Property News

So you are moving house. No more visits to estate agents. No more worrying about house valuations and house prices. No more viewings at insanely inconvenient times. No more gorgeous houses that are out of your price range or hovels that someone has surely mis-priced at £350,000. No. That's all over. You've got a great price for your current home and have found the perfect residence for the next stage of your life. You can relax and look forward to moving day. Not quite!

There's a reason why moving house is categorised as one of the most stressful and traumatic events in a person's life. Part of the issue is the sheer emotion of leaving a home that has witnessed the ups and downs of your family's life over a number of years. Part of it is the inevitable middle of the night worries that your new property won't live up to its promise. Mostly, however, it's the sheer volume of practical activities you must undertake as part of the process of moving house.

In this two part guide, we set out some tips and hints to make your moving day as stress-free as possible.

Part One

1. Make a list

This sounds horribly obvious and simplistic but the truth is that many people just do things as the necessity springs to mind rather than having a plan. Setting out everything you need to accomplish in the form of a checklist will make everything seem entirely more manageable, especially if you establish deadlines and decide who in the family needs to perform each task.

Do this as soon as possible so that you can add to it in the months and weeks before you move. It's worth setting aside a few minutes every week to assess progress and to make sure that no one's lagging behind on their contribution to Project Moving Day!

2. Have a contingency fund

Moving house is an expensive business and you are conceivably stretched financially, but it is worth putting aside a sum of money for unexpected costs. You may, for example, discover that the emperor-sized bed you were planning to take with you is just that bit too big to fit through the front door and you need to buy a new one. If you're lucky, of course, you won't have to dip into this reserve but you will have some peace of mind and, if no emergencies crop up, you'll have a little nest egg for your first few weeks in your lovely new home.

3. 6-8 weeks before moving day

This is the time to start clearing your house, discarding any items you no longer need and packing anything you won't need until after you've moved. The sooner you engage a removals service, the better. Check the company's testimonials and insurance cover. Ask what packaging materials they can provide and determine what they expect of you and what you can expect from them.

In general, the job of moving your treasured household possessions is best left to the professionals. They really know what they are doing and can take a lot of the stress away from your shoulders. That said, we know that some families have restricted budgets or prefer to make their own arrangements for moving their belongings. If you are choosing this option, don't forget to arrange van hire and to book help from friends, especially during the warmer months when people disappear on holiday and may not be available.

4. 2-6 weeks before moving day

In addition to continuing with packing, de-cluttering and clearing (and, of course, motivating the kids to start on their bedrooms), this is the time to start working on administrative issues. For simplicity, we are listing some of the things you will need to do:

- Notify contacts of your imminent change of address. This is especially important for banks and finance companies, solicitors, employers, Government bodies such as the DWP, DVLA and Inland Revenue, local authority, doctors, dentists, opticians, vets and schools. Consider arranging the post forwarding service offered by the Post Office, at least for a couple of months after moving. Print up a "round-robin" note to let your family and friends know your new address and (telephone number if your provider can't let you keep your existing number).

- Your new address will probably necessitate some changes in your personal arrangements. For example, you will need to change your entry on the electoral register and you may need to change your doctor's surgery or the kids' schools depending on their respective catchment areas. If you have regular appointments at a hospital, do check that this facility will still be able to accommodate you when you move to your new location. Your medical and dental records will need to be sent to any new care providers so it's important to organise this as soon as possible. If your children will be changing schools, you should advise both their current and future institutions so that their records can be forwarded on a timely basis.

- If you have younger children and pets, it is worth making arrangements to ensure that they are cared for and occupied on moving day. Book a babysitter or family friend to look after the little ones and their furry friends well in advance so that you don't have to worry too much about their well-being during the move.

- Research any idiosyncrasies of your new neighbourhood. If there are parking restrictions, for example, you may need to make arrangements for these to be lifted on moving day so removal vans can park reasonably close to your new premises. As an adjunct to this, if you are moving a significant distance, it is worth having your car thoroughly serviced in preparation for the journey.

- Inform utility companies and any service providers that you will no longer need their services at your current address and whether and when you want them transferring to your new address. This is a prime opportunity for investigating whether you can get better deals on insurance and utilities. You may make substantial savings from checking out the various price comparison websites.

Read Part 2 of this guide here: a week to go and moving day!