Moving House - Exciting or Short-Tempered Nightmare?
After all the worry and hassle of buying a new house, there is the small matter of actually moving in. Moving can be an exciting new beginning or a fraught, short-tempered nightmare, which leaves you physically and mentally exhausted. The way to reduce the risk of the latter is careful forward planning. Don’t wait until you pick up the keys before you start to think about the move.
Plan
The first thing to do, before you have an offer accepted on your house, is to de-clutter. Almost all of us hoard unnecessary possessions that fill every available shelf, cupboard, garage and shed. Time spent preparing could save you a lot of stress and money.
You will have to go through everything, and decide what you would like to keep, throw out, sell or give away. If you separate everything into various piles it is easier to see what you have. The loft is always a good place to start, as nothing is in constant use and therefore can be boxed up well in advance. Books and videos are other items that are often not used frequently and could be sorted out and boxed.
Be ruthless, if not you will only have to pay for it all to be transported to the new house, so why not sort through it now. If you can’t be ruthless, call in outside help. There are companies that specialise in decluttering and organising possessions such as Allsortz in Lewes.
Removal Companies
Once have accepted an offer on your house, or have had your offer accepted on your new dream home, you should start contacting removal companies. Don't leave this too late or else you probably won't be able to choose the company of your choice.
Always contact 3 or 4 firms either from your local area or the area you are moving to. To find Removal & Storage Companies, check the Service Directory in Latest Homes.
Once you have your quotes it is important to speak to your removal company in person. This enables you to get a feel for them and will also give you a chance to ask them any questions or advise them on any special requirements you need. Ultimately you will be inviting their employees into your home, and entrusting your treasured processions to them. It is too late when a battered and dirty van turns up, with staff that you do not feel comfortable with.
However you find your removal company be truthful with them. They are able to give you a more accurate quotation, allocate the right sized van and enough men to do the move if they know exactly what the removal entails. If items don’t fit through a door way, let them know so they can bring the right equipment. Also remember that the amount of furniture and belongings you write down onto an inventory form will dictate the size of the removal lorry allocated to your move. You wouldn't want a lorry arriving that is too small! The most common missed item can be outside plants, these actually take up the most room in the removal van as you are unable to stack anything on top of them.
You should ask the company if they offer insurance. What is and what is not covered? Is there an excess? If you have to take out any more insurance, first check with your own household insurance policy as you may already be covered. Household polices however normally do not cover for things like dents and scratches, loss or damage due to strikes, weather conditions or delay.
Ask about the company's history. Do they have any references? Are they a member of any of the trade associations or part of a larger group of companies.
Think about what it is you require from the removal firm and which one of them met your criteria the best. You might prefer to have a small family firm who pride themselves on their good name or a large multi national company that will be able to handle anything you throw at them.
Ask family and friends You will be surprised how many people have just moved. Recommendations are worth their weight in gold and many companies rely on word of mouth to get them work. This is often the best way of choosing a firm.
As soon as you have a date get in touch with your first choice of removal firm, if they are booked up have at least some more quotes to fall back on. Some companies can be booked up on your chosen date for moving. Remember try to avoid moving on a Friday. This is the most popular day especially at the end of a month. For logical reasons like work etc this is preferred day, unfortunately removal companies often inflate prices (not all of them) to help with the quieter days in the week.
Above all, write a list of questions and a list of anything that you think may crop up. Talk to the removal company about these concerns in advance. It is better to have peace of mind and not worry about what might go wrong.