Moving home ‘That’s easy!’
Most of the time moving home is an exciting time filled with the ‘new’. A blank canvas of a house is an opportunity to create our own dream world. However the reality of moving is often underestimated and sometimes forgotten. We can get so caught up in the big things like the potential we see, that we ignore the obvious issues of getting a life’s worth of possessions and memories from one place to another. So here are my top tips in and what you need to know. 
Top Tip Number 1: BUDGET
It is often a point in blogs to remember the costs of the topic in question. However moving is more expensive then you can think. Make sure that as well as the big obvious costs of removal men, new furniture and admin fees, you think about food (people buy snacks or takeaways to avoid cooking). You might need to take small repairs into your budget. Things like cutting keys for the home, new shower hoses, putting shelves up, repairing door bells, putting blinds or curtains up and light bulbs can add up!
Moving can change your mindset when in the shops because all of a sudden ‘that cushion cover would be nice’ and ‘we could do with a new pair of curtains’. Be clever about it, look at what you have and see what needs replacing. It is a good idea to buy new linen regularly to make sure that it remains clean and in good condition, however check online, visit shops and be savvy.
Sort all your bills out quickly, you can take you meter readings quickly and sort all your utilities early, get your internet sorted at least 2 weeks in advance due to connection times and make sure the house is supplied with the energy tariffs you want, also get your council tax bill moved for the big day. The reason this is important is because time flies and so it can be weeks before you have sorted this out, and you can find yourself rushing into contracts and deals that just don’t suit your needs.
Top Tip Number 2: CLEAR OUT
Moving is a great opportunity to clear out your home of unwanted possessions. There are lots of ways of working out what you need and don’t need, but most of the time we accumulate more rubbish than we need which really fills our home with clutter. So get the black bags out and sort through and then get rid. You can sell your items (eBay is great for this) and get a little bit of money for them to then buy new things. Alternatively you can donate or bin, but do this early on so that you aren’t rushing and to ensure that you have time to think.
Top Tip Number 3: ASK FOR HELP
A lot of the time removal companies will have people to help do the moving but don’t take their services for granted. They are sometimes limited in what else they can do because of the insurance policies that the companies will be using. So your friends will be a huge help, even if it is only one more person. The reason is very simple, that person can cut the workload significantly by doing the small things like making the tea, going out and buying food, getting bits and bobs and supervising the moving or doing some cleaning. These all eat away at the time it takes to feel settled so no matter the move, helpers will make a big difference to the stress of the move.
Top Tip Number 4: PLAN THE MOVE
Plan like you have never planned before. Some people like drawing up the rooms on paper and writing the measurements on the diagram really helped me to know how big the actual space was! This is because no matter how sure you are that the sofa will fit or the curtains will hang, it just doesn’t hurt to have it all written down right in front of you. Also get a calendar and plan the move, write all the jobs that need doing down and then you can just tick them off. It will give you an up to date progress report and countdown to the big move.
Remember to cancel any accounts that you have linked to the address, my best tip is to phone the providers and councils. This is because when you do it online, sometimes errors can occur or sometimes they do not receive the request. By phoning, you can have the assurance that they definitely know you are moving. Just be sure to get that confirmation e-mail whichever option you choose.
Moving is hard work and you might not be able to cook a meal so having one prepared earlier or getting a takeaway should all be thought through.
Top Tip Number 5: PACK CLEVERLY
Plan your packing, by using the diagram or written plan, you can allocate rooms and save time when packing and unpacking. You can then assign boxes and bags to the specific room and you will know where everything is. This makes it easier to use your helpers and make the tiresome jobs a little quicker. Pack a bag or suitcase with the items that you would take on a week long holiday. It can be long and tiring and boxes can be lost or impossible to reach but you will still need to live life as normal. So packing a good amount of clothes, a towel, some toiletries and light entertainment will allow you to continue to live comfortably whilst in the midst of a move.
Top Tip Number 6: HAVE FUN!
Moving home is filled with memories and stories of ‘how you got the sofa round that bend’ or ‘this used to be…and now it’s my office’. You need to use the opportunity to enjoy yourself and a great way of having a good time is by adding those final touches. New cushion covers for the sofa to give it a fresh start, maybe a new throw for the bed. Think about using plants to bring some life into the home and some rugs for making the rooms stand out with personality! Be patient, because making a house a home also requires time but however you want to do it, it can be done.
