Moving Tips

• Pack Early – The earlier you pack, the less stress you’ll have in the run-up to your moving day. The time it takes to pack will largely depend on how many items you have – for a large house, two months should be long enough if you pack one box a day, while a smaller house might take a month or less.
• Start with Rooms You Least Need – It makes sense to pack items you don’t use every day first. For example, pack seasonal items you’re not currently using, like garden tools in winter or Christmas lights in summer.
• Label Your Boxes – Pack one room at a time and label your boxes to help keep your belongings organised, so your movers know which boxes go in what room of your new property.
• Declutter – You don’t need to take everything with you! Have a car boot sale, or give your old unwanted items to charity, or even gift them to friends and family who help with your move.
• Don’t Overpack – Make sure you don’t exceed the weight limit for a box. Put light items in large boxes and heavy items in small boxes, so it’s easier to judge the weight while moving and you don’t end up getting injured or breaking the boxes.
• Heavier Boxes on the Bottom – Keeping your heaviest boxes at the bottom will prevent fragile or breakable items from being crushed and damaged.
• Dispose of Hazardous Materials – Please note that our removal company will not transport hazardous materials, and you must arrange for these to be cleared professionally.
• Prepare a Box of Essentials – One of the most important moving tips you will ever come across is to pack a box of essentials that you can easily access. This might include:

• • Snacks
  • Canned or Boxed Food
  • Can Opener
  • Eating Utensils
  • Pans and Pots
  • Towels and Dishcloths
  • Toiletries
  • Baby Supplies
  • Pet Food
  • Instruction Manuals for Electrical Appliances
  • Remote Controls
  • First Aid Kit
  • Toolbox

• Reduce the Contents of Your Freezer
• Contact Carpet Fitters, If Required
• Arrange for Mains Services to Be Disconnected Professionally
• Cancel All Rental Agreements and Subscriptions, e.g., Newspapers and Magazines
• Notify Key People of Address Change, including:
  • Doctors, Dentists, Hospitals, and Vets
  • Bank, Building Society, Credit Card, and Insurance Companies
  • Telephone, Mobile, and Internet Service Providers
  • TV Licence, Passport Office, and DVLA (Driving Licence)

• Parking – If the removal vehicle needs to park on your road, reserve a large enough space using bollards or large, empty boxes. The nearer the van, the quicker and easier the move, which will save you money if you have booked an hourly rate!
• Furniture – Consider dismantling any flat-pack furniture if possible. It doesn’t travel very well and will be easier to remove from your existing place and into your new home. Also, please ensure that all furniture cupboards and drawers are empty and if you have any locks on items, keep the key in a safe place!
• Carpets – Think about whether you need to clean any carpets in your old property if it is rented. Soiled carpets are a major reason for landlords retaining bond or deposit money.
• Precious Items – If you have any items that are very precious to you, wrap them really well and point them out to the head of your removal team – we will take extra special care with these items. Additionally, try and pack flat-screen TVs into their original boxes to protect them from damage.
• Pets and Young Children – Take pets and young children to a friend's or relative’s house. Moving furniture can be a dangerous task, especially if there are animals or toddlers under your feet.
• Stay Hydrated! – Last, but not least, keep tea- and juice-making facilities available at each end. Moving can be very thirsty work!

Summer is a favourite time of year for many people, especially kids enjoying the school holidays. However, if your family is planning to move to a new home this summer – as many homebuyers do – instead you could be experiencing the stress of moving, and this kind of tension can easily be picked up by children and pets.

With a few simple tips and careful planning, it’s possible to make moving this summer as quick and pain-free as possible so your family can get back to enjoying all summer has to offer!

Ideally, children should know they’re moving to a new home as soon as possible. Whether they’re a toddler or a teenager, young people need time to process all aspects of moving, including saying goodbye to local friends and preparing for the upcoming change. Let them help with packing their rooms and planning their new bedrooms or playrooms, because the more involved children are, the more they’ll enjoy the process.

You should also try your best to prepare pets for travelling. Taking practice car rides will help your pet adapt to being in a confined space during travel. If you’re travelling by public transport such as a train or a bus, your vet will happily advise you about the best way to calm your pet before a move. Also, remember to find a new vet near your new home before you move.

Moving day is always stressful, and children and pets are hypersensitive to stress. No matter how organised you are, there will always be something, but it helps to prepare your little ones as much as possible.

If possible, arrange a babysitter for small children and pets on moving day. Getting someone to take them to the cinema or go for a walk will distract them while things are stressful at home. If it’s not possible to get a babysitter, try and include them in the process in small ways that keep them occupied and make them feel included.

Meanwhile, some pets have problems with lots of noise and commotion and new people going in and out of the house all day. Take your dog out for some healthy exercise before the moving starts. During the process, make sure they are in a safe space or a crate with food and water, so they can relax and stay out of the way of the moving process.

Even after moving day, the first few days after a move can be complicated for everyone, from kids to pets, and even adults. However, with careful planning, you can make a move across town or even across the country a smooth transition for all involved.

Kids love exploring, so make your first trip around your new neighbourhood an adventure! Seek out new parks, shops, and activity areas and help your children get situated. Encourage them to meet new friends their own age by finding local meet-up groups that help connect children and parents with their peers.

Exercise should also be a daily routine for pets for the first few weeks. Burning energy helps pets feel relaxed and at ease during the adjustment period. Create a cosy, quiet environment that helps them feel at home in their new territory. Additionally, make sure your pet’s microchip and details are up to date when moving to a new area – it’s not unusual for them to get disoriented and run away, so having a microchip will give you peace of mind about potentially losing them in a new neighbourhood.