At any stage of life, moving home is going to be up there as one of the most stressful experiences.
From packing up years of accumulated belongings to managing the logistics of transportation, the process can quickly become overwhelming. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring that your items are safely stored and organised during the transition to your new address.
We totally understand the stress. with land deeds, surveys, offers, viewings, new school viewings & constant calls from your estate agent to deal with, it can be a highly intense situation…and this is all before you even consider packing all your belongings or setting foot into your new property.
Yes, moving to a new house can be a real pain; however, it doesn’t have to be.
To keep the chaos at bay, our moving home help guide is your ultimate weapon.
Think of it as your trusty map to help tackle through the stacks of boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape.
Not only does it help you stay organised and on top of things, but it also ensures that no sock, book, or sentimental item is left behind.
With our Secure Store comprehensive moving house checklist in hand, your home move doesn’t have to be full of surprises & nightmares, it can be a well-oiled moving machine with a tick along every step of the way!
Let’s jump straight in!
Planning Your Move
No successful big day comes without planning & the moving process is no different!
By following some of our moving home help guide planning tips below, you can ensure that you are as prepared as can be when it comes to the move into your new address.
Start Early
Notify the post office to redirect your mail – Simply visit the Royal Mail website for redirection services. You can use the link here – https://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection
Give Yourself Plenty of Time: Moving is a marathon, not a sprint. Starting early reduces stress, gives you ample time to handle unexpected issues, and allows for a more organised process.
The sooner you begin the better, or as all the life gurus say…EAT THE FROG FIRST!
This just means getting the hardest bits out of the way, right away!
Create A Timeline
Creating a timeline helps break the monumental task of moving into manageable chunks.
Outline what needs to be done on the weeks leading up to and the day of the move, such as booking a moving company who have a waste licence, notifying utilities, and packing specific rooms.
This keeps you on track and prevents last-minute panics.
Budgeting
We get it!
Moving costs money and unfortunately, when you have 20 other things to worry about to make the removal go smoothly, the last thing on your mind is chalking up a big list of budgets and other expenses to sweat over!
However, moving can be costly, so it’s crucial to budget for all potential expenses.
Include costs for a moving van, storage unit rentals, packing materials, and any cleaning or repairs needed at your old or new home.
Having a clear budget helps avoid financial surprises and keeps your move on track.
Decluttering Your Home
Sort Your Belongings
Keep, Donate, Sell, or Throw Away
Moving is the perfect opportunity to declutter.
Go through each room and decide what to keep, donate, sell, or throw away. This reduces the number of items you need to pack and move, making the process more efficient.
Benefits of Decluttering
- Less to Move: Fewer items mean less packing, fewer boxes, more money saved, and a less hectic move.
- Sell Unwanted Items: Sell unwanted items online on sites such as Vinted, Gumtree or EBay. You could also consider selling unwanted items to new residents. This is a great way of making some extra cash on the day of the move.
- Charitable Donations: Donate some of your unwanted items to charities or charitable causes if they are no longer needed.
Packing Your Home Essentials
Gather Supplies
You Will Need: Boxes, Tape, Markers, Packing Paper, Bubble Wrap (You can use Blankets as well)
Room To Room Packing
Pack one room at a time to stay organised.
Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking easier and ensures that essential items are easily accessible when you arrive at your new home.
Dispose of perishable items like food & other products.
Packing Fragile Items
Protect fragile items by wrapping them individually in bubble wrap or packing paper.
Use plenty of padding in the boxes to prevent movement during transit.
Label boxes with fragile items clearly and consider packing them last, so they are unloaded first and handled with care.
Dismantle any larger items so that they pack and move more efficiently, with less chance of damage occurring.
Storing Your Belongings
Why Choose Secure Store to help with your move
- Safety: At Secure Store, we prioritise the safety of your belongings with top-notch security features, including 24/7 surveillance, gated access, and individual unit alarms.
- 7 Day Accessibility: Convenient 7 day easy access hours mean you can retrieve or store items at times that work best for your schedule.
- Variety of Unit Sizes: We offer a range of unit sizes to accommodate everything from a few boxes to large furniture and seasonal items, ensuring you only lease the space you need.
Deciding What to Store
- Seasonal Items: Store items you don’t need year-round, like winter clothes or summer sports equipment, to free up space in your home.
- Large Furniture: If you’re downsizing or in the process of moving to a new house, store bulky furniture pieces to keep your living space tidy.
- Items Not Immediately Needed: Keep items you won’t use in the near future, such as books, extra kitchenware. Safely store items until you really need them. Put together a list which also helps you keep a track on things you don’t need!
Preparing for Moving Day
The big day is finally on the horizon.
Everything has been put in place, the removal company has been arranged, you are collecting the keys to your new home from the landlord …everything is running smoothly….so far!
By being fully prepared for what is in store on your moving day, you can reduce firstly the amount of stress levels for when you move house & secondly, if something does go wrong, you are already prepared to fix it.
Here are some great ways of ensuring you are prepared for the mover(s)
Double-Check Dates and Times
Confirm your moving schedule with the moving company to avoid any last-minute surprises when you move house. Ensure that your moving truck and helpers are ready to go on the agreed-upon date.
Pack a Box with Essentials
Prepare a box with items you’ll need immediately after you move home, such as a change of clothes, toiletries, important documents, basic kitchen supplies, and essential electronics. Consider printable labels to help identify your essential items
Notify Services
- Change of Address: Inform the postal service, banks, electoral roll and any other important contacts for your new address.
- Utilities: Arrange for utilities (electricity, water, gas & any other supplier) to be transferred to your new home and disconnected at your old address once you move house.
- Meter Readings: Once you change your address, ensure that you take an accurate meter reading from your current home and a final meter reading from your old home.
- Subscriptions: Update your address for any subscription services (magazines, meal kits) to ensure continuity.
- Local Council – Let them know that you’re moving, so that you’ll be able to assess if you are paying any more or less council tax!
- School Records – If you have children & they are changing schools inform both schools of the move to keep an accurate record for everyone.
Before you close the door for the final time on your old property, make sure you’re having one last look around your home to spot any final items before the new owners arrive.
Settling into Your New Home
Unpacking Tips
Prioritise Rooms
Start packing boxes from essential rooms like the kitchen and bedrooms.
On the day that you move house, organise each room as you unpack to make the process smoother and your new space functional quickly.
Organise as You Go
Place items in their intended locations from the start to avoid having to rearrange later. This helps you settle in faster and keeps your new home tidy.
Setting Up In your New Home
Inform Utility Companies
Get your utility bills in order! Make sure to set up essential services such as the internet, electricity, and water. This ensures that you have all the necessary amenities from day one.
Let’s be honest, nobody wants to ship their young children in without the internet for the first night in your new home!
Basics
Focus on setting up the kitchen and bedrooms first, so you have a place to cook and sleep comfortably when you move house.
Home Security
Setting up Locks
Change the locks on your new home to ensure that only you have access. We know it sounds crazy, but there are plenty of stories of old tenants returning to their old address in the middle of the night. We don’t want to scare you now!
Alarms and Security Measures
Install a home security system, set up motion-sensor lights, and ensure all windows and doors are secure to keep your new home safe.
Post-Move Help
Inform of Address Change
One of the first tasks after moving is to update your address with all relevant parties.
Notify your bank, insurance providers, and any other important contacts about your new one location to ensure you receive all necessary communications and avoid service interruptions.
Don’t forget to update your address for credit cards, loans, and subscriptions as well.
Review Your Storage Needs
Decide If You Need to Keep Your Items in Storage or Move Them into Your New Home: After the big move has taken place, assess your current storage situation, sort through your items and decide whether you still need to keep them in storage.
If you have enough space in your new home, you might want to sneak your belongings back out of storage.
On the other hand, if you’re still short on space or need a place to store seasonal items, it may be beneficial to continue using a self-storage facility.
Regularly reviewing your storage needs helps you stay organised and ensures you’re making the best use of your living space and storage options.
Conclusion
A well-structured checklist helps you keep track of tasks, ensures nothing is overlooked, and makes the entire moving process more manageable, especially with a clear plan in hand. .
Ready to make your move even easier? Follow this moving home help guide!
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog.
We hope this moving home help can make your move as stress-free as possible.
Best of luck with your move, and remember, Secure Store is here to help every step of the way!
Give us a call on 0161 470 0288 or give one of our latest blogs a read below
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