Moving guide

The iammoving.com Moving Guide is brought to you in association with:

Moving house can often be a stressful process. But with a little planning, you can cut out many of the headaches.

Use iammoving.com's Moving Guide to help plan the last few weeks and days before your move. You can also download and print this info to take away.

Up to 4 weeks before

• Arrange a day or two off work - you'll need it...
• Ensure you give sufficient notice to your landlord if you rent.
• Decide whether you need a professional moving firm or not. If you're thinking of moving yourself, look into the costs involved - several journeys over long distances can quickly add up. It may well be worth hiring the professionals. Remember to contact them ASAP as good removal companies get booked up weeks in advance. To find removal and storage companies in specific areas of the UK use Helpiammoving's search pages: "Search for movers" or simply fill out an online quotation form which will save you time. This is forwarded to five removal companies in your postcode free of charge. You could also contact the British Association of Removers on +44 (0)1923 699 480 for a list. Or, check their website: www.bar.co.uk, or there are also well-established firms such as Pickfords

• Check the insurance cover provided by your removal firm - what happens if anything gets damaged during the move?
• Check with your home contents insurer to see if you covered by them during the move.
• Provide the removal company with a list of things that are not to go.
• Book your self-storage company early if you are using one.
• Pack early, don't leave this until the last minute. You can get good quality packing boxes from www.helpineedboxes.co.uk. Even if your chosen removal company is supplying you with packing boxes, they will often not supply them until you have a confirmed date. So buy a starter pack and get packing early.

• Label boxes with details of what's inside and where they're going at the new address. Pack heavy and lighter stuff together to avoid excessively weighty boxes.
• Start using up frozen and tinned food.
• Draw up a plan of where you want furniture to go in the new house.
• Take down fitted items that are coming with you - shelves, light fixtures, mirrors, brackets, etc.
• Start sorting out what's in your cupboards and sell/give away unused items.
• Get your car serviced, especially if you're moving far away.
• Book a hotel if you think you'll need one during the move.
• Arrange for a friend or relative to help look after your children on moving day.
• Ensure you explain to young children in advance what is happening so that they know what to expect. www.helpiammoving.com has games, puzzles and even job badges to keep the kids amused on moving day.
• If you have any parking restrictions at either address, contact the local authority to arrange for parking suspension. Remember a removal lorry can be the same size as a double-decker bus and needs extra space for manoeuvring into position.
• Book pets into kennels/catteries or arrange for friends/relatives to look after them during the move.
• Get your new address engraved on pet collars and make sure that they are properly identified. Consider joining the Petlog service from the Kennel Club at the following link, or you can download the application form by clicking here

• Notify your children's old and new schools of leaving/arrival dates.
• Register with or log into iammoving.com to start updating address change details, plus stop/start dates for services like gas and electricity.

1-2 weeks before

• Redirect your post for at least 12 months
  
  The Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee recommends that to reduce the risk of identity fraud when you move house, use Royal Mail's Redirection Service to direct your mail from your old address to your new one for at least a year.
  
  You can apply on-line by visiting Royal Mail, by phone or at your local Post Office. Allow 5 days for this to be set up.
• Confirm arrival times with your removal company.
• Think about whether you need a change of address card printed to send to friends and family.
• Arrange the professional disconnection of gas cookers and any other appliances that you are taking with you.
• Cancel deliveries of paper, milk, etc. and pay off any outstanding accounts.
• Return any library books and items borrowed from friends and neighbours.
• Put all your documents and valuables in a single safe place.
• Log into iammoving.com to notify the following organisations/providers with your moving details:
  • Bank (and consider moving to a branch near your new home)
  • Credit/store cards
  • Other financial companies, e.g. if you have a hire purchase agreement or loan
  • Utility providers, e.g. electricity, gas, water
  • Inland Revenue
  • National Savings and Premium Bonds
  • National Insurance/DSS Benefits
  • Pension
  • Insurers - motor, contents, life, travel
  • DVLA (for driving licence)
  • TV Licence
  • Phone/mobile/Internet
  • Local Council (for old and new address)
  • Charities and clubs
  • Magazine subscriptions
• Tell your employer.
• Inform your stockbroker and/or companies in which you own shares.
• Inform your existing doctor, dentist, optician (and private medical care provider) and research new ones close to where you're moving.

3 days before

• Pack a bag with a change of clothes, essential toiletries and a 'survival kit' for the other end. Take things like light bulbs, fuses, tools, loo roll, candles, matches, cash, phone charger and a list of important telephone numbers.
• Do your last-minute laundry.
• Check where you get the keys for your new home.
• If you are taking plants with you, move all outside plants and furniture into a dry area like the garage so that they can dry out and stay dry for moving day. Don't forget that all your garden furniture and plants are placed onto the van with your house furniture, you don't want them to be wet and dripping all over your other items.

2 days before

• Empty, defrost and dry out your fridge/freezer if you're planning to put it in storage for any length of time.
• Seal packets, bottles or jars with tape to prevent any spillage.
• Make sure there will be enough space for removal vans at both addresses. Sort out lift access if you live in flats.

1 day before

• Prepare food and drink for moving day: tea/coffee, juice, fruit, bread, cheese and things like pasties. Don't forget some plates, cups, cutlery, a sharp knife. and the kettle. And how about a bottle of bubbly to celebrate...?!?
• Prepare plants for travel.
• Fully charge your mobile phone.
• Get a good night's sleep.

Moving day

• Settle the kids in with their carer if they have one. If not, set up a room that contains their toys and a few treats. Give older children specific tasks, like packing their own personal box.
• Strip the beds and keep the linen handy so you can pull it out for the first night in the new house.
• Once the van is loaded, walk around the house with a member of the removal team to check you've got everything you want in the van. One of the most common items which are left behind are clocks.
• Take the meter readings in your old and new homes.
• Aim to arrive before your removal team so you can investigate your new property.
• Give the removal team a full tour of the house when they arrive.
• Keep the kettle boiling and the biscuits flowing. Remember moving is a thirsty business.
• Don't try and unpack everything today, order a take-away and relax.

Top Tips

• Try and avoid moving on a Friday! Even though it is the most logical day, if you do experience delays regarding transaction of monies then you will have to wait till Monday to sort the problems out. At worst you may then find you have a removal van full of your personal belongings and no where to go. This results in having to pay for storage and another day of removal costs. Your removal team may also not be available on the Monday.
• Choosing your removal company can be daunting but don't be swayed purely by price, instead pick a remover that suits your circumstance and your requirements. Ask questions and don't be afraid to ask for references. Helpiammoving.com has a list of questions to ask and list of companies in your postcode area.
• Don't just do all your correspondence with your removal company by phone or email, get them round before hand to clarify what you have to move. This will also give you a chance to meet them and answer any questions you have. After all these are people who are moving your prize processions. If you don't feel comfortable with them then they will not be able to make you smile throughout the day in one of the most stressful times of your life.
• Before you buy extra insurance from your removal company check with your household policy, some cover this already.
• Always write a list down of everything you need to do. Register with or log into iammoving.com to start updating address change details, plus stop/start dates for services like gas and electricity.
• Pack early.
• If you are doing the packing yourself make sure that you use suitable boxes that are strong enough. You need to use "double walled" boxes as these will be able to take a heavier weight. NEVER make the boxes so heavy that they cannot be lifted safely. If they are becoming heavy while you are packing them, try filling the rest of the box with light bulky items such as linen, towels, cushions or soft toys. Books are the worst offenders when it comes down to weight, use smaller boxes for these types of items. For good quality boxes log on to www.helpineedboxes.co.uk offering next working day delivery nationwide.
• Self Assembly Furniture. This isn't designed to be flattened, moved and reassembled, so usually isn't covered within the insurance the removal companies offer. No matter how hard your removal crew try, most of the time this type of furniture will not go back together perfectly after a move.
• Always label your boxes clearly, preferable along the tape. Clearly label each box with where the contents are to end up i.e. lounge, bedroom 1. It is also a good idea to attach a A4 piece of paper to the side of each box with a list of the contents, this way to can find items quickly. Especially important if your contents is going into storage.
• Always have the kettle to hand; moving house is a thirsty business.

Packing Advice

• Never make the boxes so heavy that they cannot be lifted safely. Check how heavy they are and fill the remaining space with light, bulky items such as cushions or soft toys
• Choose your boxes wisely. Small boxes should be used to pack books and heavy items. General items are packed into boxes the size of a tea chest. Linen boxes are bigger, as the contents are lighter.
• Always make sure that you use tape to fasten the bottom and the top of all your boxes. The best way is known as the "H method", where you place tape down the middle joint and across each end to form a "H". DO NOT just fold in a criss cross way, because as soon as this box is picked up with any weight inside, the flaps just unfold and everything falls out.
• Place knives and other sharp objects inside a container, such as an old biscuit tin
• Label your boxes carefully. Mark which room they should be moved to and tape a piece of paper with a list of contents to it. This is also helpful if you are moving boxes into storage and need to find an item

For more information, advice, hints and tips visit www.helpiammoving.com