Essential Tips For Moving Home

Are you planning to move home? I personally have moved over a dozen times in my life, including property purchases and sales, to and from rentals, as a single, in a couple, and with Squiggle. My last three moves have been since becoming a parent and that is not easy, that’s for sure! Moving home can be stressful whether you have a family in tow or not, but there are ways to help ensure a smooth(er) move. Here are some moving tips, based on my experiences…

House Hunting

There are so many tips for house hunting, I think this would need a post of its own! In very brief summary; consider the area, local facilities, what the neighbourhood and that particular road is like, the house itself (layout, type of build/ style, state of repair etc…), your actual neighbours and so on. Ask questions of the vendor to find out why they are selling too.

First Time Buyers

As first time buyers, I was a little over eager and rushed into it somewhat. I also totally underestimated the costs involved!

My advice would be to haggle and don’t be afraid to walk away. Take your time to think about what you really want from a home; what your priorities are and what you are prepared to compromise on. Take into account the cost of surveys, solicitor fees, stamp duty and actual moving day costs, as well as any other expenses, and make sure you have enough set aside for any unexpected eventualities too!

Buying and Selling

I found buying and selling hugely stressful and had a horrendous experience. I made alot of rookie mistakes, but I was also quite unlucky, and I think I certainly should have chosen my solicitor more carefully too, to be honest. I won’t go into the finer details on this post (maybe one day!) but it’s not an experience I would like to repeat!

All of my above advice for first time buyers applies here too. Remember there will be greater expense, especially in solicitors fees, if you are buying and selling at the same time. Make sure you have a good solicitor and keep in regular communication with your chain.

If you need to pull out during the process for any reason, do not let other members of the chain pressure you into proceeding regardless, if your reasons for doing so cannot be fully resolved. However, if the chain starts to crumble elsewhere down the line, see if there is any way of helping to resolve the issues as this is mutually beneficial. The bottom line is, moving home is a huge expense, so only go ahead if and when you are 100% sure.

Renting

I have rented many homes, some short term and some longer term. I rented when I was younger but also rent our family home now too. These days I am very specific about what I am looking for but before I had a child to consider, I was somewhat more versatile!

If you are renting, you need to think about whether it is a long term let (worth asking about the landlord’s situation in my experience), is it furnished or unfurnished, and do they allow pets. If it is a shared house, you also need to consider who your housemates will be of course. If it is a family home and/ or long term let especially, you are also likely to want to take into account the tips mentioned for house hunting above too.

Practical Tips For The Actual Move

My top tip for the actual move is to enlist plenty of help! Depending on how much stuff you have, how busy you are, and how far you are moving, largely dictates how much help, and what type, you are likely to need.

Many people, including myself, pack up their own belongings to cut costs and save some money, rather than paying a full service removal company. You can also hire a van too, especially if only moving home locally. However, I would recommend getting some friends or family to help, or alternatively hire a man with a van to assist. I did this before and it certainly relieved some of the stress!

For example Man and Van services – The man van operates in the London area and offers a cost effective solution to moving home or office. There is a choice of a smaller van if you have less stuff or a larger Luton van for a whole house move. As long as you can fit all your belongings and furniture into one load, or if it is just a very short journey (for example I once moved just a few streets away) then this often a more economical solution that a larger removal company and more practical than doing it entirely yourself.

If you are moving further, or you want to avoid extra stress, it is certainly worth hiring a reliable removal company. For example, Fort Worth Moving Company. No matter the circumstances or the destination, their job is to get your belongings from Point A to Point B. Whether you’re traveling across the country or somewhere more local, they will do all the hard work for you!

Another tip is to be organised. Arrange to get the keys as early as you can in the day to allow yourself more moving time. With rentals you can allow yourself a small overlap, if finances and circumstances permit, to take the pressure off somewhat. Bare in mind when buying a house though, the keys are not usually released until the solicitor has received your money. So make sure they will be available and easily contactable on the day!

Do you have any top tips for moving? Tell me in comments!

*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.