Moving Countdown - 8 Weeks to go, 8 things to do

Congratulations! You’ve agreed on your moving date. This is the point when things begin to get even more exciting, and potentially more stressful. The best thing you can do to cut down your stress is to stay as organised as you can. Here is a list of tasks that you will need to do to 8 weeks before the big day in order to prepare for your move.

1. Start a ‘moving diary’

In the run-up to your move, it will really help if you keep all your moving documents together. Why not buy a folder and a notebook specifically for all your reminders, lists and notes so that you can easily keep track of your progress.

2. Begin to decide which items you will take with you

Start to think about the items you will be taking with you to your new home. Keeping a floor plan of your new home handy could help you to make any tough decisions about things you may need to get

rid of. If you can cut down your items in advance of your move, you will get cheaper removals quotes, since removals companies’ fees depend on the volume of items they have to move.

 3. Keep a record of your possessions

Make an inventory of the items you have in each room. Having a list to refer to will speed things up when you unpack at your new home, and will also help you to double-check that nothing has been lost during your relocation.

4. Get removals quotes and book your movers

If you are going to hire a removals company, now is the time to get removals quotes. Make a list of questions to ask each company and use this to help you make your final decision when you compare removals firms. Decide whether or not you would like them to pack for you, and inform them of anything to be kept in storage, as some removals companies are able to provide this service too.

Note that the busiest days for removal companies are Fridays and weekends, so if your planned move date falls on any of these days it is wise to book your removal sooner than later as many companies get booked up well in advance.

5. Make sure it’s all covered 

Find out whether you will need to arrange extra insurance to cover your transition from one property to the next. Most removals companies provide their own cover, but you will not be fully protected by this if you are packing your own items.

6. Do you need to transfer your children’s school records?

If your children are changing schools, you will probably need to have their school records transferred. Contact your child’s school and ask them how to go about this.

7. Tell people you are moving

 
You’d be surprised how many people forget to notify their friends and family of their change of address!  If you do this by email, we suggest avoiding a PDF as this is a little more difficult for your friends and family to copy into their contact list.

8. Finish any little DIY tasks

If you have agreed to do any repairs for the new owners, now is the time to get them out of the way, before all the pressures of moving home begin to get too much.

For more helpful advice on what to do when moving home, download reallymoving.com's moving house checklist.

photo credit: Anusorn P nachol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How to move an entire house

Estimating the Budget for Moving an Entire House

 

Moving an entire house was beyond our imagination few years back but now it has transformed into reality. It is now possible to relocate an entire house at our wish. We spend a lot of our hard earned money in constructing our dream house. At that moment it becomes difficult to ascertain the changing environment of our current house location over the next 10-15 years. We often want to shift from our current neighbourhood to a better locality at a later stage which will be convenient for us to reside. After checking out the necessary criteria that will allow relocating the entire house it is important to figure out the budget required for this process. To get proper guidance consult professional home movers to carry out such activities easily.

Things Guiding the Cost of Moving an entire house

There are several factors that should be taken into consideration while estimating the budget.

1. Size of the house
2. Distance of relocation
3. Cost of hiring the house relocating contractors
4. Cost involved in removing the public utility, power lines and other obstruction on the way while moving the house
5. Cost related to property insurance that will take care of the damages, if any

Size of the house is a major issue in calculating the cost of moving the house. The bigger the house, higher will be the cost of relocating it. Small houses are easy to move and require less labour in moving. The height of the house is a major concern. The condition and structure of the house should also be viewed. Old houses are difficult to relocate as they can easy get damaged when moved. Advanced equipments are used by contractors like home movers which can assist in such situations.

It is also important to evaluate the original value of the house. Thoroughly examine the proposed moving area. All these will help in taking the right decision about relocating the house.

Top 5 tips for first time buyers

Moving can be hard on first-time buyersBuying a property for the first time can be a very big decision, particularly if you’re buying one as a couple. Along with the financial implications is the feeling that you’ll finally have a place of your own, and it can be exciting to think about exactly what you’re going to do with the house and how you’ll make it your own.

It’s truly an exciting time, but it can also be stressful as you’re constantly checking out new houses, answering peoples’ questions and wondering when you’re going to find that perfect property.

Here are five tips to help the process go as easily as possible:

Compare prices in the area
First time buyers sometimes don’t mind paying extra for a special house in the area they’re looking in, when in reality it may be very uneconomical to do so. It’s very important to check the price of similar houses in the area to ensure the favoured house is not comparatively overpriced. For example, you shouldn’t pay £200,000 for a semi-detached house when similar houses in the area are going for £175,000. A better idea may be to buy a cheaper one and use the money saved to make it meet your standards.

Your house is not only an investment
It’s important you don’t only treat your house as a financial investment. Can you see yourself living there for years into the future? If not you should continue looking until you find a house that feels like a home. The housing market fluctuates regularly and buying a house solely on the basis of a sound financial investment is not a good idea as its price may drop heavily in the future. Buy what you love and it’ll treat you right.

Bear in mind the financial implications
Pick the house you love, but don’t lose sight of the fact that you’ll have to pay for it! Work out how much you’ll have per month based on your (combined) salaries and how much you expect bills and your mortgage to be. You want to have some left over for treats, savings and emergencies. Don’t stretch your budget too far or you may find yourself regretting it at a later date. And don’t forget you can help your budget by getting things like removals quotes early – by requesting quotes early you can shop around for the best deal.

Buy cheaply at first
Buying a house is only the first expense; kitting it out can add several thousand pounds onto the overall cost. And you do need a great deal of items, including sofas, beds, dressers, fridges and freezers. Buying these items brand new will attract a massive premium, so why not see how you can by buying second hand? Freecycle is an online community of members offering items for free; eBay is also a good choice, and so is Gumtree.

Ask family and friends for help
Family and friends often have items they simply don’t need, and by asking around you can get a lot of miscellaneous possessions that would otherwise cost quite a bit of money to buy. From tables and chairs to kitchen utensils, speak to your family and see what’s on offer. If you feel guilty about taking them, offer to take them out for dinner, clean the car or complete a DIY job. Many family members are only too happy to help

6 Things to do before you move abroad

Use our top tips to help with your move abroadMoving abroad can be an incredibly exciting time. A new home, a new culture, new weather – it can be a very special time for anyone. But don’t forget that when you move abroad you leave behind a significant part of your life that you’ll find it difficult to connect with in the future. Technological advancements such as e-mail, webcams and social networks can help you remain in touch with friends and family but when you move abroad you abandon your previous life and start afresh. Unless you mourn your past, you may find you become depressed after you’ve moved abroad.

Here are 6 things you should always do before you move abroad:

Have a going away party
Going away parties may seem like clichés, but they offer a cathartic end to your time in the UK and provide an opportunity to say goodbye to all your friends and relatives at a central location. Make sure you hold your going away party after you’ve packed everything and are literally ready to travel, otherwise you’ll be worrying all the way through. Going away parties are a time to relax and enjoy your friends’ company, not stress yourself out.

Reconnect with friends
Make sure you reconnect with your friends and relatives you haven’t seen for a while before you leave. You can do this at the going away party but you will only be able to spend a short amount of time with each guest so if you’d like to really reconnect with old friends you should schedule a longer period of time with them.

Complete your old life
This will mean different things to different people, but it’s important to have a sense of completion when you leave your life behind and move abroad. This may mean selling all your belongings and not having to leave any or storage or with relatives. It may mean losing weight and getting fitter so you can start your new life without remembering your old one. Whatever you need to do to move on you must ensure you do.

Inform all companies and friends of your new contact details
Remain contactable when you go abroad. Send out change of address cards at the earliest opportunity and set up a blog/Facebook account so you can keep friends and relatives up to date at all times. Pack lots of writing paper and purchase a camera if you don’t have one so you can send letters and provide ample photographs of your new life.

Make plans for friends and relatives to visit
Arrange a date for friends and relatives to visit as soon as possible. That way you won’t have to mourn your old life too much and have something to look forward to as soon as you arrive in the new country. When you arrange a date make sure you give yourself enough time to get your new house in order so you can welcome your guests without too much stress to yourself!

Get a removals quote early
Make sure you get an overseas removals quote as soon as possible, and understand the different options and costs involved. You can ship your goods by air freight or container, the former being significantly more expensive. Make sure your removals company knows the deal – you don’t want it to get to moving day and find noone is available to send your belongings.


Who should I notify when moving house?

You never have to worry about who you forgot to tell about your move with our great guideOne of the biggest inconveniences of moving house is having to send out change of address cards to businesses and acquaintances. After all, the last thing you want is to forget to notify someone; all your post will be delivered to the old house but you’ll never know.

Thankfully we’ve put together a list of organisations and people you need to send change of address cards to, making it quick and easy to let everyone know where you’re going to be living:

People:

•    Friends – both local, national and international – if you have their email addresses or have them as a friend on Facebook this can be a great and cheap way of getting the word out
•    Relatives – let all your family know you’re moving; it’s best to let them know first to avoid any ill feeling
•    Business associates – don’t neglect your business relationships. Let key people know your change of address so you can continue networking in the future

Organisations:

•    Banks – this includes building societies and e-banks
•    Religious organisations – local churches and mailing lists too
•    Doctors/dentists – very important as your new doctor may need access to your records if you fall ill
•    Insurance providers – your cover, particularly for car and home insurance, may be void if you do not     inform of a change of address
•    Solicitor – they may need to write to you urgently at some time in the future
•    Magazine subscriptions – don’t pay extra for something you can’t read
•    Schools – inform your child’s school they’ll be moving on and return library books
•    Post office – tell your post office you’ll be moving. They may offer a re-mailing service so you still get post send to your old address after you’ve moved
•    Inland Revenue – you should sort out your tax as soon as possible to avoid complications
•    DSS - your benefits may face delays if you don’t inform the DSS as soon as possible
•    Utilities – inform your gas, electric and water suppliers at least 2 working days before you move. Make sure you take up to date meter readings too
•    TV Licensing – make sure you have a TV license in your new home to avoid problems later down the line
•    Vets – your pet may need medical care soon after the move. Find a vet in your new local area and arrange to become a customer early
•    DVLA – you must let the DVLA know your change of address so they can update your driving license and vehicle registration certificate
•    Passport office – your passport may need to be endorsed so put your change of address in writing
•    Premium bond companies – complete and return your holders’ card