Moving etc…, strongly advise that you make sure that the period between your exchange of contracts and the completion date is as long as possible. AT LEAST TWO TO THREE WEEKS, if achievable. This is so that you can give plenty of notice to all parties concerned.
After all, you don’t want to exchange contracts just a few days before your move, only to find out that your removal company is fully booked!
Many people still think that booking a removal company is like booking a taxi – Quick and easy.
And some people don’t realise is that removal companies can be fully booked for days and weeks in advance.
One major piece of advice that we give is to make sure that you get quotes from Removal or Shipping companies as early as possible. If you are moving Overseas then you will need to contact them at least two months in advance. However, if you are only moving locally, we still advise that you contact them contact them at least 4-6 weeks in advance of your proposed move date so that you are more likely to be prepared for short notice completions. Also, the removal companies will be more patient and understanding of your situation.
This is also a good idea so that you know exactly how much your removal is going to cost, well in advance. Moving with a professional removal company may be less hassle, but it can also cost more. So Be Prepared!
To make life easier for everyone concerned and to avoid as many problems as possible, use our unique Move Manager to make your move as well-organized and as smooth as can be.
After all Moving etc… was established to enable you to make the right choice when it comes to choosing your removal company and allow your moving day to be just as fun and exciting as it should be!
Packing Advice
If you are not going to employ a professional removal company to pack for you, then the best thing you can do when organising any house move is to start packing early.
Please don’t under-estimate how long it will take you. One of the worst things that can happen is for the removal company to turn up and you are not ready. They may well charge you more if they have to help!
Take a look at our Packing Tips for more help and advice.
Organizing your move » 8 Weeks To Go
Sort through your belongings to reduce the number of things you have to move. This will reduce the cost of your move, plus make your moving day easier.
Have a jumble sale or donate items you no longer need to charity.
Place your legal, medical, financial, car and insurance records in a safe and accessible place.
If you need to carry out decorating work to your new property, get quotes now! Builders get very booked up so you will need to give them plenty of notice. You also need to budget well for your move.
Find a Removal Company » 7 Weeks To Go
Decide whether to move yourself (D.I.Y.) or hire professionals. Contact removal
companies or vehicle hire companies for quotations.
Tip: Contact three companies for estimates to compare prices.
Decide whether you will be packing everything yourself or if you would like the removal company to do everything for you. If you choose for the removal company to pack, prepare for the additional cost and compare prices and services offered. Now is also a good time to get all the quotes in so that you know how much everything is going to cost. Moving can be a very expensive business!
If you choose to pack yourself, gather packing supplies: boxes, packing material, tape, non-permanant felt markers, and scissors. Remember; Always leave enough time to pack up! This can be deceiving and can take quite a long time to complete. You will need to have this finished by the time the movers arrive, unless you have a special arrangement with them.
Book your Travel Arrangements » 6 Weeks To Go
If you’re moving a long distance, make travel arrangements with the airline, hotel, and car hire agencies. If you’re driving to your new home, get maps and plan your travel route in advance. Get your car tuned up to make sure that you don’t get caught short on your moving day.
If you have any pets, make sure that they are taken care of too. Travelling long distances can be very traumatic for animals, so you need to check with your Veterinarian if it will be safe for them to travel with you in your car.
Start Packing » 5 Weeks To Go
Start packing items that aren’t regularly used such as off-season clothes, decorations and items in storage areas (i.e. garage, attic, and closets). Make sure that your children are involved in the move! Moving away from all their friends can be very scary! Get them involved in packing up their room and organizing their toys. Maybe help them to keep a diary of the moving process from their perspective so that they can show their friends and new school mates.
Make sure you have important phone numbers like doctors, dentist, optometrist, and veterinarian, somewhere safe. If you need to let them know that you are moving, now is a good time.
Back up important computer files to floppy disk and file them safely.
If you haven’t already done it, contact removal companies for quotations!
Confirm your moving dates » 4 Weeks To Go
Have a ring round all concerned parties (estate agents, banks / mortgage brokers, current occupiers) and confirm the date on which you are going to move.
Finalise any outstanding queries and complete all documentation. Make sure that your Solicitor does not need anymore information from you and that everyone is happy to exchange contracts. Make sure that all parties are happy with the agreed dates.
If you are renting, make sure that your deposit is paid and your Tenancy Agreement is signed. Never move into a property without official documentation first!
Try to book your removal company now! If you do not yet have confirmed dates, see if you can provisionally book them in advance. Removal companies get booked up about three or four weeks in advance, so try to give them as much notice as possible.
Contact your utility companies » 3 Weeks To Go
Contact your utility companies (gas, electric, water, cable, council, and local phone service providers) and notify them of your move. Sign up for services at your new address.
Call friends and family and recruit help for the moving day if necessary. Check with your removal company how many men will be provided on your move. Sometimes friends and family can get in the way if there are too many people in the house at the same time.
If you have small children, decide where they will be on your moving day. Is it best that they remain at school or that someone else looks after them while you are busy moving? Small children can sometimes be better off out of the way while there is so much going on.
Confirm everything! » 2 Weeks To Go
Confirm your moving date!
Make sure that all documents are signed and that your Solicitor has exchanged your contracts. Make sure that all parties involved are aware of the Completion Date and there are no problems.
Check with the Estate or Lettings Agent that the keys will be available for you to collect on the day.
Confirm your travel reservations!
Make sure that you can get from your old property to your new one easily. Removal companies are not usually insured to carry passengers so don’t assume that you will be able to travel with them.
Book time off work if needed. Employers like to have as much notice as possible if their staff are going to be off for a few days.
If you leave it much later than this, they may be fully booked! Make sure that you have all the boxes and packing tape that you need if you are packing yourself. Don’t leave this to the last minute, otherwise you may get caught out when the van arrives to collect everything.
Confirm all logistical details with the Movers!
Book any parking suspension (if required) with the local council. Some councils require a minimum of 14 days notice for dispensation so that the van can park directly outside your house. Check if the removal company included this in their quotation. Some councils charge for this service.
Only one week to go. Agggghhhhh! » 1 Week To Go
Pick up items from the cleaners, repair shops, or friends.
Pack a survival kit of clothes, medicines, special foods, and so on to carry you through the day after arrival in your new home.
Finish packing all boxes minus what you’ll need in the final week.
Inform the post office of your upcoming move.
Arrange to close or transfer your bank account, if appropriate. Pick up items from safety deposit box.
Send change-of-address cards with your new address and phone number to friends and family, banks, insurance companies, credit card companies, and other financial institutions, magazines and newspapers, doctors, lawyers, accountant, estate agent and other service providers.
Local councils and any other government agencies as needed, workplace, schools,
Voter registration office and motor vehicle bureau (D.V.L.A.)
Don’t forget to update your driving licence or I.D. records.
Last minute preparations! » 2 Days To Go
Make sure that you don’t pack any items that belong to the Landlord!
Also, if you are selling some items with the house, make sure that these are clearly marked so that the removal men don’t load them onto the lorry. It can be quite hectic on moving day and the last thing you need is to be running around more than you have to.
Make sure that the washing machine and dishwasher are all unplumbed. Again this will save you time on the moving day. Try to eat simply and easily over the next few days to reduce the amount of housework you have to do before you go.
De-frost the freezer and eat down as much frozen food as you can. If you are moving a long distance from your current property, this kind of food will not stay frozen for long.
Also, if you are putting any items such as white goods in store, make sure they are as clean as possible. The last thing you need after a few weeks in store is having a mouldy fridge delivered back to you. Ask the removal company for Silica Gel to put into items such as fridges and washing machines to try to dry them out before the move. Alternatively, teabags make a good substitute!
Make arrangements to eat out or get take away on the evening of the delivery. The last thing you need to be thinking about is cooking a 3 course meal!
The Day before your move! » 1 Day To Go
Finish any last minute packing before the movers arrive.
Set aside any left over materials, such as boxes, tape and paper. The Removal men will usually utilise these within the load or take the empty ones back to their depot for you.
Pad corners and stairways of the house to stop any unnecessary damage.
Lay down old sheets in the entry and hallways to protect floor coverings.
Remove hanging fixtures and make sure that if the removal men will be packing anything, this is clearly visible.
If moving yourself, pick up the rental truck and a hand truck or dolly to move heavy boxes.
If you’re driving, check the oil and petrol in your car.
If you’re travelling, make sure you have tickets, charge cards, and other essentials.
Keep all animals locked inside for the night. Pets become increasingly agitated when strange things are going on around them and somehow sence that something is going on. Make sure that they can’t escape before the movers arrive, just in case they don’t come back!
Moving Day is here at last! » The Big Day
Carry with you:
The keys to your new home or arrange to collect them.
Map of new town and directions to your house for the movers. Make sure that everyone has the correct address!
The telephone number of the moving company.
Cash or traveller’s cheques.
Documentation related to the sale of your home.
Your insurance policies and the estate agent’s phone number, plus any other important numbers.
Your current address book or personal planner.
Prescription and non-prescription medicines.
Enough clothing to get by for the first few days.
Any important personal records and documents.
Any items of great personal value to you that are virtually irreplaceable (for example, a photo album or engagement ring). Note that most insurance policies do not cover money, bonds or high valued jewellery, unless seperately arranged, so make sure that these are somewhere safe at all times.
Check that you have backed-up copies of important computer files.
Sheets and towels for the first night in your new home.
Personal hygiene items (for example, toothpaste, soap, razor)
Any food for you and your family (and pets) for the journey and the first night in your new home.
Keep the kettle and the teabags handy! Moving is thirsty work and a nice cup of tea is always a pleasure during a hard days work!
Walk round your old house with the foreman of the removal crew one last time to make sure that everything has been packed and loaded onto the van. It is easier to get it now than when you are a few hundred miles away!
Arrival Day » The Big Day
For some of you, this might be the same day as the collection, but for others it may be one or two days later. If you are moving internationally or via storage, this could be a few weeks later, so keep this page handy for when you need it.
Place notices/labels on each door of your new house (i.e. bedroom 1, bedroom 2, kitchen, lounge, etc)
Show the movers where to place furniture and boxes.
Note any damages on the inventory sheet.
Tip: It’s helpful to have the movers read off the inventory numbers on boxes and furniture while you check the inventory list.
Unpack any valuable items, such as silver, art, and jewellery, upon arrival. Breakable items should always be checked before the removal men leave your new home to make sure that nothing is broken.
If the removal men packed for you, then sometimes they would unpack as well. Check this with the removal company first to make sure that there are no mis-understandings. If they do unpack for you, it is usually onto a flat surface (i.e. kitchen worktops and tables), so that you can check the items before you put them away.
Make sure that the removal men take away as much packing debris as possible. Most removal companies charge to come back and collect it later, especially if you have moved miles away from where you used to live. Also, due to their busy schedule, they may not be able to collect it for some time after the delivery.
Always check the van at the end of the delivery and walk around your new house with the foreman of the crew to make sure that everything is satisfactory. It is a lot easier to make notes of anything wrong while they are still there than to try and dispute it with the removal company later on.
Check the inventory to ensure that everything was delivered before signing the delivery papers.
Welcome to your new home! » After the move
Check to make sure that there is no damage to anything following the delivery. Most insurers allow only 7 days for you to inform your movers of a claim for lost or damaged items. They should send you out a claim form immediately so that you can complete this and get it back to them as soon as possible.
If you have placed your items into a storage room or garage whilst decorating work is being carried out, remember to check everything straight away after delivery, before the work starts. Most insurance is invalid if you do not inform the removers straight away of any damage, especially if you have had workers onsite who may have access to your effects after the move.
If you are placing your items into a storage facility other than that of your removal company, check the conditions of the insurance policy. Most insurance cover does not continue if you store your items “off site” from the movers unless arranged prior to delivery.
If something is wrong we are always very quick to complain. However, if the removal men did a good job, let the removal company know! Removal men pride themselves on how well they work and they are always happy to hear that you wrote a nice letter about them!
Walk and drive around your neighbourhood and community to orientate yourself and your family with your new surroundings. Find your new shops and local amenities and get to know your neighbours. Once people get to know that you are new to the area they are usually very helpful. You will also make new friends very easily as you have something to start talking about!
Find local interest groups for your children, i.e. brownies and cub scouts, etc. They will settle in a lot quicker if they make new friends in the first few weeks.
If you have just completed an international relocation or just moved a long way from home, some of the larger removal or shipping companies offer an orientation service where they can organize for you to be shown round your new area and they introduce you to the local activity groups and other ex-pat communities. They would charge for this service so check with your mover before hand.
Don’t forget about security in your new home! Moving can be very chaotic at times and we do not always notice strangers wandering around during this busy time. With all the comings and goings of Estate Agents, prospective buyers, utility engineers and general workmen, we don’t always recognise new faces, so make a mental note of anyone who looks out of place. Just before and after a house move is one of the most common times when we can get burgled, so make sure that you secure your new property as well as possible.
Keep cats and dogs close at hand for the first week or so. It is advisable to keep cats inside for at least two to three weeks after the move so that they get used to the new smells and strange surroundings of your new home before venturing outside. Make sure that they have fresh food and water at all times, so they settle in easier.
Get new driver’s licenses, library cards, voter registration cards, and bus passes if you haven’t already done so.
Enrol children in school if you haven’t already done so.
Relax! The hard part’s over!
House Warming Party! » After the Move
When you successfully move into your new home, it’s worth celebrating!
Housewarmings are a great way to show off your abode to friends and family – and, if you’ve moved into a new neighbourhood, holding a housewarming can be a nice way to meet your neighbours and introduce yourselves to the community. So stop unpacking for a minute and follow these simple rules for a happy housewarming.
If you’ve only just moved, the chances are that you’re still feeling a little frazzled – and you may well have more work to do. Don’t increase your workload by laying on an overly fancy do. Stick to simple food and drinks which are easy to prepare – stock up on finger foods, quiches, pizzas and ready-made salads which require next to no work. Pies and a large fruit salad make for a simple dessert.
Everyone at your housewarming party will be dying to see what every room in your house looks like – so arrange a grand tour for all of your guests! If you’re having a lot of people round, separate people into groups and give a number of tours. It won’t take long and, once you’ve got this out of the way, people will relax and mingle.
Don’t underestimate the importance of a housewarming party if you’re new to an area. You may feel strange asking people you don’t know to come over, but it’s a worthwhile exercise. A little informal networking can help to start new friendships. Make sure you also get valuable information about your area at your housewarming – ask your new neighbours where the best schools, shops and amenities are and see what insider info they can give you.
Your guests may be a mixture of old friends and new neighbours. Make sure you introduce people to each other to help the icebreaking along – it sounds simple, but making sure people feel a little more comfortable with each other can really make your party a success.
It isn’t necessary to arrange a raft of games and activities for your housewarming party. After all, people are there to meet you and each other and to see what your house looks like. There’s no reason to detract from that – housewarming parties should be as relaxed and informal as possible!
Now that your move and all that organising is out of the way, you only have one thing left to do.
Have fun!!
Moving etc…
Jane Finch
Ashley Buxey
Moving Overseas
Moving House
Moving Office
Heather Markel
Tom Monk
