5 mins read

The Complete Guide to Moving Home: From Planning to Settling In

Moving house is a strange feeling: the nostalgia of leaving your old home mixed with the nervous excitement of making memories at a new one. There are a lot of tasks associated with moving house and things can get stressful and overwhelming very quickly. To combat this, we have outlined all of the most important steps along the way so that you can feel calm and collected on the journey to moving into your new home.

Guide to Moving Home

Confirm Important Details

Once you have confirmed the date you are moving out of your old home and into your new home, compile all documents and paperwork related to your move and collate them in a folder. Having these important details to hand throughout the moving process will save you a lot of time and stress. Arrange your removals insurance and removals company early to avoid unforeseen difficulties and keep paperwork pertaining to this in your folder, too.

Next, do some research on the area you’re moving into to acquaint yourself with your soon-to-be new surroundings. Especially if you’re moving a fair distance away, doing this will help to prevent feelings of overwhelm when you first arrive on your moving day. Understanding your new local council and knowing where the nearest corner shop or supermarket is will help you to feel at home more quickly.

Prepare to Pack

Before you start packing, go through your house room by room and decided what you do and do not want to take with you to your new home. Moving house is a great opportunity to declutter and re-home the things you no longer want or need. Ensure you dispose of your unwanted items responsibly; clothes, books, and toys can be taken to your local charity shop, and larger items can easily be collected by recycling companies.

Collect all of your packing materials way in advance to ensure the long process of packing up your house goes as smoothly as possible. It is best to over-estimate how many boxes you think you’ll need; we often have more belongings than we think! Ensure you buy plenty of bubble wrap, parcel tape, moving blankets, and packing paper to offer your things the best possible protection during transit.

Packing

So, you’re ready to start packing! Start with the rooms and belongings that get the least use, leaving heavily used rooms like the kitchen until last. Pack things into boxes by room and label them as you go to avoid forgetting what’s in each box. Use bubble wrap and packing paper to protect delicate items and try to keep these items at the top of your boxes.

Don’t forget to set aside time to clean the old house after packing the van. Alternatively, organise a cleaner to take care of this for you.

The Night Before

Pack an overnight bag, survival kit, and first aid kit the night before. Having your necessities and creature comforts to hand will be invaluable for managing your stress levels! Also, arrange a mail redirection service to avoid your post going awry.

To save yourself some time the following day, defrost the fridge and freezer ahead of time and make sure you have gathered together all of your keys for your old home. Similarly, make arrangements to collect the keys to your new home so that your moving day goes without a hitch.

Moving Out of Your Old Home

When your removals van arrives, load your boxes into the back of the van, followed by your furniture. Start by packing your downstairs belongings into the van and pack your upstairs belongings last. Doing things in this order makes it easier once you arrive at your new home.

Before leaving, walk around your old home and do a final, thorough check, making sure you haven’t left anything behind. Take a photo of your final utility meter readings on your phone and then check all windows and doors are secure and your utilities are switched off before finally locking the front door.

Moving Into Your New Home

First things first: take the kettle, mugs, and snacks from your survival it and set up a break area in your new kitchen. Following this, take a photo of the starting utility meter readings on your phone. Walk around your new home to sweep for items the previous occupants may have left; collect these in a box to be reunited with their owners. Check all of your keys work and inspect the garden to check if it is child or pet proof.

Once these tasks are complete, you can start unloading the van. Unload boxes and furniture into the upstairs rooms first, saving the downstairs furniture and boxes for last.

Settling In

Have a quick clean and tidy to help you feel more comfortable in your new environment. Even if the property is already clean, it can help you settle in to use your own cleaning products in familiar scents. Set up your white goods next and adjust your boiler: being able to have a hot shower and a warm house will do wonders for helping you to relax and settle.

Before unpacking anything, set up your beds so that everyone has a comfortable place to get some well-needed sleep after a busy day. Don’t worry about cooking — order food delivery instead, not forgetting to change the delivery address! After a busy but successful move, you’ll certainly have earned it.

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