moving out

Of course, the legalities for selling a house aren’t the only things you’ll need to worry about. Principally, thinking about the moving day itself and preparing adequately for the completion date, will ensure everything runs smoothly.

How can you prepare for moving day?

Completion day itself is exciting – but tiring and stressful at the same time. You’ll likely be exhausted when it’s all over. As such, plenty of planning and preparation is needed before the big day arrives.

Packing your belongings

For a smooth completion day, you need to start packing weeks before your scheduled move. Here are some of our tips for getting it right when it comes to the packing stage:

 

Start early

The sooner the better really. Pack away the possessions you won’t need and box them up. It’d be handy to have a room in the home where your boxes can be stored, to avoid clutter.

 

Go room by room

It wouldn’t be overly sensible to pack your bedroom items with your kitchenware for instance, so opt for a room by room approach. It’s also wise to label your boxes – it makes it a lot easier when you’re unpacking.

 

Clear the junk

Now’s the perfect time to start clearing out any old junk and throwing it away, or donating, before it starts cluttering your new home too.

 

Keep it light

It can be all too tempting to cram as many items in one box as possible – but you’ll regret it when it’s too heavy to lift or the box breaks mid-move. Instead, have more, lighter boxes and ease the strain on your back.

 

Hire a removal van

If you don’t have too many belongings, it is possible to use a few cars (kind friends or family members come in handy). However, with sofas and large furniture, your best bet is to source a removal company. Compare a few quotes from local businesses and choose the most cost effective option.

It’s also possible to hire your own van. It could work out cheaper – although you’ll then have to worry about loading and unloading the cargo at both ends. Whichever way you want to do it – just make sure it’s booked well in advance to avoid a last minute dash.

 

What to do with four weeks to go

You have just a month to go before you’re all set to move into your new home. But the preparation doesn’t stop there. At this time, you should remember to:

  • Notify GPs, dentists, schools, employers, banks, and utilities of the change of address
  • Read through your bank statement to ensure not missing any of the companies where direct debits come out
 

What to do with a week to go

When there's a week to go the excitement will be bubbling. You should now have most of your possessions safely packed away, with only the essentials left out.

It’s now worth speaking to the local council to stop your council tax, whilst telling anyone you’ve forgotten previously that’ll you be changing address.

 
 

Moving day checklist

On the day of completion, it can be easy to forget some of the basics – what with everything else going on. If you’re planning on buying elsewhere for instance, here are 10 last minute questions you may want to ask the sellers:

  1. Where is the stopcock?
  2. Where are the gas and electricity metres?
  3. Do any surfaces need special cleaning?
  4. When is the rubbish collection day (for normal bins, recycling and garden waste)?
  5. Are there any tins of paint the same as coloured walls?
  6. Are there any warranties on electrical appliances?
  7. Where was the fixed furniture purchased from?
  8. Where were the bathroom and kitchen tiles purchased?
  9. Where is the central heating thermostat?
  10. Who provides your gas and electricity?
 

If any of these questions have yet to be answered, now’s the time to ask them. Have the answers you need? Here are the last bits and bobs to consider.

  1. Label, label, label:


    Yes, we’ve covered this already – but make sure your boxes are clearly labelled and save yourself a load of time when you’re unpacking.

  2. Keep screws and bolts safe:


    Although you’re not likely to be dismantling your bed on moving day, the same practice applies. Keep all screws and bolts from one piece of furniture in the same bag and label what it’s for.

  3. Protect the floor:


    Moving into a new home? Then protect the floor from removal men trampling around – with some flat cardboard boxes.

  4. Stock up on bulbs:


    The previous owner isn’t likely to have taken the light bulbs with them – but it’s still worth stocking up just in case. You don’t want to be unpacking in darkness.

  5. Keep items aside:


    After a day’s moving, you might not want to start unpacking straight away. Pack a small box or bag of essentials – toiletries, cutlery, first aid kit etc. and have this handy for when you’re in the new property.

  6. Do your final lap:


    Once all the boxes and furniture have been packed into the van, don’t forget to walk around the property one last time – you’ll be surprised how many people leave things behind.
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