Top 17 Moving House Tips – Overcoming Common Obstacles
Is the possibility of moving to a new house giving you sleepless nights?
No need to worry, you are not the only one.
An article by the Express reported that one in eight house movers experienced increased stress in the build up to moving day.
The review was based on a study of 2,000 recent house movers overseen by OnePoll.
The study revealed all the major stresses both preceding and after a house move.
These findings included:
- Over half of all homeowners have suffered a ‘fail’ of some kind on moving day.
- One in three have had furniture delivered which would not fit through the door.
- Packing up your old house was voted the worst part of moving.
- Wardrobes were named as the worst items to move from one house to another, followed by sofas, and fragile items such as mirrors.
With so many different facets to moving to a new house and no single way to complete a move, there is certainly scope for things to go wrong.
An already chaotic time has been made increasingly stressful with the outbreak of coronavirus.
The global pandemic means that there are even more considerations than ever before!
But it does not have to be this way, as we will hopefully explain below.
We will not only examine 17 top moving house tips, we will also discuss how you can overcome the most common obstacles.
By following our tips your move should run as smoothly as possible!
Article Contents
Choose Your Removals Company
Selecting a great removals team is an important part of your move!
They will be responsible for overseeing your move and will be handling your value belongings.
Because of their important role it is imperative to choose professionals.
Removal companies have years of on the job experience in packing, transporting, and handling household items.
It is important to research various companies, looking at customer reviews and comparing what each company offers.
Whilst we are amid the coronavirus pandemic, it is important to choose a removals company that can still assist you.
Make sure you contact companies and ask the following:
- Are they fully operational during the pandemic?
- Are they achieving the necessary health and safety practices?
- Do you need to follow any additional safety measures?
- What happens if you or a member of your family have symptoms or feels ill?
- Are they available to conduct new house move immediately or are they booked? (Many removals companies are dealing with a backlog of moves that were postponed due to the coronavirus.)
By asking these simple questions you should be able to choose a removals company that will help your move run smoothly.
This is certainly a top moving house tip.
Damage to Furniture
The Express’ article found that a third of people reported items of furniture arrived broken.
To make sure everything arrives in one piece it is essential to use the correct materials to wrap and pack your belongings.
Fragile items such as china and glassware should be wrapped in specialist paper and packed in double-thickness cartons for extra protection.
You may also wish to use made-to-measure wooden crates for antiques, glass items and other delicate objects.
Furniture legs and edges can be shielded against damage and scratches by using bubble wrap or other comparable materials.
Once you have opted to move, choosing a BAR registered company such as GoodMove, can help safeguard your belongings.
Not only will these companies employ highly trained teams, they will also use premium packing materials to ensure your items are well protected.
Video Surveys
When choosing a removals company, it is important to ascertain if they are offering virtual video surveys.
Video survey software allows removals companies to conduct virtual house surveys, collecting any required information about your move, all from the safety of your house.
Virtual video surveys help to limit physical contact with persons from outside of your bubble.
The lessened interaction with individuals from outside of your household makes video surveys an indispensable safety tool.
Adhering to social distancing measures remains of paramount importance during this unique time.
Video surveys play a huge role in supporting removals companies with moves during the pandemic and will continue to shape the workings of the industry going forward.
Be certain that your removals company are providing virtual video surveys before you move.
Create an Inventory
Another of our top moving house tips has to be creating an inventory.
Make sure you are prepared to move by putting together a comprehensive inventory of all your belongings.
Having a thorough inventory means you can keep track of your belongings.
That way if anything is lost during the packing process you should notice!
Ask your removals company if they can create an inventory for you.
This is particularly relevant if they are organising your packing.
Pack Ahead of Time
It can be very easy to misjudge the scale of packing up your home.
This could mean that you do not have everything packed on your moving day!
Be sure to plan ahead.
This is a key moving house tip.
Tackle one room at a time!
This will help to break down the packing making it seem less daunting.
It is always advisable to start with the least used rooms first.
Garages and lofts can be packed up well in advance of your actual moving day.
If it feels like too much, ask for help.
Many removal companies can provide a packing service, this can certainly take some of the stress out of packing.
Scratches on Walls
Another common pitfall often reported is damaged or scratched walls.
This is a persistent problem for items being moved up and down staircases where pivoting is needed.
Scratching can be averted entirely by using protective materials such as bubble wrap and padding on hard edges.
This prevents furniture brushing against walls and will spare you some added worry.
Ask your removals company to check that they have the correct equipment to carefully move items in tricky spaces.
If there are any awkward spaces in your house, their knowledge will be much needed.
Check That Your Furniture Fits
The report also found that one in three movers have had furniture delivered that was too big to fit through the door.
It is essential to check that your existing furniture and any other items can fit your new home.
Remember, your removals company is there to ensure you move successfully.
However, it is your responsibility to make sure everything fits inside your new home, this also includes providing valid entry points.
Measuring each item carefully and drawing up a plan of where everything will be placed in your new house will be of a great use.
Be sure to ask the owners of your new property if you can gather some measurements to ensure everything will fit.
Tricky Stairs and Tight Corners
Moving your belongings up and down the stairs is no mean feat.
You need only remember the scene from the famous American sitcom, Friends, where Ross struggles to move his sofa up the stairs to screams of ‘Pivot’!
You can make this process far easier by wrapping your furniture in protective material and asking for help from trained specialists.
If you are undertaking the move yourself, we advise that you carry items ‘high and low.’
Tilt the item at an angle and have one person carry the top while the other holds the bottom.
Professional Removals Companies, such as White & Company, should check to see if there are any complicated stairs but if they don’t be sure to inform them, this will avoid any extra problems on the day.
Much like our previous advice, it is important to take care when moving bulky items as these are often difficult to move and can cause problems.
If an item of furniture does not fit, do not force it.
When moving belongings with legs, ask yourself if you take them off?
If you can, it may allow some more room to manoeuvre, making tough corners easier to navigate.
Cleaning
Not everyone is as considerate as you may expect.
Homeowners often do not have time to do a thorough clean of their old house before leaving.
Come equipped with cleaning products so you can get your new home looking and feeling clean before you move in.
Make sure you keep some spare boxes handy so you can gather any items left behind.
You can subsequently either donate or throw away these belongings when you are happily moved in.
Pack Boxes Securely
It is always a frustrating inconvenience when picking up a box only for its contents to spill out everywhere.
Ensure you pack boxes the correct way up and seal them with adhesive tape or another strong material.
Do not overfill your boxes and be sure to label the contents clearly, indicting their intended destination.
Good labelling will guarantee your removals team know how to handle each box and will help to avoid any breakages.
Do Not Borrow Boxes
It is important to stay vigilant during the pandemic.
Coronavirus can survive on surfaces for quite some time.
This includes both cardboard and plastic boxes!
We recommend not to make use of any moving boxes and materials received from your friends, family, or neighbours.
Do not to obtain any used boxes, making use of the containers and boxes already available have will maintain welfare.
Fragile Belongings
Delicate items such as glass and china can easily be damaged when moving around in boxes if not properly cared for.
Glass and china should be wrapped in special protective materials and packed into double thickness cartons.
If you do not have access to these materials, you can used newspaper to stuff inside the boxes in between items.
The House Is Not Ready
It is very easy for living in your new home to get off on the wrong foot.
Frustrations that not everything is ready when you arrive are common.
Call up your chosen gas, electric and broadband suppliers in advance and inform them of the date of your changeover.
By being well prepared you can avoid paying for bills of the previous owners and can assured that you will have access to all the basics when you move.
Ensuring everything is ready for you arrival is an important moving house tip.
What to do if You Feel Unwell
House moves recommenced some time ago however it is still important to realise the impact of the pandemic.
If you or any member of your household is show symptoms of the coronavirus or is feeling unwell you must postpone your move.
Make sure to follow government guidelines around isolating for an extended period.
It is important to contact your removals company as soon as you can.
This will help to ensure your move can be rescheduled to a time that is safer for everyone involved.
Removals firms are very aware of the risks of the pandemic and will be happy to work with you to ensure the optimal safety levels.
We are aware rescheduling may be inconvenient, but safety is of primary importance at this time.
Arriving at Your New Home
Considering the huge changes that we have all experienced during the lockdown period, arriving at your new home may be a little different.
When you arrive, make sure you and any family members are wearing PPE.
Using PPE will go a long way to putting your new neighbour’s minds at peace and shows you are taking care with your move.
Be sure to keep wearing PPE when entering your new property.
Make sure you thoroughly clean ever room!
It is likely that other individuals have been living in the property so wearing PPE until everything is cleaned is the safest course of action.
Whilst this is a new consideration, it is an essential moving house tip.
The First Night
It is common for movers to become so overwhelmed with moving that they forget to be prepared for the first night in their new property!
Be sure to set aside some of the essentials to make your first night as easy as possible!
We suggest putting together a ‘care package’ filled with everything you could need on your first night.
Make sure you take this box with your rather than your removals team.
What you choose to put in your ‘care package’ may differ dependent on your circumstances but will usually include:
- Food – Planning meals for the first week and bringing lots of non-perishables will make your moving week far easier.
- Toiletries – toothbrush, toilet paper, shower gels, shampoo.
- First aid kit.
- Tools – these may come in handy for a spot of DIY.
- Eating utensils and paper plates.
- Baby supplies and pet food (if needed.)
Having easy access to these essentials goes a long way to allowing a smooth transition into your new home.
Update your Address
We recommend that you begin to update your address around two weeks prior to your move.
Ensure that you prioritise your bank, doctor’s surgery and dentist!
By changing your address early, you should be prepared for any unexpected occurrences.
This moving house tip will help to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.