Moving House? Here’s How to Keep Calm and Carry On

Posted on October 30, 2019

Moving to a new house is one of the most stressful things most people have to experience. Whether you’re moving up the road or to another town or city, getting things under control with the right planning and preparation is vital. Here at Hackett, we help buyers and tenants from all walks of life find a place to call home. But it’s important to remember that the hard work doesn’t end when you sign on the dotted line for your new property.

In this blog post, we reveal how to make moving easier for a calmer, more enjoyable experience.

Pick a date

Select your moving date as far in advance as possible if the progress of your purchase or let allows it. Planning ahead by at least 4 weeks will not only ensure an exciting countdown but give you plenty of time to prepare for the fateful day. When selecting a moving date avoid peak times like Fridays, the last day of the school term or bank holidays.

If you plan to use a removal company, make sure you compare removal costs and check the availability of your chosen professional before you set your moving date in stone.

Gather your supplies

Ask family members and friends to pass on any spare boxes and newspapers they have. According to research from the Office for National Statistics, the average home in the UK is 90 square metres. This means the average person would need up to 50 boxes of varying sizes, from small to extra-large. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to gather the supplies you require.

Don’t forget to purchase lots of labels. Labelling every box in detail is the key to making light work of packing and unpacking.

Get organised

Packing shouldn’t be the upheaval it is. With the right organisation, you can pack with ease and have your belongings boxed up in no time. Around a month before your moving date, go from room to room separating belongings into things to keep, donate and bin. Items that you won’t use before moving can be packed at this stage too, meaning you’ll only need to pack the essentials in those busy few days before your moving date.

Sort your mail and bills

Redirecting your mail is simple and can now be done online. Once you’ve set up your redirect, make a list of all the companies you’ll have to contact to inform them of your new address. It can be easy to forget one or two but compiling this list over time will ensure no one is missed.

Tick off those final bits

If you have milk, newspapers or magazines delivered, make sure you cancel them or get them redirected to your new address.

Take final meter readings for all utilities (including electricity, water and gas) and request any final bills for items such as broadband and telephone. Use your list of contacts to begin notifying everyone of your new address. You don’t want to be left with too much to do when you’re trying to settle into your new home.