Moving house is something that many people will become well acquainted with in their lifetime. Whether they’ve moved two or three times or over a dozen, the prep and planning you do will hopefully lead to a smoother transition from one property to the next.
Moving house for the first time, though, can be particularly stressful. That’s why it’s good to know what you need to do before, during and after the move in order to make it a successful one.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know on how to manage a house move for the first time. From the planning and preparation of the move to loading it up and getting it over to your new property.
Confirm the moving date
Before you do anything else, you first want to figure out a moving date. For some home buying processes, you might not know the moving date until some point further down the line when you’ve go the go-ahead for exchange and completion.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to have some flexibility in your calendar for the coming months. That way, you’ll make sure that when you do get the green light on the move, you can allocate a moving date fairly swiftly.
Getting the moving date confirmed is going to allow you a greater variety of selection for removal companies, plus anyone you’re roping in to help when it comes to friends and family members.
It’s the first thing to put on your list of things to-do, so make sure it’s done before you move forward with anything else.
Book a removal company
A removal company is one of the must-haves before your moving day. Of course, you could do it all yourself, but there are many downsides to doing it yourself. You’re likely to find yourself restricted for time if you’re just one or two people trying to shift all of the furniture and belongings out of your current home.
It can also add to the stress of the move if you’re having to hire a van yourself, get the relevant insurance, and then shift everything in and out of the van.
Booking a removal company can help alleviate some of that pressure and enable you to sit back and relax somewhat as the removal people do all of the hard graft for you. Of course, you’ll likely want to get involved in some way, to help where appropriate, but having a removal company is a good way of taking off the pressure of a move, especially for the first time.
Consider a storage unit hire
There will be some moves where moving from one property to another might not be possible on the same day. It might be that you have to move your belongings out of your property, but the property you’re moving into might not be ready. Whether that’s due to timings and bookings not panning out right, or needing to break the chain in order to sell on time.
A storage unit hire is a worthwhile consideration when you’re needing some form of temporary holding for your belongings that’s safe and secure.
Knowing what you need in terms of size is important because it may vary depending on whether you’re coming from a two-bedroom flat or a five-bedroom house. This storage unit sizing guide is a great starting point to know what size you need in size so that you can fit everything in it comfortably.
Change your address to the new one
Once you’ve got the property ready to move into, you’ll want to look at redirecting all of your current mail from the address you’re at to the one you’re moving to.
That involves informing a lot of companies of your change of address. It often takes an afternoon to sit down and make a list of all the providers you need to let know that you’re moving. This process might take a little longer to execute, especially as some providers will require you to phone up or provide proof of address, which you might not have yet.
Changing your address will ensure that your post continues to be delivered to the right property, so it’s something to make sure to do on your to-do list once you’re on the countdown to moving in.
Pack prior to the move
In order to maximize the success of a move, you want to make sure you’ve packed prior to the moving day. Ideally, you don’t want to be wrapping up your household belongings the night before or in the middle of the night when you should instead be in bed.
Packing prior to the move will ensure a smooth process for the moving day itself. Ideally, you should be packing gradually and that way, it won’t the move quite so exhausting. With that in mind, it’s good to have all of the packing materials available and ready to go. Consider what packing materials you need and the volume so that you are able to pack up everything properly.
It’s better to have more than not enough when it comes to moving all your stuff, so be mindful of how much you need and always over-order when it comes to packing materials. You can always save the leftovers for future moves or return items that haven’t been used if needed.
Remember to declutter to save on space
One of the benefits of moving house is that you can use it as an opportunity to declutter your current spaces. There’s likely to be a lot of belongings that you have been holding onto for a while now, and that you could look to get rid of.
For some, it might be getting rid of things and throwing them out in the trash. Other items might be something you can sell, and others that you could donate.
Go through each space carefully, making sure to declutter every inch of the rooms. Dive deep into closet spaces and drawers, being sure to throw out, donate or sell anything that you truly no longer need.
It can be a wonderful process that you’ll appreciate when moving into your new home. You can leave all of that clutter in the past where it belongs!
Get an early start on the day
To help get the most out of your move, it’s important to start the day as early as you can. That way, you’re going to get everything that you need done so that your move goes as quickly and efficiently as possible.
An early start will help address any last-minute packing that needs doing. It’s going to ensure you get a good breakfast down you before you start what will likely be both a mentally draining day and a physically draining one at that.
Delegating and having a plan for the day will help, as well as making sure to communicate with all those involved, effectively, to avoid confusion. An early night is also worth having so you’re ready for a big day of moving.
Get all hands on deck to help load and unload
Getting all hands on deck will certainly help when it comes to loading and unloading from one end to the other.
Yes, the removal company will be helpful in doing all of this for you, but you might want to have some involvement if you’re pressed for time. It might also be something you need to help with so that you can ensure all the relevant boxes and furniture end up in the right place.
There’s nothing worse than not having the furniture or boxes allocated properly, and then you’re forever raiding the boxes to find what you need for each room.
Ask family members or friends to help out with the move because the more people you have to help, the quicker everything gets done. If you’re only doing it with one or two people, the process will be much slower and you might struggle to get everything done on time – or unpacking well into the following morning!
Make sure to clean the old property
Finally, you should leave the property you were in in good condition, ready for the next tenants who are occupying the house. While the move from your property to a new one can feel quite rushed in the moment, it’s always good to try and do as much of a clean as physically possible.
If you’re struggling to get it done, then you could always get a professional to come in once you’ve got your stuff out, or as you clear room by room. That way, you’ll hopefully leave it in as good a condition as can be for those moving into the home.
Managing a house move for the first time can feel overwhelming, but with these tips, you’ll certainly achieve a smoother transition if you follow these tips accordingly. Hopefully, you’re first move will be a good one and one to remember for years to come with your loved ones.
