Moving home tips
15 Moving House Tips in 2022
As the home of moving home, Compare My Move has experience when it comes to organising a removal. To help you be better prepared, we’ve created a useful list of 15 moving house tips to browse before you organise your moving day.
1. Declutter Your Belongings
Decluttering is essential to do every now and then, but it’s even more important before a house move. Before even attempting to pack, you should decide what to sell, donate or throw out. By decluttering in advance, you'll also keep your house removal costs down as there’ll be fewer boxes to move.
Throw out or donate anything you no longer use and check to see if any items are broken and worth leaving behind. You’ll be glad of it come moving day and believe us, the removal guys will also be appreciative.
2. Book a Removal Company
Once you’ve decluttered your personal belongings and have a rough idea of what you’ll be taking, you should then book your removals company. You could attempt to do it yourself, but it would be a lot of added stress and time. To help, Compare My Move can connect you with up to 6 professional and experienced removal companies in your local area, ensuring a more efficient process.
The removal company you choose should have years of experience in the industry, a team of careful packers, the correct insurance and further experience in handling and loading delicate furniture to ensure every item arrives safely at your new house.
3. Create an Inventory
Creating an inventory helps you to keep an eye on all your belongings to make sure nothing is lost throughout the whole moving process. Following a moving house checklist will also help during this stage.
Your removal company can create an inventory for you if they have been hired to pack your belongings so this is also worth considering when choosing a company.
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4. Pack as Early as Possible
Once you compare surveyors, get conveyancing quotes and set your moving date, then it's time to start the tedious task of packing. Make a start on packing as soon as you can. Get together a plan of action with a room by room checklist of how you will pack everything, along with all of the packing materials you’ll need.
Some removal companies will offer professional packing services to help you through this stage. If you prefer to self-pack, they may be able to provide you with high-quality materials to ensure maximum safety.
5. Packing Least Used Rooms
A good and simple starting point for the packing process would be to pack the rooms and items you use the least. The spare bedroom, garage or attic are usually easy places to start.
Leave everyday items until the day before the move and keep any essentials items such as medication separately. You should also create an overnight bag with all the important items you’ll need as soon as you get to the new home.
6. Arrange Your Utilities Early
Whilst you’re packing the house up, it would be a good idea to start arranging your utilities. It’s important to set up your utilities such as council tax, gas and home insurance early when moving house. Not only will this save you a lot of stress once you’re moved in, but you will have more time to settle in and make your new house a home.
To save valuable time and money sorting your utilities out, make sure you use Just Move In. They will save you up to 8 hours of administration time when setting up utility services.
7. Use Quality Materials
Usually, you’ll be able to buy quality packaging materials from your removal company, but you’ll be surprised what you can get for free. Don't forget to mention it when you request a removal quote for an accurate price range.
There are a plethora of different boxes you can get from removal companies along with the correct packing materials. You will likely also need packing tape, bubble wrap, zip tie bags, labels and marker pens.
8. Label Properly
You should label the boxes with the room they’re going to and a brief summary of what’s inside so there’s no confusion when you’re unpacking. This will also help the removals team know where any and all fragile items are kept.
If you don’t want to write a short novella on the boxes you could consider using coloured stickers/labels to help categorise rooms.
9. Keep Cupboard Doors Open
Keeping your cupboard and cabinet doors open in the days up to and on moving day will give you the chance to see that you have packed everything.
This way, you will be able to see that you have everything or if you have left anything inside. You can do the same with the kitchen drawers.
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10. Pack a Survival Box
Pack the things you use every day and night in a separate bag and keep this with you at all times. Items such as medicine, face cream, toothbrush, toilet roll, change of clothes, phone chargers etc will all come in very handy.
11. Take Photos
Whilst packing, take photographs of the wires at the back of your television or any other electronic sets up. This is a great way to keep track of what goes where when you’re putting everything back together in your new house.
You can also take photos of any wall displays, ornament placement, or shelving setups in your current home that you are fond of and wish to recreate in your new place.
12. Visit Your New Area
You'll know your new home inside and out after your property survey, but what about the neighbourhood? Once the removal company is booked and you’ve started packing, go and spend time in your new area when possible, checking out the local pubs, shops and other local amenities.
13. Update Your Address
It’s a good idea to start changing your address with companies or organisations like the bank, the doctor’s surgery, car insurance company, local authority, post office and the dentist 2 weeks before you move. We have an in-depth change of address checklist to get you started. Don’t forget to inform friends and family too.
It would be wise to begin with the more essential organisations such as the bank, doctor’s surgery and dentist. You can also divert any mail going to your old address with the Royal Mail for a small fee.
14. Check Council Tax Band
Many people will forget about taking care of their council tax when moving house. If you’re moving to a new area, you’ll need to set up a new account. Don’t forget to check with your local authority for more details about your council tax band
15. Register to Vote
Another important factor when moving house is staying on the electoral register. You will have to update your address and ensure you’re still able to vote. Luckily, it’s a fairly simple process and can be done via the government website.
Moving House Do's and Don'ts to Get You Started
To help you avoid some of the more common moving house mistakes, we’ve listed a number of simple do’s and don’ts for moving day.
Do
Hire Specialists for Special Items - If you have any items that need extra care when handling, such as antiques, pianos or valuable artwork, then your removal company will be trained to help. Professional movers have the experience needed to transport these items safely.
Get Creative with Packing - If you are using a packing service from the removal company, they will supply the boxes and materials. If you’re doing the packing yourself, get creative. Use laundry baskets, suitcases and large holdall bags to make the most out of the space you have.
Pack Room by Room - A logical way to pack is doing it room by room. Start with the rooms you use the least such as the garage, shed and spare bedroom. Pack items that are out of season first and keep items you’ll use up until moving day within reach.
Don’t
Overload Boxes - One of the most common mistakes when packing is overloading boxes. If you reach a point where the box is half-full and starting to get heavy, then top it off with pillows or towels or simply move onto the next batch.
Leave Empty Spaces - Use packing paper, small items or towels to fill empty gaps in boxes. You could even use kitchen paper, tea towels or old rags. The idea is to keep your items securely in place during transit.
Forget About Non-Allowable Items - It’s important to know what your removal company will class as non-allowable items. Hazardous items like propane cylinders, paints, paint thinners and fireworks will not be allowed on the removals truck.
Living Room Tips
Mirrors and Glass Frames
Tape an ‘X onto the glass using packing tape to prevent shattering
Use corner protectors to guard the edges from damage
Cover the surface with a layer of cardboard
Keep mirrors and glass upright with no items stacked on during transit
Electronics
Backup your important files and documents
Check if you have the item’s original packaging to easily pack
Use bubble wrap, blankets and towels for protection
Remove any temperature-sensitive items from inside your electronics
Rugs and Carpets
Clean the rug before you start to pack it up
Roll and tie each end of the rug with twine or string to secure it
Don’t wrap it in plastic as this will cause mould and mildew
Wrap the rug in sheets of thick paper and tape it closed
Furniture
Dismantle furniture if it can be easily put back together - your removal company should be able to help with this
Cover furniture with protective covers or blankets for the move
Wrap tape or plastic wrap around the covers to further secure the item
Take off chair/sofa covers and pillows and pack them separately in plastic covers
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Kitchen Packing Tips
Large and Small Appliances
Tape everything closed to avoid swinging doors
Don’t forget to defrost the fridge/freezer before moving day
Keep items such as kettles and toasters handy as they are essential for your first day
To pack your toaster without making a mess, empty it upside down first
Crockery and Fragile Items
Stack your plates with polystyrene plates in between each one to avoid damage
Don’t wrap plates in a newspaper, this won’t stop damage
Pack items that are least used first such as cookbooks and big mixing bowls
Create a ‘cushion’ at the bottom of the box to safely pack your plates
Glasses, Mugs and Cups
Don’t overload on the packing of glass, the box won’t be able to take the weight
Pad the box in between glasses with bubble wrap and tea towels
Stack the cups in polystyrene cups to avoid breakages
Do not stack heavy items on top of your glasses, mugs or any fragile item
Food
Don’t do a food shop the week before moving as it’ll likely be wasted
Take your tinned food with you or to a homeless shelter
Make sure you have packed a lunch for moving day
Have milk, bread and any other essential food ready for once you’ve moved in
Bedroom Tips
Mattresses and Bed Frames
Dismantle beds ahead of moving day and sleep in sleeping bags or a blow-up bed
Put all of the nuts, bolts and Allen keys into bags and tape them to the main frame of the bed
Use protective mattress covers to ensure no damage is done during the move
If you’re not using a removal company, place the mattress in between furniture
Drawers and Wardrobes
Empty your wardrobe before packing - this will help you to finally get rid of all your unwanted clothes
To use space wisely, keep the clothes and items in your drawers, taping them closed
Dismantle your wardrobe carefully or ask the removal company to do it
If the wardrobe isn’t big, it might not need to be dismantled
Clothes
Pack your clothes in vacuum compression bags to save room
If it’s summer, start packing winter clothes or clothes you know you won’t need
Make a wardrobe by getting a tall box with a pole inserted through with cable ties
Packing clothes into a suitcase is an easy method to transport clothes during the house move
Jewellery and Accessories
Pack chained necklaces through a plastic straw to avoid tangling
Pack jewellery in a large egg box to avoid damage
Small dainty earrings can be transported in pill/medication boxes
Any valuable items should be kept with you, just in case it gets misplaced
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Bathroom Tips
Toiletries and Medicine
Try and use up all toiletries before the move to avoid taking up valuable space
Wrap tape around opened toiletry lids to avoid any spillages
Pack toiletries in zip lock bags once the lids are taped
Do not pack away medicine or tablets you know you’ll need
Makeup
Put cotton-wool on top of compressed powders to stop it from cracking
Cover eyeshadow palettes with bubble wrap and wrap tape around
Pack nail-varnishes in newspaper and then place them in a plastic zip bag
Separate make-up into liquids, creams & powders.
Towels
Towels act as a great protector for most items, combining packing and protection in one
Ensure all towels are washed before using as padding
For the remaining towels, simply fold and pack on top of clothes in a suitcase
Electrical Hair Appliances
Limit the number of straighteners and dryers you’ll take with you
Pack appliances by wrapping the wire around the appliance
When packing into the box, place the heavier appliances at the bottom
Keep all of your hair appliances, brushes, hair ties and clips together in a labelled box
Some Informative Moving Guides
Our advice hub features everything you need to know about moving house. Need a helping hand with your planning and packing? Check out the articles and advice from the property experts at Compare My Move for everything you need to know about moving.
