Once your sale has gone through, and you have finalised all of your paperwork, you can begin to package your belongings and get moving to your new home. However, despite the effort that goes into preparing a property for sale, many people often overlook the significant impact of good removal planning, especially now that we need to act safely during the pandemic.

So today, we bring you part two of our mini moving guide, all about how to plan your removal for a smooth move! We hope these pointers will help to prepare you as much as possible.

What do you need to do before you move house?

Research

The research stage covers your foundations, from setting a budget, finding a removal company (if needed), enlisting the help of family and friends (remember, this can also help to cut your costs too!) and your packing materials. 

Do not forget to stay safe and keep others safe. Find out if the removal company you would like to hire has Covid-19 safety procedures in place, find out if there is a local lockdown in the location you are moving to and ensure any helping family and friends are aware of how to keep safe by keeping their distance from others and washing their hands frequently.

Find the latest Government advice on moving house during the Covid-19 pandemic here.

Prepare

The preparation stage of your move is in the title. It is preparing for your move; so what is included?

• Booking your removal company 

• Declutter / pack your belongings

• Create a to-do list / inventory to admin tasks (for example: switching your utilities, arranging your bills, changing your address for both your new and old house) 

For a handy, helpful guide to preparing for your move, check out Compare My Move. 

Execute

Your execution stage is the transportation of your belongings to your new home. The official ‘moving in’ process and the final hand over from your old property. 

• Simple tips to ensure that the execution stage goes seamlessly, try the following:

• Use quality materials to pack your personal belongings

• Label each box so that your removal company know exactly where everything should be allocated

• Pack a survival box (this should include everything you use every morning and night, such as toiletries, medicine, phone charger, spare change, toilet roll, spare pair of clothes etc) 

An Overview: Top Tips To Make Moving Day Go Smoothly

Confirm the date of your move

Your first port of call when it comes to making sure that your moving day goes smoothly is to confirm the date of your move with everyone involved. That being your:

• Estate agent

• Removal company

• Current landlord (if applicable)

• Your neighbour/s

This will help to ensure that everyone is aware when extra vehicles may be appearing in your street, and when your property will be unoccupied. 

Give notice to your landlord (if you are renting)

If you are renting your current property, you MUST give plenty of notice to your landlord that you will be leaving the property on said day. This gives them the opportunity to search for another tenant, prepare the property, tidy up any bills or outstanding issues with you as the current tenant, and is just a sign of general good manners. 

You don’t have to give a set amount of notice, but anywhere from one to four weeks is considered pleasant. 

Contact your utility suppliers

Whether you wish to close your account or transfer everything to your new address, it is a must that you contact your utility suppliers in plenty of time before you move. (Try to give it at least 48 hours) You can do so via a quick phone call or online. 

On your last day in the property, take a meter reading and keep a note somewhere safe. This will come in handy if your supplier asks you to provide the information. 

Remember to provide your supplier with your new address so that they can send you a closing bill, manage any transfers or refund any outstanding balance if necessary. 

Redirect your post 

One of the most common things that people often forget during a big move! Redirecting your post to your new address. 

For clear details on how to do this, and what you will need to do so, visit the Royal Mail website. 

What is the best day to move house? 

Most commonly, the best day to move house is often known as a Friday. Stats suggest that from the past 12 years, 28 per cent of movers opt for a move on a Friday, with Saturday coming close second by 17 per cent, followed by Monday at 15 per cent. 

What should you not pack when moving?

There are a handful of items that you should NOT pack with the rest of your belongings when moving house, these are:

• Money / Security / Valuable Papers / Expensive Jewellery: Keep these type of belongings with you to avoid anything going missing. 

• Perishable items: Such as frozen foods and produce. Donate food to your local food bank if you can to avoid moving frozen goods. 

• Medication: Depending on what medication you take, or if your pet needs any medication, speak to your pharmacist/vet about arranging your prescriptions to be transferred to your new home to ensure they are moved safely. 

Top Tips On Choosing A Removal Firm:

Booking your removal slot:

Don’t wait until a buyer is ready before arranging a removal quote! Think of it as the same way you chose your estate agent, act with caution and care and talk to several removal firms before you decide on a final. Here are a few pointers to think about when it comes to choosing a removal firm:

• The price

• The location

• The distance between your old home and your new property 

• The form of transport and space available (this will impact the amount of round trips needed to make the move) 

• The amount of people you can hire to help

• The Covid-19 safety procedures they have in place

Completion dates are often agreed on before the exchange, therefore this gives you a bit of time to play around with. Once you have your tentative date in mind, ask the removal company to pencil in the date - subject to confirmation. 

And remember! Friday’s are usually the most popular day to move house, therefore removal companies do tend to get booked up fast. If there was a hiccup in the transition, are they available on weekends, with the space and transport needed to occupy your move? 

How can the removal firm help you with the move:

Removal firms no longer just offer their assistance with the physical move. Some firms will be more than happy to go the extra mile for you. You can save a lot of hassle by asking the removers to pack for you. (But be careful - this may come at an extra cost so always check beforehand and don’t expect!)

How you can help your removal firm with the move: 

The best way that you can help your removal firm prepare for a smooth move is by providing them with a brief. You should include the following:

• Any items that need special attention while packing, such as pictures, ornaments, antiques and/or valuable objects

• Items that are difficult to move or particularly large in size

• Wardrobes or other later furniture which may need to be dismantled to move

• If you are taking any carpets or flooring with you - let them know prior to the date

• Any items you are moving yourself - let them know before you do so 

• Provide them with a floor plan of the new property so that they can move the boxes into the correct rooms when unloading

• Inform them of how many flights of stairs are in your new property (alternative plans may have to be made for certain furniture)

Remember to do your checks:

• Insurance - It’s always worth checking if your removal company has adequate insurance cover prepared for the moving of your personal belongings, and what the time limit would be for a potential claim if the worst was to happen

• BAR - To be on the safe side, choose a removal company that is a member of BAR - the British Association of Removers. The BAR Head Office telephone number is 01923 699 480

• House insurance - If there are any gaps in the insurance policy of your removal company, then does your home insurance policy cover you?

What Exactly To Do Leading Up To Your Big Move

What should I do a month before moving?

Some of the things that you can do up to a month before you move house can be:

• Have a declutter and go through everything you own and decide what you wish to move with you, and what you can get rid of before you move

• Organise all of your important documents and paperwork 

• Start your packing early

• Notify your service providers in plenty of time that you will be moving address

What should I do a week before moving? 

• Transfer bank accounts and safely close deposit boxes

• Pack an essentials box

• Confirm / check in with your removal company

• Dissemble any furniture that you don’t require frequent / constant use

What should I do the day before moving? 

• Create a to-do list of urgent tasks that need to be actioned

• Prepare your payment to your removal company 

• Arrange childcare or petcare so that they don’t get caught up among the business of moving from house to house

• Make sure your phone is fully charged

• Leave some basic cleaning supplies to spruce up before you leave

• Do one last walk through the property to ensure you have packed everything you need and not forgotten anything 

Moving House During COVID-19

For all up to date information on moving house during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the official Government website. This guidance applies to those moving into homes in England, as owner-occupiers, private or social renters. 

FAQ Section: 

What is the best day to move house?

Most commonly, the best day to move house is often known as a Friday. Stats suggest that from the past 12 years, 28 per cent of movers opt for a move on a Friday, with Saturday coming close second by 17 per cent, followed by Monday at 15 per cent. 

What should you do the day before moving?

• Create a to-do list of urgent tasks that need to be actioned

• Prepare your payment to your removal company 

• Arrange childcare or petcare so that they don’t get caught up among the business of moving from house to house

• Make sure your phone is fully charged

• Leave some basic cleaning supplies to spruce up before you leave

• Do one last walk through the property to ensure you have packed everything you need and not forgotten anything 

What should you not pack when moving? 

• Money / Security / Valuable Papers / Expensive Jewellery: Keep these type of belongings with you to avoid anything going missing. 

• Perishable items: Such as frozen foods and produce. Donate food to your local food bank if you can to avoid moving frozen goods. 

• Medication: Depending on what medication you take, or if your pet needs any medication, speak to your pharmacist/vet about arranging your prescriptions to be transferred to your new home to ensure they are moved safely. 

Get in touch today

Download The Ultimate Guide: Removal Planning For A Smooth Move exclusively with Fine & Country today and get in touch with your local Fine & Country agent for help with selling your home or finding your new dream home today!

More from Fine & Country