Moving home can be one of the most stressful experiences you will encounter in your life, but with the right preparation and a list of what you need to do, the whole process can be made surprisingly easy.
The latest research by estate agent comparison site HaMuch.com, has highlighted ten essential time, money and stress-saving tips for moving day to ensure you can sleep easily throughout the first night in your new home.
Hire a qualified removal service
Recent research has found that 49% of home movers find packing the most stressful part of moving, with a further 10% stating that finding a good removal firm is the most stressful.
While it requires some budget behind it, choosing a qualified, bonafide removal firm is the best way to remove the stress of moving day, and the vast majority will even aid in packing up your belongings and unpacking them at the other end.
Hiring a professional also saves a load of time compared to tackling the mammoth task yourself, and by using comparison sites such as HaMuch.com, you can find the best-rated, best-value option in your area.
Of course, you can go it alone, but in the long run, it can cost you more money if you don’t know what you’re doing, but if you do decide to, remember the following.
Measure up
One of the most common issues found during a house move is that items don’t fit when you arrive at your new property. There’s nothing that will throw a spanner in the works quite like the sofa not fitting through the front door or any door for that matter, and leaving it out in the front garden doesn’t create the best first impression with the neighbours.
Make sure you know the size of your new doors and the size of your items, and if necessary, dismantle everything you can prior to moving to keep costs and time down on the day.
No friendly help
One common sidestep to the cost of a removal firm is to ask friends and family for help. If you have kids of a suitable age, then some forced labour might work, but bear in mind that other friends and even family members may well back out at the last minute, leaving you high and dry on the day and paying a premium for emergency help from a professional.
Opting for the amateur route can also lead to injury when lifting heavy items, so not only will you be stuck when it comes to moving, but you could also be stuck horizontally in bed or a hard floor, or even worse, in the hospital.
Change the locks
Do you know how many strangers the previous homeowner handed keys out to in case of an emergency? For complete peace of mind and, in the worst cases, to avoid being burgled, call in a locksmith to change your locks on a moving day, and you won’t have to worry. It’s far cheaper than coming home to an empty house and having to replace all of your stuff.
Check the utilities
There’s nothing worse than a full day of moving only to find the hot water isn’t working for a cuppa or bath/shower, the electric is out as the light is fading fast or you have no heating to warm a cold house.
Don’t make the first night in your new home one to forget, check the gas, electricity a and water systems as soon as you arrive. You may have done this during the viewing process, but you don’t know what might have happened since and getting it sorted sooner rather than later will save you time, money and stress.
Check any crawl spaces
When checking your utilities, be sure to check any crawl spaces in the house. Again, you should do this prior to buying, but who knows what’s happened since leaky pipes are a common occurrence, but you should also check for bugs, mould and dead animals.
You also never know who or what secrets the previous owner could be hiding behind the walls. They’ve probably taken everything with them, but knowing for sure saves you stressing.
Panels and flooring
As with crawl spaces, check panels on baths or loose floorboards. These can be common hiding places, and you never know what forgotten treasures you might find. While you’re unlikely to find anything, it could help towards costs if you do.
The main water stop valve
The annoying thing about emergencies is you never know when they might happen. If you’re moving into a house that hasn’t been lived in for a while, pipes could be susceptible to bursting, so before you do anything, locate the main water stop valve so you can act fast should the worst happen.
The main electrical circuit board
The same goes for the main electrical circuit board. Although it might not be as immediate, any DIY work that follows your move-in day might require you to shut off power for safety reasons. Please don’t wait until then, though; make sure you know where it is right from the off.
Meet the neighbours
Once the dust has settled, go and meet your neighbours. They can fill you in about the neighbourhood and surrounding area and even save you stressing about where to find some milk at 10 pm a night for tea by lending you some basic goods.
Founder and CEO of HaMuch.com, Tarquin Purdie, commented: “The whole of buying a new home can be a long, stressful, expensive one which culminates with the task of moving itself. For many, it can be tempting to tackle this task themselves to save money, and if you do decide to go down this route, following these few simple steps can help with a much smoother move.
However, with the money you’ve already spent on a nice new home, that little extra budget for professional help can be the cherry on top and save you a load of time and even help avoid potential injury. In doing so, you can move into your new home with a lot less stress and start to enjoy it quicker.”
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