Moving house is one of the most stressful things you can experience in your lifetime. Here are some helpful tips that can hopefully lower your stress levels and make moving memorable for the right reasons…

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Before you move:

  • Take three boxes and label them keep and use, give away or sell, and keep and store. Use a bin liner to throw any broken or damaged items. Go around your house and place items into the appropriate box.
  • Contact removal firms – Shop around and ask friends, family and work colleagues for recommendations. Make sure you are clear with the firm about what you need, and also what you do not need.
  • If you are planning on moving your services such as gas, electric and broadband, make sure you inform suppliers of the date you are moving. If you are changing suppliers, make sure your current supplier knows when you are leaving your property, and that your new supplier knows your start date.
  • Redirect your post – This ensures that any mail you’ve not changed your address on still reaches you. Stray bills and letters could damage your credit record and increase the risk of ID fraud.
  • Plan your meals so that your fridge, freezer and cupboards are steadily emptying. If you have to buy more food, try to only buy the essentials.
  • Allow yourself plenty of time for packing. By the day of your move, everything should be packed apart from clothes you need to wear, essential food and toiletries.
  • Find new schools for the kids and new health services, or inform your current providers of your new details.

On the day of the move:

  • Put screws and bolts from bits of furniture in freezer bags and stick the bag to the relevant bit of furniture with masking tape.
  • Move your furniture into the new house first.
  • Make sure all boxes are labelled with which room they’re due to go to, and a basic description of what’s inside. Label the top and side of the box so you know what’s inside when they’re stacked.
  • Make sure you have lightbulbs – you don’t want to have to go to the shops mid-move or not notice until suddenly it’s too dark.
  • Make sure you have access to tea, coffee milk and mugs. Moving is thirsty work and a cuppa can help ease the inevitable tensions.
  • Make the beds – A good night’s sleep is the one thing you can guarantee you’ll need after moving.

Once you have moved in:

  • Check that all of your appliances work, and check items as you unpack them to make sure nothing has been damaged. If you hired a removal company, most give you a set time period in which to make a claim.
  • Register to vote – If you aren’t registered, you don’t get a say on who represents you.
    Double check that your workplace, the kids’ school, doctor, dentist and bank are aware that you have moved.
  • Deal with the old residents’ post – Your best option is to write on it ‘return to sender/not at this address’ and pop it back in the post. That way the sender will know not to send any future mail.

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