The Moving Home Checklist You Need To Follow!

 

At Quealy & Co, your trusted estate agent based in Sittingbourne, we understand just how much there is to do when you move home and want your move to run as smoothly as possible. With this in mind, we have compiled a handy moving home checklist to help you remain stress free.

The very thought of moving house is probably enough to send shivers down your spine and cause you to break out in a cold sweat, and this is unsurprising as moving home is right up there with divorce and death when it comes to heightened stress levels!

The fact is though, that any kind of ‘change’ creates stress. So, whether you are moving home in Kent or relocating further afield, plenty of planning and preparation will be required.

Moving home, and especially relocating to a new town or city, represents one of the biggest changes you may make in your life and so naturally brings a great deal of stress along with it. This in turn can lead to a double whammy, as stress can often lead to a lack of energy and motivation.

So how are you expected to plan and prepare for your property move during one of the most stressful periods in your life?

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Stay focused!

Moving home calls not only for excellent organisational skills, but also proactivity. Completing certain chores well in advance will go a long way to helping you stay ahead of schedule.

The aim of this home moving checklist is to help you accomplish that by concentrating on the basics of planning and preparation. 

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Give notice to your landlord (if you're renting)

If you're renting, you'll need to let your landlord know the exact date you're moving out. Hopefully this will coincide with the end of your lease, as this avoids paying for both rent and your mortgage at the same time.

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Get rid of everything you don’t need

One thing you can accomplish early on in the process is to sort through all your ‘stuff’ and get rid of the things you don’t need. Moving unwanted ‘stuff’ from your current property to your new home is a waste of time and effort. It’s surprising how much more in control you will feel once you start narrowing down your inventory. Getting rid of unwanted items can be done through a car boot sale, eBay or donating to charity.

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Get quotes on your removal costs

When it comes to removals, it all depends on what's practical for your budget and the size of your property.

If you're moving into a small property, or if cost is a large factor, it'll probably be cheaper to rent a van and get a few friends to help. However, that can easily add to the stress of moving day, so make sure it's right for you.

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File important papers and documents together

Since moving house is hectic, you need to be aware of the exact location of all your important documents. These are the things that you absolutely must not lose and should be hand carried on moving day, not placed in a box for the removal company to transport.

Make sure all the following paper items are kept together in one secure place such as a document wallet:

• Address Books
• Birth Certificates
• Passports
• Bank Statements
• Insurance Policies
• Marriage Certificates
• Credit Cards and Statements
• Medical and Dental Records
• Irreplaceable Memorabilia
• Photos and Photo Albums
• Vehicle Documents
• Pet and Vet Documentation
• Wills
• Any other important or legal documents

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Pack everything and label boxes

Hopefully you've had a clear out, so this should be a bit easier!

When you’re packing everything up, label all the boxes properly. Make a list so you know exactly what’s inside each box after the journey. Make a checklist of what's in each box, so you don't have to root around whenever you're trying to find something.

The Evernote app is perfect for this, and you can download it for Android or iPhone.

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Prepare well in advance for the move to your new location

There are many things you can organise before you reach your new home that will help smooth out the bumps of the moving process. In particular, make sure you contact utility companies and arrange for your new services to be connected. These can include:

• Cable TV
• Gas
• Electricity
• Water
• Oil
• Telephone
• Internet access

Contact your insurance companies too as you will need to have your policies amended ready for moving day:

• Car insurance
• Home & Building Insurance

Prepare change of address forms for all of your correspondents:

• Credit card companies
• Banks
• Vets
• Kennels/Cattery
• Insurance companies
• DVLA
• Magazines and other subscriptions
• Your employer
• The electoral roll
• TV Licensing
• Family and friends

Register for new medical providers such as a new doctor and dentist if necessary.

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Keep a ‘little black book’

Keep all your important phone numbers written clearly in a notebook as well as on your phone, for both your old and new contacts. This should include banks, doctors, emergency contacts, family members, friends, estate agents, removal companies, pharmacies, schools, storage facilities and utilities. If your phone dies on the big day then you can still contact these people, taking away another element of stress.

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Grab the essentials for moving day

You'll need the essentials for the first night in your new place, so it’s best to make a box or two with the following things to hand:

• Kettle, mugs, tea, milk, coffee, sugar
• Cleaning products, plus vacuum cleaner and bin bags
• Phone and laptop chargers
• Loo roll, kitchen roll
• Duvet and bedding for the first night
• Temporary furniture - deck chairs etc
• Television or radio

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Plan, plan, plan…

With proper planning and preparation, the whole moving process will be much smoother, and you won’t frantically be searching for a new doctor, pharmacy or important information at the eleventh hour. With proper planning and preparation, you will have the important documents at your fingertips and there will be much less chaos. 

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We are here to help and advise on moving home in Kent

Keep this handy moving checklist from your expert local estate agent safe!

Call us 01795 429836 or email hello@quealy.co.uk to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team about anything to do with moving home. 

You can also use our instant online valuation tool if you would like a ballpark figure of your home's value: Click here