips to help ensure a straightforward transition to your new home.

Transferring Addresses

It is always important to notify service providers of your move, whether you’re updating the address or ending contracts.

This is especially useful for telephone and internet providers.

Don’t forget to take gas and electricity meter readings as you leave your old property and enter your new one, so you don’t get unfairly charged.

Royal Mail offer a useful redirecting service for a fee in which mail will be re-routed to your new house over a period of one, three, six or 12 months.

Removal companies

Do your due diligence and get two or three written estimates from different companies to make sure you don’t get stung with a hefty bill.

Make sure the company you choose is a member of the British Association of Removers; you can find all registered companies at bar.co.uk

Get packing… and binning!

One of the great things about moving is the chance to not just tidy up and organise all your belongings, but throw away all the stuff that you just don’t need to take with you.

From out of date food hidden in the corners of cupboards, to the dress that you have haven’t worn for 10 years, this is the time to be brutal.

Have a pile to send to charity and make the most of sites like eBay, Gumtree and Freecycle.

Help on the day

Apart from enlisting the help of partners, family and friends, you could also pay for extra man power on the day of your move.

Some removal companies will pack up your house contents for you, at a cost.

Make sure the boxes you use are strong and of good quality, reducing the risk of damaging what’s inside.

Clearly label ‘fragile’ on anything that might run the risk of a break along with a note of what’s inside and the room it is intended for.

Don’t be alarmed by the quantity of bubble wrap that you may end up using!

Better to be safe than sorry.

Time management

Don’t underestimate how long it will take to move.

The last scenario you need on an already stressful day is run behind schedule.

De-cluttering and sorting a lifetime of belongings can take months, spending on the size of your house.

Courtesy

It is generally regarded as common courtesy to hire a cleaner when you finally move out of the old accommodation, making sure everything is pristine for the new owners.

It may also be nice to write a message and leave a small gift, such as a box of chocolates.

Don’t forget to collect all the spare keys that have been distributed to various friends, family and neighbours.

Paperwork

Avoid scrambling around on the day and set aside a folder full of all the vital documents you may need during the first few days of your move.

From home insurance, passports, deeds, removal invoices, to the contact details of your estate agent and solicitor, have it all to hand to avoid any panic.

Pets

Most pets will get extremely stressed by a change in environment.

When you arrive into your new home, don’t forget to show them lots of attention.

It’s usually best to close them in a large, well-ventilated room stuffed full of familiar scents like their favourite toys and sleeping basket.

This will allow them to get their bearings.

New Neighbours

Being neighbourly is a must to get you on the right footing from day one.

You could even visit your new neighbours before you move in to let them know the date of your arrival.

That way they may forgive the enormous van obstructing the road, and the late night visits for a pint of milk and sugar.

Whether you’re buying or selling, for more information please contact Strutt & Parker Moreton in Marsh on Tel: 01608 650502, or visit struttandparker.com