By Debbie Morgan
Love it or hate it, moving house is time-consuming and stressful. Here's ten top tips to make the process easier.
1. Be organised. When you're moving house sort out your paperwork: you'll need a file with sections for your solicitor, estate agent, surveyor, mortgage broker, insurance, removal company, post forwarding and other minor, but important, contacts.
2. Be available, stay in contact and communicate promptly and clearly. To keep the process going smoothly and quickly reply promptly to all letters and phonecalls. Check the paperwork you receive. Mortgage providers, solicitors and brokers all get it wrong sometimes. You are the customer paying the money so you must check that they have got the details right. If you have any queries be sure to get on the phone and sort it out as soon as possible.
3. Declutter. As you pack up, sort out your things. Get rid of what you don't want instead of doubling your work load of packing and unpacking things collected over the years that you don't want. Moving house will usually mean a big clear out which is refreshing in itself.
4. Stay calm. Moving can be stressful, but there is little you can do once the process has started. If your buyer pulls out, you can't change their mind. Keep things in perspective and keep your normal life ticking over. Keep going with the flow and don't worry too much as worry by itself doesn't change anything.
5. Visit the new house a few times, take measurements so that you can plan exactly where all the furniture is going. When the removal men deliver the furniture you can at least tell them whether items are upstairs or downstairs and it'll save you some hard muscle work.
6. On the day of moving have someone to help. If you have children or pets, have the extra person around to keep an eye on them. When you are leaving your old home, go around with your family and say cheerio to your old home together. Moving house is a big event for every member of the family.
7. When you arrive in your house and the removal men have gone, open up a bottle of bubbly or something that is a treat. Perhaps a box of chocolates or a tin of sweets - something to give everyone a lift. You'll have boxes around you, beds will need to be made and everyone will be tired.
8. Hopefully, you won't have much cleaning to do before you unpack, but sometimes you will. Cleaning someone's grime is grim so get in help and get the job out of the way as soon as possible.
9. Give yourself enough time to unpack so that you can unpack properly rather than having to change where everything is a few weeks later.
10. Keep talking with your partner and/or family. Moving can be stressful for everyone. Talk to your children about how they feel and check any concerns that they have. They may need extra reassurance and time with you. Make the process as fun as you can and stay relaxed and in control.
Good luck!
Debbie Morgan writes for the UK Property Search Engine, Wheres My Property and Renovate Alerts, the site that finds property to renovate. Debbie also contributes to Toddler Bedtime Tips.
Source:www.isnare.com |
