Preparing for a Big Move

Occasionally, life demands that we pack up all our belongings and move to a new location. This might be prompted by a change of job or lifestyle. Your family circumstances might have shifted. Whatever the reason for the move, it’s important that you put in place the right plan to make it happen. But what might such a plan look like?

Start with a Realistic Timeline

The sooner you put a plan in place, the better. Typically, it’s best to draw up a schedule around two months before you are due to move. It should include reminders for notifying landlords and other interested parties. Generally speaking, it’s worth leaving extra time for packing, since this job nearly always takes longer than you might anticipate.

Budgeting for Your Move

As well as organising your time, it’s also worth organising your expenses. Among these might be the fees paid to conveyancers, lenders, and removal specialists. You can cut your costs here by shopping around or by moving when demand is lower. If you can get it done in the middle of the week, you’ll often find that you spend less.

Decluttering and Downsizing

Moving represents an ideal chance to deal with any excess junk you might have accumulated. After all, there’s no point in moving the items that you intend to throw away anyway.

The traditional approach to decluttering involves going through the home, one room at a time, and dividing every item into piles: one to be donated, one to be sold, and one to be thrown away or recycled.

Consider What You’ll No Longer Need

As part of your decluttering process, you might consider parting with large and expensive items whose use might be limited in your new surroundings. If the bedroom is too small for your existing bed, you might need to pick out a smaller one. If you intend to rely on public transport, then you are unlikely to need your car, and it could be worth selling it. In the modern day, it isn’t difficult to sell these larger items; simply do searches such as ‘sell my car’ which will give you plenty of options, or ‘local companies which collect furniture items’.

Choosing the Right Removal Option

You’ll have a choice between hiring a professional removal service and renting a van and doing it yourself. The latter option might save you money, but you might find that you’re not insured for broken or lost items. Generally, if you’re travelling a long way, or you need to transport a lot of very heavy items, the case for a professional touch becomes compelling.

Whatever option you choose, it’s worth booking well in advance. As soon as you have a date for your move, you can start putting things in motion.

Transferring Utilities and Services

Once you arrive, you’ll need to notify all of your service providers of your new address. This will ensure that broadband, water, gas, and electricity are provided and paid for, and that your council tax, prescriptions, and DVLA-related correspondence all get sent to the right address.

Planning for Life in Your New Area

You might have chosen your new area on the strength of local amenities, like schools, parks, and public transport. As such, you might already have an idea of how these work. Nevertheless, it’s worth planning a few visits to get used to the area and to meet local people.