Moving house is ranked as one of
the Top Ten most stressful experiences in life.
Charlotte Ribbons, Trainee Solicitor with MJP Conveyancing examines the ups and downs of moving home
Moving house is ranked as one of
the Top Ten most stressful experiences in life. Having moved house myself last
weekend I can strongly agree that uprooting a life’s worth of possessions, daily
debates with my partner over whether it is really necessary to take my
childhood memoirs and having spent a week wading through boxes to find basic
items I can vouch that a divorce may have been slightly less traumatic.
I believe the highlight of my day
was loading my cherished super-king sized bed into the van, driving it all the
way to our new home, spending a good hour manoeuvring it up and down the stairs
in a vague attempt to make it fit, standing outside debating whether going
through the window might work and then eventually with tears in my eyes
admitting defeat, loading it back in the van and saying goodbye to it at the
tip. I can safely say a little pre-planning may not have gone a miss.
So before picking up the key from
the estate agent with the Cheshire Cat smile (which will remain on their face
all the way to the bank!) you may want to digest the following.
Before moving day take the
opportunity to have a spring clean. I can assure you, that beloved box of
treasures which you cannot live without suddenly becomes less appealing when in
your new home you realise there is simply no way one more box will fit in the
cupboard.
At least one week before moving
contact your gas, electricity, water, internet and telephone suppliers and make
the necessary arrangements for your final account. Use this as your chance to
shop around make the most of those cash-back deals your friends keep raving
about.
Run down the freezer….yes this does
mean it is totally acceptable to eat a whole tub of Ben & Jerry’s for
breakfast, after all the Trade Associations advise against moving freezers in
full or frozen state. Little tip, if you overlooked this getting a hair dryer
on it will speed up the defrost time. Prop open the doors to avoid having to
clean mould out later on, you do not want to add another cleaning job to the
list.
Decide whether you need a
professional moving firm or not. If you’re thinking of moving yourself, look
into the costs involved. Several journeys over long distances can quickly add
up, it may well be worth hiring the professionals. Not to mention saving your
blood pressure hitting dangerous levels when your mirror slips out of your brother-in-law’s
hands and smashes on the floor! Check with your home and contents insurer to
see if you are covered during the move.
Your best-friend on this day will
be the baby/dog sitter… tripping over the dog, hearing your child ask where the
lego is for the tenth time and standing on Biro will have you crying blue
murder. If this is a luxury you cannot
stretch to then make sure you keep some essential favourite toys at hand to set
up a make shift playroom at the other end.
Hindsight has now taught me on my
next move I shall pack a ‘survival kit’ consisting of tea bags, coffee, snacks,
lightbulbs, screwdrivers, tape, hammer, cash, phone charger, toilet roll,
chocolate and wine (believe me the last two are essential!).
Boxes - small ones for the heavy
items, big ones for the lighter items. For pictures and mirrors select a box
large enough to cover it, then instead of making the box up, keep it flat, seal
one end with tape and slide the picture/mirror in and then seal the top.
(Advice my brother-in-law did not follow!)
Before you rush off to your new
home check your old property for any items left behind, and don’t forget
outdoor plant pots. Take gas, water and electricity meter readings. This should
be the first thing you do at your new house too. If your old property will not
be re-inhabited turn off gas, electricity and water supplies as the mains.
Check windows and doors are fastened securely.
On arrival at your new home make
sure all items, fixtures and fittings that were included in the sale are
present and correct. If anything is missing contact your solicitor as soon as
possible.
Get your mail redirected to your
new address. Knocking on your on the door of your previous residence to ask for
your NEXT catalogue is a little awkward. Also cancel deliveries of newspapers
milk etc.
Before you snuggle down in front of
the TV make sure you have notified TV Licensing of your new address as your TV
license does not automatically transfer to your home. Risking prosecution and a
fine of up to £1,000 is not the ideal moving in present. (www.tvlicensing.co.uk)
It is a legal requirement to notify
the DVLA of your new address. You will need to renew your driving licence and
vehicle registration. Don’t forgot to update insurance providers, credit card,
pensions, investments and loyalty cards. You will need to let your children’s
schools know that you are moving. Do be aware that your children might have to
change schools if you are moving out of the catchment area.
This one maybe for the slightly
over cautious but change the locks on your new home… you never know who might
have a key!
Finally…take a deep breath, relax,
and crack open the champagne. Believe me you will have earnt it!
