Moving home is one of the three most stressful events in a person’s lifetime, after death of a loved one and divorce. With some forethought and preparation and some help from a comprehensive moving house checklist, you can reduce the stress associated with a big move and concentrate on turning your new house into a home.
Because moving house is such a big undertaking a checklist to help you through the process is almost indispensible. The important thing to remember is to give yourself enough time to make all of the arrangements and get through all of the tasks that accompany a move, so that you don’t end up with a madly spinning head, increasingly irate partner, crying children and anxious pets. By breaking up the seemingly insurmountable whole into a string of smaller, less intimidating tasks you’ll find that you end up ticking items off your checklist more quickly than expected.
Experts say that the ideal time to start preparing for your move is 6-8 weeks before the actual removal date. During this time you need to find a reputable moving company, preferably one that belongs to the British Association of Removers. Approach several moving companies for quotes and remember to find out about insurance costs for your belongings during transit so that you are covered every step of the way. Many companies charge more to move your home over weekends or public holidays, so try to move during the week if possible, and even though it may be more stressful to pack your belongings yourself, it’s considerably cheaper than getting the removal company to do it for you.
Other tips on moving house checklists include making arrangements for the disconnection of services and the connections of new services at your new home. You also need to notify all relevant parties of your change of address, including banks, insurance, subscriptions, TV licensing departments, council tax offices and the electoral commission office.
Around 3 weeks before the big move you should start collecting boxes and amassing other packaging materials, such as bubble wrap, old newspapers and blankets (to protect fragile items and breakables). This is a good time to declutter your life with a garage sale or by donating old and unwanted items to charity. You should also consider the general condition of your home and whether you would be happy to move into it as it is. Even if you feel as though your house is perfect, it’s a good idea to get the carpets steam cleaned, ensure that the walls are washed and the cupboard shelves are wiped down after you have removed all your possessions.
Another good idea is to create a checklist of all your household furniture and possessions, so that you can keep track of everything during the move. You should tick off everything as it’s loaded into the moving van and then again when it’s unloaded at your new home. The last item on your moving house checklist should be a brief double or triple check of your old home before you lock the doors and brace yourself for a few weeks of unpacking.