Moving house? Follow these 6 steps to a smoother move
Pack wisely to reduce the initial chaos in your new home - Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Moving house is renowned for being a high stress experience – but there are steps you can take to make the process a little easier.
These are our six steps to a smoother move:
1. Read the meters
Before you brew your first cup of tea, don’t forget to check the meter readings and share these with your new energy provider to ensure there are no quibbles over the usage when your first lot of bills comes in.
2. Book a removal van
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It might be tempting to save money on moving costs by roping in friends and family to help ferry your belongings to your new pad, but you’d be surprised at the difference professional movers can make. Not only will they give you peace of mind that all of your things will arrive in one piece, but they’ll also do all the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.
3. Pack smart
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Pack according to the room your things are going to be in and in the order you’re likely to use them. You’ll probably struggle to unpack everything in one go, so make sure your essentials - like the kettle and teabags - are within easy reach. Package small items like screws, nuts and bolts together and be inventive when it comes to choosing your storage. Look around at what you’ve got available to you – laundry baskets, bins and handbags can double up as containers to help pack smaller items.
4. Get snap happy
Before you start unplugging your electronics take a few pictures of the wires and leads so you remember how to put them back together again. This also works well for wall collages or any decorative displays you’re hoping to recreate at your new property.
5. Address it
Updating your address should be high on your to-do list. Note down all of companies/organisations that you’re signed up to, including the bank, doctor’s surgery and dentist, and try to change these two weeks before you move to ensure no important documents are lost.
6. Check the alarms
Checking alarms are in place is essential. As well as smoke alarms, ensure carbon monoxide alarms are present too. For renters, landlords will be required by law to provide a smoke detector, but only if the property is fitted with a solid fuel appliance will a CO alarm be installed.
For more information about how to stay safe when it comes to CO, visit www.co-bealarmed.co.uk.
