COUNTDOWN TO MOVING
With Home Truths
A note from Home Truths...
WELCOME TO OUR MINI GUIDE TO MOVING As we all know, moving house is an exciting but often stressful time. This is why we have designed this booklet; to ensure that your moving day and the weeks leading up to it can run as smoothly as possible. You'll find a few tips and checklists to help you avoid some of the stress many homeowners experience during this time. We hope this guide is of use to you and wish you all the best on your move!
If we were meant to stay in one place, we'd have roots instead of feet"
Rachel Wolchin
UP TO 4 WEEKS BEFORE MOVING Decide whether you need a professional moving firm or not. If you're thinking of moving yourself, look into the costs involved - several journeys over long distances can quickly add up. It may well be worth hiring the professionals (see Removal Planning and Packing Up pages for more information. Hire removal boxes or tea chests if they're not supplied by the removal company. Stock up on boxes, string, labels, etc. They will prove invaluable! (See Removal Planning and Packing Up pages). Start using up frozen and tinned food. Take the opportunity to declutter: sort out your cupboards and sell unused items, or give them to a charity shop. Draw up a plan of where you want your furniture to go in the new house. Book a hotel if you think you'll need one during the move. Arrange for a friend or relative to help look after your children on moving day. Ensure you explain to young children in advance what is happening so they know what to expect. Book pets into kennels/catteries or arrange for friends/relatives to look after them during the move. Have your new address engraved on pet collars. Redirect your mail; a form can be obtained from your local post office. Notify your children's old and new schools of leaving/arriving dates.
1-2 WEEKS BEFORE MOVING Arrange the professional disconnection of gas cookers and any other appliances you are taking with you. Cancel deliveries of paper, milk, etc and pay off any outstanding accounts. Return any library booked and items borrowed from friends or neighbours. Put all your documents and valuables in a single safe place.
Notify the following organisations/providers with your moving details: Bank Credit/Store card Other financial companies Eg/ if you have a hire purchase agreement or loan Utility providers Eg/ electricity, gas, water Inland Revenue (HMRC) National Savings and Premium Bonds Pensions Insurers - motor, contents, life, travel DVLA - for drivers license
1-2 WEEKS BEFORE MOVING TV License Phone/Mobile/Internet Local council (old and new address) Charities and clubs Magazine subscriptions
Tell your employer. Inform your stockbroker and/or companies in which you own shares or are a director. Inform your existing doctor, dentist, optician (and private medical care provider) and research new ones close to where you're moving.
FINAL COUNTDOWN 3 days before moving Take down fitted items that are going with you - shelves, light fixtures, mirrors, etc. Do your last minute laundry. Confirm that the estate agent has keys available to release to the buyer, subject to the solicitors confirmation.
2 days before moving Pack a bag with a change of clothes, essential toiletries and a 'survival kit' for the other end. Gather light bulbs, fuses, tools, toilet roll, battery lanterns or torches, cash, phone chargers and a list of important telephone numbers. Empty, defrost and dry out your fridge/freezer if you're planning to put it in storage for any length of time. Leave the doors slightly ajar. Seal packets, bottles or jars with tape to prevent any spillage. Make sure there will be enough space for removal vans at both addresses. Organise a temporary parking permit if necessary . Arrange lift access if you live in an apartment.
1 day before moving Prepare food and drink for moving day; tea/coffee, juice, milk, fruit, bread, cheese and pastries. Don't forget some plates, cups, cutlery, a sharp knife and the kettle! Fully charge your mobile phone. Get a good night's sleep.
MOVING DAY Settle the children with their carer if they have one. If not, set up a room that contains their toys and a few treats. Give older children specific tasks, including packing their personal box. Give the removal team a full tour of the house. Keep the kettle boiling and the biscuits flowing! Strip the beds and keep the linen handy, so you can pull it out for the first night in the new house. Once the van is loaded, walk around with a member of the removal team to check you have got everything you want in the van. Take the meter readings in your old and new homes. Lock all windows and doors before handing over the keys. Unpack carefully in your new home, check for loss or damage and report it immediately. Relax!
REMOVAL PLANNING Despite the effort that goes into preparing a property for sale, many people overlook the impact of good removal planning. These pointers will help you prepare as much as possible:
Completion dates are often agreed before exchange. Once you have a tentative date in mind ask the removal company to pencil in the date, subject to confirmation. Friday is the most popular date to move house. However, removal companies tend to get booked up, and if there were to be a hiccup, would they work on Saturday? Even if they would, the van might have been booked out to someone else and not be available to complete your move easily. So aim to move midweek if at all possible. Don't wait until a buyer is found before arranging a removal quote. In the same way that you choose your estate agent with care, talk to several firms before deciding, without having to use the only one available on your chosen day. You can save a lot of hassle by asking the removers to pack for you. But watch the quality of packing. Do they just put a pile of plates into a box, or do they wrap each one individually? Will they pack clothes in existing chests/wardrobes, saving space, or would they pack into boxes first, possible at unnecessary costs?
To be on the safe side, choose a removal company that is the member of BAR - the British Association of Removers. The BAR Head Office telephone number is: 01923 699480 and their website is bar.co.uk. Choose a removal company that is reliable and will help make the transition as smooth as possible. Get a binding quote from the removal company, including details of the expected the number of hours the job will take. Check what is included on their insurance; if there are any gaps, would these be covered by your own home insurance policy. Inform the removal company how many stairs there are at your new home, and if there are any potential access restrictions. Provide them with a list of things that are not to go. Where possible, examine all items carefully before signing a receipt.
HOW TO PACK UP From the time you decide to sell, put aside the following as you come across them; spare boxes, marker pens, bubble wrap, newspaper and tissue, parcel tape (lots of it) and scissors. A tape measure is always useful. Use strong boxes and do not overfill them - use smaller boxes for heavy items and larger boxes for light items. Purchase special boxes for dishes, wardrobe and other special items. Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes if possible and label audio leads for easy recognition later. If removing screws, tape them to objects that they have been removed from. Label each box and indicate the following on at least two sides of the box: a. Which room it should go in b. Whether it is fragile c. Whether it should be loaded last, so it will be unloaded first Name each room in the new property and stick labels with these names on the door of each, so the removal men are clear as to which is which. Pack medicines in a leak proof container. Save space by using towels and blankets to wrap fragile items rather than bubble wrap, which takes up a lot of room. Pack books tightly on end in small boxes. Have rugs and curtains cleaned during the moving period, they will be fresh for your new property. Carry all valuables with you.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PLANTS If you have agreed to take some of the plants with you, then prune when necessary to facilitate packing. Place the plants in cardboard boxes. Hold them in place with dampened newspaper. Use paper to cushion the leaves and place a final layer of wet paper on top to keep them moist. Close the boxes, punch air holes in the top and label 'PLANTS FRAGILE'.
Keep in a cool, dark place and load last. Unpack the plants as soon as possible after arrival. Remove the plants through the bottom of the box to avoid breaking the stems. Do not expose the plants to much sunlight at first. Let them get gradually accustomed to more light.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PETS Cats and dogs can be taken in your car, but remember to take food, water, a lead and newspaper or sheets to keep your car clean.
Put something with a familiar scent on it with your cat or dog to help them settle quickly into your new home.
Animals can get car-sick and will require frequent stops along the way if you are moving more than 50 miles.
Hamsters, birds and other small animals can easily be transported in your car. To help keep the animals calm, cover cages with a cloth. Also, make sure they have food and water available.
On arrival, put your cat/dog in a closed room (but well ventilated) and let them get used to the new surroundings before venturing further afield. This especially applies to cats, who should only be allowed in the rest of the house after a couple of days, followed by supervised access to the garden after a further week.
It can be very impractical and risky to move fish. Check with your local pet shop for recommendations on moving your specific type of fish.
ABOUT HOME TRUTHS Home Truths is an independent, family-run business. With three family members and excellent colleagues working closely together and living in the locality. We are all invested in the business which means that our clients benefit from a totally different level of service. At Home Truths we don’t just talk about family as a selling line; we all have key roles and work directly with you throughout. You will always be able to get in touch with us. We love forming strong relationships with our vendors and landlords. Ensuring that both they and all prospective buyers and tenants have the assistance and information needed to successfully complete the sale or rental process.
Home Truths Sales & Lettings 265 The Green, Eccleston, PR7 5QS 01257 451673 | office@hometruthslancs.co.uk www.hometruthslancs.co.uk