Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
Moving house can be a stressful process. If you’re moving from one side of the country to another, the potential for additional stress can be much higher. You can minimise the hassle, and keep your sanity in check, by doing the right preparation and planning.
But what exactly does this mean, in practice? Let’s run through a few key steps.
Early Planning and Organisation
The earlier you get started, generally speaking, the better. Create a checklist that covers every detail of the move, alongside a timeline. If you have a moving date, then you’ll be able to set your various deadlines relative to that. So, you might intend to have everything in a given room boxed up on a given day.
You should also set aside a dedicated folder, in which you can keep all of your documents related to the move. This will be very helpful when you come to search for a particular piece of paperwork later on.
Addressing Legal and Administrative Tasks
You’ll need to let everyone know what your new address is. This means anyone who might send letters to your old address. You might think of banks, utility companies, and the DVLA. The latter is particularly important – if you later happen to get a penalty notice, this will ensure that it’s sent to the correct address, and that you can pay it promptly.
You should also notify your insurers. Update your car insurance details, and you might even enjoy cheaper premiums. Different parts of the country, after all, impose different levels of risk for insurers.
Decluttering and Inventory Management
A move often presents a great chance to declutter your property. As you pack everything up, you can set aside certain dubious items to be either thrown in the bin or donated to a local charity shop. This will help ensure that you’re not paying over the odds to transport items that you’re going to dispense with anyway.
It’s also a good idea to make a list of any important items you’re taking with you. This will help you to ensure that everything has arrived on the other side of the move.
Choosing the Right Moving Services
You’ll also want to research your options at this point when it comes to the removal itself. If you have a lot of bulky, valuable or fragile items, then the value of a professional moving service becomes difficult to ignore. These services often come with insurance bundled in for your belongings, which will give you additional peace of mind during the move itself.
Of course, different removal companies will offer differing levels of service. Make sure that you’ve researched your options.
On the other hand, a DIY solution is often cheaper – and perfectly fine if you don’t have much stuff to transport. Think about the distance you’re travelling, and the amount of space you need. Then rent the appropriate van on the appropriate day.
Settling into Your New Home
Once you arrive at your new home, you’ll have a few jobs to do as you settle in. Take a moment to unpack the critical items. If you’ve put toilet paper, toothbrushes, snacks and clothes in a separate box, then this will be easy. Then get your utilities set up, and take a stroll around the neighbourhood and introduce yourself to the neighbours.
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
