01.11.2023

Top 10 Tips for Moving House

Moving house can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time in equal measure, as well as the perfect opportunity to sort through clutter and start fresh by redesigning your living space. Whether you’re buying a home with more room, moving to a new area altogether, or looking to downsize, making your move as smooth as possible is as easy as planning and keeping organised. To get you started, here are some of our tips for moving house.

10 tips for moving house

1. Declutter your home

Although it may feel easier to pack everything up in boxes and cart them to your new place, moving is the perfect chance (and excuse) to get rid of items that no longer serve you. Rather than holding on to something that sat in a cupboard for years or is in dire need of replacing, consider whether you’ve needed it in the last six months to a year. If the answer is “No”, you can decide then whether it needs to be chucked, donated or recycled.

We’ve got more excellent tips on decluttering your home in our ‘Downsizing and decluttering your house’ blog here.

2. Making a moving checklist

You may or may not be a list person, but making a moving checklist is an invaluable practice that ensures you won’t forget anything, keeps you on track and gives you extra peace of mind in an otherwise hectic process. If it feels daunting, start by categorising your tasks by room or by time frame. That way you can break it down into more manageable chunks and leave the tears to moving day.

3. Start packing early

It’s easier said than done, but getting a head start on packing will help you keep control of what needs to be done and when. The last thing you want to do is end up rushing at the nth hour to get everything in boxes and out the door. By starting early, you can tackle tasks gradually and keep organised from start to finish – something that you’ll thank your past self for once you come to unbox everything on the other end.

4. Structure your boxes

In addition to packing early, structuring your boxes may seem like tedious work but it’ll be worth it in the long run. Whether it’s a tin opener or the TV remote, knowing where everything is when your new place is full of boxes to unpack is going to create far fewer headaches. Plus, once you’ve unpacked the moving van, designated boxes can be put straight into their intended rooms, rather than being piled up in the main area. Just remember these two things:

Protect precious items

There’s no guarantee the journey to your new place is going to be without its lumps and bumps, so be sure to properly protect fragile and precious items.

Label your boxes

This sounds like common sense, but unless you enjoy the chaos of guessing what’s in each box, a good black marker will do wonders for keeping control of your packing.

5. Disassemble your furniture

Not all pieces will need to be taken apart (in some cases it may be less hassle to keep things whole), but for larger or awkward items, it’ll be more efficient – and in some cases safer, too. Some moving companies can do this for you, as well as reassembling it on the other end, so shop around to find the movers that suit your needs.

6. Consider self storage options

Hiring a self storage unit can really take the pressure off your move, whatever stage of the process you’re at. In the weeks, or even months, leading up to moving day, you’ll have an extra space to store packed boxes and bulkier items, giving you ample opportunity to tackle things bit by bit. On the other end, renting a storage unit means your shiny new home doesn’t have to be a mess from the get-go.

7. Arrange a removal company

Pizza, beer and a good time may be tempting enough to rally friends and family to help you move, but for some homeowners hiring a removal company is the right path to take. Some may see it as an unnecessary expense, but professional moving companies offer cost-effective and time-saving solutions to the process. From helping lift heavy furniture and taking excellent care of fragile items, to packing the van like a Tetris champion and reducing the overall stress of your move, it’s definitely worth doing a bit of research.

8. Take it slowly

You may have memories of chaotic student rental move in/move out days, but when it comes to packing up your home for pastures new the best thing you can do is take your time. A narrow window of last-minute packing opens up more chances for lost items, chaotic packing and unnecessary stress. By allowing yourself the time to prepare, you’re guaranteed to have a better move – even if not everything goes to plan.

9. Organise utilities

Another point advocating for early preparation and leaving plenty of time to get organised: the last thing you want when moving homes is an over-complicated cancellation process or a surprise bill. Let your gas and electric suppliers know that you’re moving with time to spare, especially if you want to transfer the service over to your new place or have any queries. And be absolutely certain that you read your metres on the day you move out to avoid getting overcharged. You don’t want to get caught out paying for the new homeowner’s utilities (which is easily done).

10. Update your address

Another exciting step is to inform all the necessary parties of your new address. From service providers and banks, to work and your family, make a list of people and companies you need to update and work through them. It may seem a little tedious, but it’s your final flourish where you get to say: “I’m in; this is home now”, which makes every step preceding it totally worth it.

Durkan’s Assisted Move

If you’re buying a Durkan home in at our Wintringham, Manor & Braganza, Granary & Chapel, or Hatfield East developments , Assisted Move is another helpful service we offer. This takes the pressure off trying to sell your existing property, so you can focus on moving to your new home. We’ll help support you during the whole sales process, offering you helpful free financial advice as well as paying agency fees. Read the full details here.