Budgeting for Your Move

Moving house can be one of the most stressful things you can ever encounter in your life. There’s so much preparation involved and so many things you need to remember to do not to mention all the expense that’s involved. When it comes to the financial aspects of moving home you’ll have probably thought of things like the costs of solicitors fees and surveys etc.
However, there are so many other things to consider that if you don’t plan carefully and draw up some kind of moving ‘budget’, the actual bottom line cost of moving can be far higher than you anticipated which is not the start you’ll want to get off to when moving home is stressful enough as it is.

Therefore, it’s useful to create a budget so that you know, more or less, just how much your move is going to cost so that you’re prepared and know, as accurately as you can predict, how much you’re going to be spending. This article will cover all the main necessary expenditure that you’re likely to incur apart from legal fees and survey costs. Not all of it will be applicable to every move and there may be some additional costs that are not on here but which are specific to your own situation.
However, by drawing up a plan following similar guidelines to this, whether you do it as a Microsoft Word document or Excel spreadsheet or even if you resort to pen and paper, it should help you manage your finances better when it comes to moving house.

Removal
Packing and Storage FeesYou’ll need to work out how many storage boxes you think you’re going to need. OK, there’s bound to be some guesswork here although many storage box companies will be able to give you a fair estimate on how many you’ll need based upon the number of rooms in your house and the kind of items you’ll be taking with you. You’ll also need things like bubble wrap, protective inner packaging materials and tape as well.

Cleaning Costs
You’ll probably want to leave your own home spick and span for the next occupants and even if the previous residents in your new home have thought of that too, you should factor in the cost of cleaning materials for both houses just in case.

Redecorating Costs
If you’re planning to redecorate or refurbish your new home, you’ll need to work out how much money that will cost. An idea, to give you a rough estimate, is to consider each room in your new home and what needs doing to each and to work out a budget per room or, if that’s going to take too long, consider the room which requires the most work and draw up a list of what needs doing. Once you’ve reached a figure, multiply that by the number of rooms in the house. It won’t be as accurate as the first method but, being the room which needs the most work doing to it, it’s a safe bet to assume that the total cost will not exceed your estimate.

Utility Deposits
You might also need to find out if there are any initial deposits to pay as far as utilities supplies being connected in your new home are concerned e.g. gas, electric, water, phone, internet access etc.

Moving Into Rented Accommodation
If you are moving into rented accommodation, you’ll need to find out how much the deposit will be in addition to your first month’s rent and many landlords will also want you to put up a bond as security against any damage that may occur to the property whilst you’re a tenant. Make sure you’ve studied your tenancy agreement too and look out for any hidden extra costs as you’re likely to be liable for things like council tax too.

Miscellaneous Items
You should also add on a sum of money for any other minor costs you might incur, e.g. disposal of household items that your local authority won’t take away with your household rubbish and things like parking permits.

Obviously, this article can only skim the surface here as one household’s needs are likely to be very different from another’s. However, by trying to think of every eventuality in terms of costs when you’re moving, coming up with a total figure and then adding on, say, 5% to the total – just in case you’ve forgotten anything, the final figure you come up with should be an adequate sum which should cover most eventualities when it comes to the costs of moving house.
ServiceIf you intend hiring a professional removal service, get 3 quotes and make sure that the costs include petrol and any labour. Then, even if you’ve not decided which company to choose yet, budget for the highest cost. Remember to include any insurance costs too, if you are going to take any insurance out in case of damage to items. If you’re moving yourself, work out how many trips you might need to make to get all your belongings from your old house to your new one and estimate how much that will cost in petrol. And, if you’re going to ask a friend to help you with the move, make sure you factor in the cost for the tip you hopefully intend to give them.

Lodgings
If you’re moving further away and you know you won’t be able to complete the move in one day, find out how much it’s going to cost for your hotel lodgings overnight and add on meal and drinks costs if that’s not included, unless you’re going to make your own provisions for that.

Child/Pet Care
Unless you have family and friends or neighbours who are going to keep an eye on your children and/or pets whilst you get settled into your new home, you may need to factor in childcare costs and kennelling too.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Best Times to Move

Best Times to Move

For many people they don’t often have an awful lot of choice when they move home. A house move can occur for several reasons. Perhaps, you’ve been offered a promotion which means you have more money to buy or rent the place you’ve always wanted to or you might have taken a new job which means you need to relocate or maybe it’s the right time to sell financially in order to maximise the value of your existing property.
On the opposite side of the coin, perhaps you can no longer afford to live in your present accommodation and are forced to downsize. Whatever the reason, you may not always have the ‘luxury’ of planning the exact time of the year in which to move. However, if you are fortunate enough to be in that position, there are a few factors which you might wish to consider.

School Calendar
There are different trains of thought as to when to move when you have children who are still at school. For some families, the school holidays are the ideal time to move from one house to another as it causes less disruption with their children’s education, with summer holidays being the most preferred option. People who advocate this time as the best time to move will point to issues such as their children will have fully completed another year of school and with the end of the summer term and the longer amount of time off before the new term, it will keep educational disruption down to a minimum whilst also allowing their children the necessary time to say goodbye to old friends.

Conversely, however, there will be other parents who say that by moving a couple of months before the end of term, it gives their children the opportunity to settle into their new school quickly and to make new friends with which to spend time with over the summer. This, in turn, means that their kids are not getting under their parents’ feet over the summer months as they go about settling in to their new home with all the unpacking and organisation that needs to be done.

Cost
Just like the holiday companies who know when to spot the opportunity to ‘up’ their rates, removal firms too know that the school holidays (and particularly the summer holidays) are ripe to push up their prices as their services are always in more demand during this time. Therefore, if you plan on moving in the summer holidays, it’s likely to cost you more. Not only that, but because of the increased demand for removal services, you need to bear in mind that you’re not always going to get the same level of service that you might otherwise do at different times of the year. Removal companies will often take on seasonal workers who are not used to working in the industry over the summer months to cope with the extra demand which might mean you get a less efficient service.

Christmas
Most house movers will tell you that it’s better to be settled in to your new home a couple of months before Christmas and, if that’s not possible, you should leave it until after the festive period. The reason being is that Christmas is a special time where it’s important for all the family to feel a real sense of community and belonging and, by leaving a move too close to Christmas, it’s far more difficult to establish new friendships quickly which could leave you feeling a little isolated over the festive period. The general train of thought would seem to be that unless you can move house a good few months before Christmas, you should stay put and wait until it has passed. Then, not only will you still be surrounded by those who care most about you in the run-up leading to Christmas, the Christmas and New Year holiday is the ideal time to throw a few farewell parties.

The Weather and Climate
Whilst this is often a secondary factor not considered too seriously by a lot of people when it comes to a house move, particularly here in the UK where the weather can be fickle anyway, some people will point to the Spring and Summer months as the best time to move as poor rainy conditions or the extreme cold of winter can often make a move more stressful, not forgetting that it can also have an impact upon causing damage to furnishings and other belongings.

Ultimately, however, people will usually have a number of their own specific issues and reasons which will affect the time of year they choose to move. The most important thing to remember is to choose an appropriate time, wherever possible, which will cause the least stress and disruption to you and your family and is something that should be discussed between the whole family in order to make the transition run as smoothly as possible.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Costs Involved After Moving Abroad

Costs Involved After Moving Abroad

Quite often when you’re drawing up a budget for moving house you’ll often forget to include the additional expenditure you’ll incur on top of your normal outgoings after you’ve successfully moved in. This can amount to quite a tidy sum so here are a few pointers to think about when planning your finances for a house move.

Utilities
When you move home, you may find that you’re charged a connection fee by the utility companies for things like electric, gas, water, phone, satellite/cable TV and internet services. Furthermore, in simply reconnecting all of the existing services, it may also leave you even worse off in the long run as you may be paying far more with the existing supplier than if you’d shopped around elsewhere. These days, there are plenty of utility comparison sites and it’s well worth doing some comparisons on these sites before you move which is easy to do by typing in the postcode of your new address. You might even find that there are other providers for certain utilities that you were previously unaware of which might be able to save you some money.

Soft Furnishings
The chances are that not everything that ‘worked’ in your old home, in terms of style, will be suitable for your new home. Room sizes differ. Windows can be higher or lower to the ground than in your present home and, therefore, things like sofas, curtains etc. which fitted in brilliantly to your previous home just don’t work in your new place. Therefore, it’s useful to work out a budget for additional furnishings that you’re going to have to make when you move and to build that in to the overall cost.

Renovations
On a much grander scale, you may have bought a new place which has a lot of potential but which needs a lot of work doing to it. Major renovations can run into many thousands of pounds so just because the price tag on a property is very appealing, if you’re attracted to it because of the opportunities it presents in terms of areas within it which may need renovating, then you’ll also need to factor those costs into the equation.

Food
When you move house, expect to have a big food bill that first week. Apart from a few tins and packets that you might have brought with you, the chances are you’re going to have to be completely stock up on new food supplies, especially as far as your fridge and freezer are concerned, so this is another additional expense you might just have overlooked.

Plants and Flowers
If you’re a keen gardener, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to ship your entire plant and flower collection from your old home to your new one and the chances are that you’ll probably want to make your own individual mark on your new outdoor space as soon as possible to reflect your own gardening tastes. Therefore, plants and flowers, when starting completely from scratch, can come up to a tidy sum.


Cleaning Materials
Even though the previous occupants should have cleaned up thoroughly before they vacated the property, you’ll still want to perform your own cleaning duties yourself once you arrive and, it’s likely that your own furniture and other items will have got grubby and dusty during the move. Then there will probably be things like washing powder and basic bathroom toiletries to buy as well so you’ll need to have cash set aside for these type of things.

Basically, the purse or wallet simply doesn’t shut once you’ve paid off the removal men and the costs you’ll incur over the first few weeks in your new home can often be fairly expensive so it’s important to consider the additional expenses discussed here when drawing up a financial budget for your house move.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Best Times to Move

For many people they don’t often have an awful lot of choice when they move home. A house move can occur for several reasons. Perhaps, you’ve been offered a promotion which means you have more money to buy or rent the place you’ve always wanted to or you might have taken a new job which means you need to relocate or maybe it’s the right time to sell financially in order to maximise the value of your existing property.
On the opposite side of the coin, perhaps you can no longer afford to live in your present accommodation and are forced to downsize. Whatever the reason, you may not always have the ‘luxury’ of planning the exact time of the year in which to move. However, if you are fortunate enough to be in that position, there are a few factors which you might wish to consider.

School Calendar
There are different trains of thought as to when to move when you have children who are still at school. For some families, the school holidays are the ideal time to move from one house to another as it causes less disruption with their children’s education, with summer holidays being the most preferred option. People who advocate this time as the best time to move will point to issues such as their children will have fully completed another year of school and with the end of the summer term and the longer amount of time off before the new term, it will keep educational disruption down to a minimum whilst also allowing their children the necessary time to say goodbye to old friends.

Conversely, however, there will be other parents who say that by moving a couple of months before the end of term, it gives their children the opportunity to settle into their new school quickly and to make new friends with which to spend time with over the summer. This, in turn, means that their kids are not getting under their parents’ feet over the summer months as they go about settling in to their new home with all the unpacking and organisation that needs to be done.

Cost
Just like the holiday companies who know when to spot the opportunity to ‘up’ their rates, removal firms too know that the school holidays (and particularly the summer holidays) are ripe to push up their prices as their services are always in more demand during this time. Therefore, if you plan on moving in the summer holidays, it’s likely to cost you more. Not only that, but because of the increased demand for removal services, you need to bear in mind that you’re not always going to get the same level of service that you might otherwise do at different times of the year. Removal companies will often take on seasonal workers who are not used to working in the industry over the summer months to cope with the extra demand which might mean you get a less efficient service.

Christmas
Most house movers will tell you that it’s better to be settled in to your new home a couple of months before Christmas and, if that’s not possible, you should leave it until after the festive period. The reason being is that Christmas is a special time where it’s important for all the family to feel a real sense of community and belonging and, by leaving a move too close to Christmas, it’s far more difficult to establish new friendships quickly which could leave you feeling a little isolated over the festive period. The general train of thought would seem to be that unless you can move house a good few months before Christmas, you should stay put and wait until it has passed. Then, not only will you still be surrounded by those who care most about you in the run-up leading to Christmas, the Christmas and New Year holiday is the ideal time to throw a few farewell parties.

The Weather and Climate
Whilst this is often a secondary factor not considered too seriously by a lot of people when it comes to a house move, particularly here in the UK where the weather can be fickle anyway, some people will point to the Spring and Summer months as the best time to move as poor rainy conditions or the extreme cold of winter can often make a move more stressful, not forgetting that it can also have an impact upon causing damage to furnishings and other belongings.

Ultimately, however, people will usually have a number of their own specific issues and reasons which will affect the time of year they choose to move. The most important thing to remember is to choose an appropriate time, wherever possible, which will cause the least stress and disruption to you and your family and is something that should be discussed between the whole family in order to make the transition run as smoothly as possible.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Moving your office, like moving to another house

Moving your office, like moving to another house, is a very crucial thing. Even the planning stage of your office moving is already crucial. You need to have a well written Request for Proposal or Request for Quotation that you should forward to the movers. But aside from this, you also need to do a lot of other things. But the good news is that you’ll do these things not because they are needed but because they are helpful for a more convenient office moving. Here are they:

Determine the number of employees you’ll need in your new office. Do you need more or lesser employees? Better cut the number of your employees now or hire new ones before you move to the new office.

Choose the moving company that has a tested experience on moving other companies’ offices too. Or better choose the moving company that had satisfied similar companies. You can ask your colleagues or your business club for some recommendations.

Know if your new office place requires payment for the moving. Some state asks for some payment while some do not. Make sure all the needed requirements are fulfilled before the moving date so you won’t have any issues during the moving.

Move your office machines with extra care. Ask the manufacturers of these machines on how to move them safely. Printers, photocopiers, and computers need special treatment during the long travel to keep them safe. But usually, these sensitive machines only need a good bubble wraps to ensure their safety while on travel.

Ensure your current and new offices’ safety when moving. Make sure that the moving company has already a good plan on how to move all your office things without damaging the carpet or flooring of your current and new offices.

Ask the moving company if they can take care of your filing cabinets without disturbing the files inside. If not, ask for their instructions on how to properly pack these files. Or if you also hired them to pack your things, better know their plans on how to pack your important office files.

Have all the keys for the new office before the moving date. You can ask your new office’s landlord for the keys so that there will be no hassles when arranging your new office again.

Label all the boxes, parcels, bags, stationeries, furniture, and other items after packing them appropriately. You can use a sticker when labeling the contents of the boxes. Also put important notes like “FRAGILE” for sensitive items. You should also place “This side up” note on boxes so you won’t have problems opening them in the new office.

Ask your employees to help for the packing of things. Just take about a day off for the packing. But never forget to include that packing day in their salaries. This way, the packing will be a lot easier.

Although moving from one office to another is very difficult and stressful, at least you can make it more convenient. Doing all these things will help you have a less stressful yet successful office moving.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Moving Your Computer Safely

These days one thing most of us will have is a computer. They are probably just as common a household possession to many people as a TV set is nowadays and whether you use it partly for work, to play games on, to listen to music, to do your banking or shopping on, to store photos on, to keep in touch with people or just to do some research now and again, it is a valuable commodity in more ways than one. And, if you are moving home, you’ll want to ensure that your computer moves safely with you and, unlike other items, there are 2 aspects you need to consider when moving a computer.

Firstly, you need to look at ensuring it’s transported safely and doesn’t get damaged and, secondly, you’ll also want to make sure that what’s contained on the computer itself isn’t lost or damaged either.

Packing Your Computer Up
If you’re using a removal company, they are usually the best qualified people to pack away a computer safely to transport it from one house to another. However, if you’re packing it away yourself, you should, where possible, try to pack it in the original box and packaging in which you bought it. If you’ve not kept that, make sure you use an alternative sturdy box for the keyboard and monitor which is large enough to stuff padding around the computer inside the box. Plastic bubble wrap is usually the best material to use to give it extra padding for protection. If it’s a PC as opposed to a laptop, the central processing unit (CPU), or the ‘tower’ as it’s often referred to, is even more important than the monitor so ensure that the box and padding you use for this is also adequate. The same goes if you have an external disk drive as, just like the CPU, this is where you’ll have stored many of your valuable files. As for moving a printer, you should refer to your user manual as different types of printer require different preparation for moving.

Insurance Protection
Most of you may have already got insurance cover for your PC as part of your home contents insurance but you may be surprised to know that some policies only cover it against theft or damage inside the home and that the cover may not include your PC when it’s outside the house. If you’re unsure, it’s worth checking and if you find that you’re not covered by removal, it’s important that you establish the cost of the PC and all its peripherals and that you take out the relevant protection cover from the removal company in the event of loss or damage en route to your new home.

When You Reach Your Destination
Upon reaching your destination, make sure you check and mark off the items as they’re unloaded. Also ensure that you let the PC and all its peripheral equipment adjust to room temperature for a few hours or even overnight before you use it as condensation can build up during transit, especially if it’s very cold, and if you try to use it before this has fully evaporated, you may end up damaging your computer beyond repair.
The Items Contained On Your Computer and Other IssuesIf you’re not an expert at connecting up a computer, make sure that you label all the leads and that you know which lead is used to connect each piece of equipment and how it all fits together. Also, make sure you dig out your user manual so that you don’t end up putting it all back together incorrectly which might also damage it. Make sure any disks are removed from the computer before packing it away too.
You’re unlikely to have any problems with files or programs on your PC being damaged in any way whilst in transit as, hopefully, your PC won’t be dropped during the move but accidents can and do happen so it’s advisable to back up any important files on an external hard drive or a memory stick so that you have copies. Also, make sure that all the boxes containing your PC, its peripheral equipment and all the add-on equipment like disks, CD-Roms etc are packaged safely into boxes clearly marked ‘Fragile’. In fact, if you are driving a car to your new home and you have sufficient room, it’s often better to take your PC with you rather than leaving it to the removal men. That said, don’t be tempted to do that if you are staying overnight anywhere en route to your new home unless you’re prepared to take the PC and equipment out of the car and into the hotel or other accommodation with you as you don’t want to become the victim of theft.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Leaving Day - Final Things to Remember

Well it’s finally arrived…the day you actually move into your new home! Hopefully, you’ll have planned the countdown to moving day with military precision and it’s simply a case of getting over the final hurdle. Here are some useful tips which should help you on the last stage of the transition from your old home to your new one.

Removal Men
Much of your day is going to be spent liaising with the removal men and making sure that the logistics of the move all goes according to plan. All your boxes and other containers should be placed on an inventory and you should tick off each box one by one as they get loaded onto the removal van making sure that the boxes get loaded onto the van in the correct order. You should give the removal men the directions to your new home and do a final check throughout all of the rooms in your house to make sure that they haven’t forgotten to load anything onto the van. It’s often a good idea to walk around the house with the leading removal man as they are very used to the kinds of typical things that people tend to overlook.

Remember, they carry out removals day in, day out whilst you’re only likely to do this less than a handful of times in your lifetime and, with all the stresses and the ‘million’ other issues which will be floating around in your mind, it’s hardly surprising if you tended to forget something. One of the most common things people will tend to forget is any clocks on the wall. You may have been glancing at them all day from time to time but many people overlook them when it comes to finally getting on the road. Also make sure that you exchange mobile numbers with the removal company’s lead man so that you can get in contact with each other should any unforeseen problems occur on the way between your old house and your new one. Once the van reaches your new home, make sure you also check that all of the boxes and containers have been taken off the van and keep another copy of your inventory for this purpose. You’ll also need to instruct the removal men as to which boxes go in which rooms, alongside details of how and where you want any specific larger items, such as furniture or beds, to be situated.

Thirsty Work
Make sure that you have made provisions for a kettle and other drinks throughout the day for both your family and the removal men. Moving house is extremely thirsty work and keep some snacks handy.

Children and Pets
Before the removal van arrives, make sure that any provisions for young children and any pets have been taken care of if someone else is going to be looking after them elsewhere whilst you get on with the business of the removal. If you’ve not made these kind of provisions and you have relatively young children, situate them with some toys in a quiet corner of the house where they can stay occupied and out of the way. Older children can be used to provide additional help, for example, carrying their own boxes to the van or given other tasks such as making sure that each room has been cleared as boxes are stored onto the van. If pets are going to be present, you may need to reassure them more than usual as both dogs and cats can be particularly vulnerable at this time as their familiarity with their environment will be constantly changing as more and more stuff is packed onto the van. It’s a good idea to feed any pets early on in the day so that they’re less likely to suffer from travel sickness later when it comes to the actually move.

Final Checks
Once you have agreed that everything that is to be packed onto the removal van has been completed, do a final check of each room and don’t just restrict yourself to looking in wardrobes and cupboards. Look around each room and check walls and ceilings too as well as behind doors. It’s amazing how many people forget picture frames, clocks etc. Once you’re sure everything has been cleared, make sure you lock up all of the windows and doors before leaving to take the keys to the estate agents or to the new owners. Also, make sure that you've written down or made a note of your final meter readings for things like gas, electricity and water.

Once the Removal Men Have Unloaded Your Belongings
Once all the boxes and the rest of your belongings have been unloaded into your new home and you have verified everything is OK with the removal men and have given them the all clear that their job is done, the only final thing you need to do on your first evening in your new home is to get something to eat and make the beds – it will have been a long day and no doubt you’ll simply want to get a good night’s sleep. The unpacking can wait until tomorrow.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Moving With a Baby

Moving home is stressful enough even at the best of times but if you have a baby in tow it will place even more demands on you. And, even though a baby will seem more oblivious to everything that is going on far more than toddlers might, they will nevertheless pick up upon your vibes as it gets nearer the time to move. The good news, however, is that there are steps you can take to make the transition go smoother and, whilst all of the options outlined here may not be available to you for one reason or another, some of the advice given might help make moving day seem just a little more manageable.

Use a Babysitter if Possible
Obviously, if you’re in a position where it’s not going to be too difficult to pick your baby up once you have settled in to your new home, you should try to arrange to leave them with a grandparent, a trusted friend or relative, or a reputable baby sitter in their home whilst you go about your business of moving the rest of your family from your old home to the new one. Of course, this might not always be practical if you are moving a long distance or overseas but it is the best course of action if it can be achieved. If it’s not possible however, here is some other useful advice.

Planning Your Route
If you are moving a long distance and are driving, then it’s highly likely that baby will be coming with you. Before moving day, you should plan your route carefully and build in some appropriate rest stops along the way. Not only is this important to give you a breather from driving but it also serves a purpose for enabling other small toddlers you might also have travelling with you to get out of the car and stretch their legs too and, in addition, your baby will welcome some fresh air and it will also be a more suitable opportunity for feeding time.

Be Prepared for the Worst
With a little luck, your baby might sleep the whole way through the journey but it’s always best to be prepared for the worst eventualities so, when planning your route, also make a note of where the nearest hospitals are at any given point along the route, in case of emergency. Also, if you think it necessary, it’s useful to have your baby checked out by your GP before you travel to assess its fitness to travel, particularly if it’s an arduous journey ahead and especially if you’re heading overseas where things like making sure vaccinations are up to date will be crucial.

Keeping Baby Happy
Fingers crossed – your baby might decide to sleep for the duration of the trip but, just in case, it’s useful to make a few plans to keep them occupied if they’re awake during the journey. Favourite toys obviously help to keep them amused and, in case they get agitated, it might be useful to record a couple of CDs that might help to soothe them. You could make recordings of their favourite nursery rhymes, you singing, other sounds from the house that soothe them e.g. the sound of the vacuum cleaner or a fan whirring might be familiar sounds that comfort them and though the thought of listening to a CD of a vacuum cleaner in action might be cause for you to tear your hair out, better that then having a screaming, agitated baby all the way through the journey.

Things you should consider taking with on the road could include:

Nappies, changing mat, wet wipes
Baby food, bottles, water
Appropriate snacks
Change of clothes for sudden weather changes or if baby vomits
Plastic bags to store dirty nappies
Push chair, hat and sunscreen if they are a bit older
Toys (lots of them)
First aid kit
Baby friendly CDs
Safety approved car seat Hopefully, many of the precautions and tips here might not be called for and baby might not even wake up until you reach your destination but, as you’ll no doubt be only too aware – it’s better to come prepared than to suffer even more stress because baby gets agitated throughout the entire trip.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

What Not to Pack

As well as being well organised and knowing just how to pack when you’re moving home it’s equally important to know what not to pack. Whilst some items you shouldn’t pack might seem obvious and only common sense, it’s important to realise that some removal firms will simply forbid you to carry specific items on board one of their vehicles because of safety implications that might pose a threat, whilst other items should either be left behind or carried upon your person or at least in your vehicle for safe-keeping.

Hazardous Materials
Many removal companies prohibit certain items from being carried on board their vans. These can include paints, aerosols, gas canisters, fertiliser and other hazardous and flammable materials. You should pay particular attention to items that you’d usually find inside your garage or shed. Many chemical compounds and flammable materials are stored in sheds or garages and, if you’re in any doubt about any particular item similar to those mentioned above, it’s crucial that you double check with the removal firm to see whether it’s permitted or not. Better still, why not eliminate the risk and simply give these items to a neighbour or somebody else who may be able to make use of them or dispose of them in the correct manner and buy replacements when you’ve settled into your new home

Perishable Items and Frozen Goods
It’s not simply a few pieces of fruit, your favourite cactus plant or last week’s lettuce that we’re talking about here, ‘perishable’ items cover any plants, food or even animals – i.e. things that can be easily damaged, spoil or even die. So, no, your dog Fido can’t travel in the back of the van either! It’s not so much that you’ll be punished if a bag of apples has been thrown in to the back of the van by mistake. It’s more a case of the removal company’s liability and insurance coverage. So, say for example, a carton of eggs or some frozen fish somehow managed to find their way into a removal van and the eggs broke all over some furniture or the frozen fish was left in the freezer, defrosted and damaged the freezer lining, you wouldn’t be covered by the firm’s insurance policy so it’s better to be safe than sorry and simply give these kinds of items away or dispose of them before you travel – not your dog obviously!

With any animals you plan to take, you must take them in your own vehicle and not in the removal van. However, excluding your pets, there are some companies who will allow perishables onto the van as long as they are packed properly and the journey is relatively short. Speak to your removal company if you need to know more about this. For example, if you’re a keen cultivator of plants, this will be something that is highly relevant to you.

High Value Items
In considering items of ‘high value’, this does not necessarily equate to items which are worth a lot in monetary terms but often includes items which have a great sentimental value or which cannot be replaced if lost or damaged or are difficult to replace. So, here’s a list of items which you should carry with you on your person or in your own vehicle as opposed to the removal company’s.

- Personal files and documents – e.g. passport, birth certificate, wills, insurance papers, address books, diaries, flight tickets
- Photographs and photo albums
- Car keys, house keys, safe keys
- Tax records, deeds
- Collections e.g. stamps, coins, valuable artworks etc
- Personal letters
- Computer software and back-up disks and drives
- Medicine
- Jewellery

The items in the list above (with the exception of jewellery unless adequate insurance is in place) can be put onto the removal van but it is far safer to carry these upon your person as certain items can be irreplaceable or can cause you a lot of inconvenience if they go missing and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Moving Out of Your Parents' Home

At some point in all of our lives we’ll decide that it’s time to spread our wings and to gain more independence by moving out of our parents’ home. In the majority of cases, such a scenario will likely be met with many mixed feelings. If you’ve been fortunate to have had a stable and loving upbringing, you may experience a combination of excitement coupled with trepidation.
You’ll feel excited about the prospect of having more choices as to who comes around to the house, who sleeps over, when you wash the dishes, when you get out of bed etc, yet you’ll also experience a ‘reality check’ in terms of the increased costs you’ll incur, whether you’ll miss being around your parents each day and the overall security that comes with being part of a caring family. However, none of these emotions are unusual and most people in the same situation will have experienced them before you. The key thing to remember is to plan correctly and to accept that any house move will have its stresses as well as its joys.

Planning
The first question you need to ask yourself is if you can realistically afford to move out. You need to sit down and work out how much you have coming in and add up all your likely new expenses. Remember, it’s not simply just about the rent or mortgage. You’ll also need to find cash for utility bills, council tax, contents insurance and, if buying, buildings insurance too.

You’ll have to set aside money for food and there may well be other bills you’ll have also which you didn’t have at home. If you’re renting, you’re likely to have to stump up money as a security bond too before you move in as well as the first month’s rent. Then, once you’ve worked out all of your monthly expenses and subtracted that from your income, you’ll then need to decide if the money you have left, after all the deductions on essential expenses, is sufficient to enable you to have some kind of social life with what’s left.

Taking Everything with You
Although your parents are likely to welcome you with open arms whenever you want to come back and stay over, it’s unfair to leave them in a state of limbo by leaving half your belongings in their house. They may, for example, have plans to convert your old bedroom into something more appropriate for themselves so take everything with you. At the end of the day, you’re doing something that shows responsibility as an adult so you should expect to be treated like one. Now that you’re moving, it isn’t your parents’ responsibility to clean up after you and organise your things.

Administration
Before you move out, make sure you’ve got on top of all the administrative tasks you’ll have to do. These could include, but are not limited to, informing the council of your change of address, having utilities connected in your own name (as well as paying any additional connection fees), making sure your tenancy or mortgage agreement is all sorted out and understood etc.

Supplies
Draw up a list of supplies you’ll need to take before you move in as it will make the move go more smoothly. This might include a weekly or monthly supermarket shop, making sure you have adequate cutlery and crockery, bedding items, furniture and working out where you’re going to keep all your essential items. This might include knowing where you’re going to store your PC – do you have a unit and space to put that unit? How about your TV and stereo? Have you decided where they are going to go?

Moving Day
As you’re likely to be only really taking the contents of your own bedroom from your parents’ house, there’ll probably be no need to employ the services of a removal van. Between your parents, maybe other family members or friends, you’ll probably have enough support and vehicles to help you ship your stuff to your new place. To make the job easier for everybody, make sure that every box, bag or bin you’re using to move your belongings is clearly marked with its contents and any delicate items have been packed in the appropriate manner and labelled as ‘fragile’.

By making some careful plans and by ensuring that you can truly afford your new independent lifestyle, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an ‘adult’ in your own right. There’s bound to be some tears and plenty of emotion along the way but you’ll soon hopefully settle into your new surroundings and don’t forget to throw that house warming party for your parents, other members of the family and friends as soon as you’re settled to thank them for the help and support they have given you.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Quick Packing Tips for Your Relocation

Firstly there is no absolute right way or wrong way to go about packing and unpacking when you’re about to move house. What works as a strategy for you may not be any good at all for somebody else and vice versa. However, what many of us who have experienced a house move will have in common is that we’ll have all learned little tips along the way to make packing and moving out run a bit more smoothly or which has saved us time. Here are just a few ideas you will, no doubt, have many more of your own.

All About BoxesAll boxes need to be lifted so you should never fill any kind of box to contain more than 50lb in weight. It’s also better to pack heavier items at the bottom of the box. If boxes are not full, they can benefit from putting extra ballast inside to stop things moving around and so socks, scarves, pillow cases etc are ideal for this purpose and saves space too. Don’t overpack a box and, if you have lots of smaller boxes, it’s quicker to move them out of the house if you put them into one much larger box. You should be able to close all boxes comfortably at which point they can be sealed so that they are flat. Depending on what they contain, don’t forget they may need to be marked ‘This Way Up’ or ‘Fragile’ and you should mark them anyway with what they contain and which room they are designated to go as then it will be easier to find everything and get unpacked at the other end. Once you have marked all of the boxes, by writing them down on a sheet of paper, you can use this as an inventory at the other end to ensure that all the boxes have been offloaded safely.


To Speed Things up at the Other EndYou’ll be overwhelmed with boxes once you reach your destination but there will be boxes that can wait and others that will contain essential everyday items – kettle and tea bags springs to mind! Therefore, to make sure you can find essential items quickly, you should label these boxes “load last, unload first”. Hopefully, you’ll have packed boxes room by room and marked the boxes by the different rooms they’re intended to go. This will also speed up the whole unpacking process.

Furniture and Larger AppliancesYou should draw up a plan of your new home and have marked out exactly where each piece of furniture or larger appliance is going to be put and give a copy to the removal men so that they’re not held up waiting to ask you where you want each item to be set down.


Keep a Small Set of Tools on YouThere’s every likelihood that when you’re in the process of unpacking, you’ll encounter nuts and screws falling off items or some component separating from another on a particular item, not forgetting all the items you disassembled – fridge handles, PC pieces etc so you’re going to need a basic set of tools on you at all times. In fact, it’s often useful to wear a joiner’s belt as you’ll be called to bring your screwdriver every few minutes.


Beds FirstIn terms of reassembling items, it’ll have been a long day so, apart from getting the kettle on the go, make sure all the beds are at least assembled once you reach your new place. The rest of the reassembly can wait until the following day.


Get the Kids InvolvedYou’ll probably have that many boxes to offload at the other end that the more hands on deck, the quicker the job will get done so enlist the help of your kids, if you have any, by drawing up separate lists for what each of them will be required to do. And, if you throw in some kind of ‘incentive’ such as a sliding scale of additional pocket money the quicker each of them can tick off their list or offer them a group incentive whereby they’ll get ‘such and such’ as a reward if all the lists are ticked off within X number of minutes, then you might be amazed at the speed of their help once you start to unload.


Other Handy TipsHere are a few more tips that will make moving easier and will speed the process up at the same time:

Moving day is about ‘moving’ not packing so make sure the packing is all done in the days leading up to the move
Get everything moved from A to B first and only then start to unpack
One large expensive removal van will make for a far quicker, less stressful move than 20 or so trips using cars or a smaller van
For packing you need less helpers but for moving you need more
The earlier you start to move out the quicker it will be completed as there will be less traffic on the roads
In managing your time schedule, remember that it generally takes 3 to 4 times longer to pack a removal van than to unpack it. If you look upon packing and moving as a sort of ‘military option’ where everyone has a role to play and knows what’s expected of them, then the less stressful the event will be.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

House prices 'could rise' before 2010

House prices could begin to rise by the end of 2009, it has been claimed. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) chief economist Simon Rubinsohn explained the UK housing market could be set to turn around. "We are now in a position where prices may begin to stabilise as the year draws on," he said. "One of our best indicators from our monthly survey is the sales to stock ratio - and that is beginning to turn up." Mr Rubinsohn added it was difficult to predict whether prices would actually rise by the end of the year, but said it was possible. He stated it would depend on supply remaining as constrained as it currently is. His comments come after Lloyds Banking Group commercial mortgage director Stephen Noakes told the Sunday Times house prices may only fall by a further six per cent before stabilising. Mr Noakes suggested there is the potential for a surprise by the end of the year. The experts' claims suggest those who move house over the summer could see their properties become worth more than they paid for them. According to the latest Rics figures concerning March, new buyer enquiries grew for the fifth consecutive month leading to an increase in both newly-agreed sales and sales expectations.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Preparing Your Home for a Viewing

If you want to sell your house and move on, it’s worth preparing properly for every single viewing. On average, in a good market, many experts believe it takes about 10 viewings before you have an offer.

In a tough market, however, it could be as many as 20. But you never know when that perfect buyer will walk through the door and in order that he or she sees your property as their potential perfect next home you need to prepare it well before the viewing. So here are a few suggestions

Kerb Appeal is VitalYour home must look as appealing as possible from the moment a potential buyer drives past or pulls up outside. Ensure the front garden looks neat and tidy and that any bins have been moved away.

Give your doorstep and front door a quick wipe down. Soggy autumn leaves need to be swept up and stray bits of rubbish picked up and thrown away. If your car is right in front of your house then move it so the viewer can see the frontage better. If it is snowy or icy, make sure the path is clear.

Your Home Needs to Look InvitingYour property should also look welcoming from the outside. Think about positioning a colourful container or a nice pot plant out in front to brighten your home up. Switch on any exterior lights and make sure there’s an inviting glow coming from the inside. If it is dark, then pull the curtains or blinds but allow a chink of light to escape, tempting the viewer in.

Get Rid of the JunkClearing the clutter is essential. This often tends to accumulate in the hall. Pick up boots, shoes, raincoats, school bags, piles of post and anything else that has just been dumped by the front door. Remember, a hallway is where a viewer will gain a first and last impression of your home.

Atmosphere is KeyThinking about interior lighting and atmosphere is also important. Create a welcoming ambience with table lights and standard lamps rather that cold, central bulbs. If a small room or hallway is particularly dark, a well-positioned mirror can also bring extra light in during the winter. Lighting a fire can make a room feel cosy and comfortable but remember to try to get the temperature of your house right well before prospective buyers arrive. Make sure the air is not stuffy and that condensation on windows has been dried away.

A Final CheckGo through your house and have a last tidy and clean. Change the linen on beds, wipe down all surfaces and make sure bathrooms and kitchens are not steamy. Attend to all outstanding minor jobs - corners of wallpaper peeling off, patches of scratched paintwork. Leave nothing unfinished and make sure you clear up afterwards. Finally, have a quick back garden tidy too. If it’s summer then arrange garden furniture to look appealing. Put away all children’s toys that make outdoor areas look cluttered.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Quick Packing Tips for Your Relocation

Firstly there is no absolute right way or wrong way to go about packing and unpacking when you’re about to move house. What works as a strategy for you may not be any good at all for somebody else and vice versa. However, what many of us who have experienced a house move will have in common is that we’ll have all learned little tips along the way to make packing and moving out run a bit more smoothly or which has saved us time. Here are just a few ideas you will, no doubt, have many more of your own.

All About Boxes
All boxes need to be lifted so you should never fill any kind of box to contain more than 50lb in weight. It’s also better to pack heavier items at the bottom of the box. If boxes are not full, they can benefit from putting extra ballast inside to stop things moving around and so socks, scarves, pillow cases etc are ideal for this purpose and saves space too. Don’t overpack a box and, if you have lots of smaller boxes, it’s quicker to move them out of the house if you put them into one much larger box. You should be able to close all boxes comfortably at which point they can be sealed so that they are flat. Depending on what they contain, don’t forget they may need to be marked ‘This Way Up’ or ‘Fragile’ and you should mark them anyway with what they contain and which room they are designated to go as then it will be easier to find everything and get unpacked at the other end. Once you have marked all of the boxes, by writing them down on a sheet of paper, you can use this as an inventory at the other end to ensure that all the boxes have been offloaded safely.

To Speed Things up at the Other End
You’ll be overwhelmed with boxes once you reach your destination but there will be boxes that can wait and others that will contain essential everyday items – kettle and tea bags springs to mind! Therefore, to make sure you can find essential items quickly, you should label these boxes “load last, unload first”. Hopefully, you’ll have packed boxes room by room and marked the boxes by the different rooms they’re intended to go. This will also speed up the whole unpacking process.

Furniture and Larger Appliances
You should draw up a plan of your new home and have marked out exactly where each piece of furniture or larger appliance is going to be put and give a copy to the removal men so that they’re not held up waiting to ask you where you want each item to be set down.

Keep a Small Set of Tools on You
There’s every likelihood that when you’re in the process of unpacking, you’ll encounter nuts and screws falling off items or some component separating from another on a particular item, not forgetting all the items you disassembled – fridge handles, PC pieces etc so you’re going to need a basic set of tools on you at all times. In fact, it’s often useful to wear a joiner’s belt as you’ll be called to bring your screwdriver every few minutes.

Beds First
In terms of reassembling items, it’ll have been a long day so, apart from getting the kettle on the go, make sure all the beds are at least assembled once you reach your new place. The rest of the reassembly can wait until the following day.

Get the Kids Involved
You’ll probably have that many boxes to offload at the other end that the more hands on deck, the quicker the job will get done so enlist the help of your kids, if you have any, by drawing up separate lists for what each of them will be required to do. And, if you throw in some kind of ‘incentive’ such as a sliding scale of additional pocket money the quicker each of them can tick off their list or offer them a group incentive whereby they’ll get ‘such and such’ as a reward if all the lists are ticked off within X number of minutes, then you might be amazed at the speed of their help once you start to unload.

Other Handy Tips
Here are a few more tips that will make moving easier and will speed the process up at the same time:

- Moving day is about ‘moving’ not packing so make sure the packing is all done in the days leading up to the move
- Get everything moved from A to B first and only then start to unpack
- One large expensive removal van will make for a far quicker, less stressful move than 20 or so trips using cars or a smaller van
- For packing you need less helpers but for moving you need more
- The earlier you start to move out the quicker it will be completed as there will be less traffic on the roads
- In managing your time schedule, remember that it generally takes 3 to 4 times longer to pack a removal van than to unpack it.

If you look upon packing and moving as a sort of ‘military option’ where everyone has a role to play and knows what’s expected of them, then the less stressful the event will be.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Reducing the Stress of Moving House

There is no avoiding the fact that moving home is often a stressful time but there are certain things you can do in order to minimise its effects both before and during the move. Here are some useful tips that are worth considering.

Have a Good ClearoutGetting rid of all of the clutter in your house means that there will be less to pack which will save you time. In addition on a psychological level, this also enables you to close one particular chapter in your life and prepares you for the next one. There is a more detailed chapter on de-cluttering within this website which will give you some useful pointers to the different ways you can dispose of household possessions which you no longer want or need.

Bidding FarewellAssuming that you’ve been lucky enough to have some good neighbours, throwing some kind of farewell party or other get-together not only gives you the opportunity to say goodbye to friends and to thank them for their support over the years but it’s also a chance to let your hair down a bit and to enjoy yourself so that, for a few hours at least, your thoughts can turn towards having some fun instead of you having the stress and worry of the house move and what you have to do next.

Planning and OrganisationFormulating a strategic week by week plan in the run up to the move ensures that you’re less likely to overlook any important issues and will also help to keep you on track. Many people experience more stress during a house move because they fail to get organised and often leave things until the last minute which then causes them to start panicking.

Look After YourselfMoving home will tire you on both an emotional and physical level so make sure you get some early nights and that you are eat a balanced diet as both will keep your mood more positive in the run up to the big day.

Stay FlexibleNo matter how good a moving strategy you might have implemented, don’t expect everything will go completely to plan all of the time. Be prepared for the unexpected and try to go with the flow of the move. The logistics of a house move can throw up all manner of potential disappointments yet the more patience you have and by having the ability to re-adjust and to change the odd plan here and there due to any small unforeseen circumstance will help you stay on an even keel.

Work TogetherEverybody involved with the move should pitch in to the preparations both before and during the move. Even children can help out with certain tasks which can save you both time and effort. Furthermore, by everybody pulling their weight, it also allows each of you to make the psychological break from your old home and prepare you to look forward to your new one.

Enjoy YourselfPutting on some lively uptempo music whilst undertaking your house moving tasks both before and during the move will put you in a positive frame of mind, is likely to increase your energy levels and the whole process will seem less of a burden.

Be RealisticFinally, it’s important to remember that ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ so once you’re in your new home, try not to fret unduly about the fact that your new home doesn’t look or feel anything like it did when you came to view it initially. Yes, there may be boxes everywhere to unpack and, without furnishings and things like curtains on curtain rails straight away, it might not feel like a ‘home’ straight away but take your time and have another unpacking plan which covers the essentials and then just make steady progress with the rest of your unpacking over the following few days, evenings or weekend. By considering ‘The 5 ‘Ps’ of preparation, planning, patience, pitching in and having a positive attitude, they will all go a long way to ensuring that you keep your stress levels to a minimum.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Packing - Damage Limitation Tips

With the best will in the world even the most expensive and professional removal company in the world cannot give you a 100% guarantee that all of your prized possessions can be moved from one location to another without a single breakage – that’s one of the reasons why they have insurance. That said, the majority of house removals do go relatively smoothly and you will usually arrive at your new home with most, if not all, of your belongings intact. However, there are some steps you can take to minimise the risk of damage and here are some tips that might come in useful.

Think Logically
When considering how to pack specific items, try to consider what might cause them to break or get damaged in the first place. For example, the reason most fragile items are placed into boxes is to minimise the effects of vibration and movement. But you need to think beyond that and a pile of plates is a good example. Supposing you have placed a stack of plates one on top of the other and put them in a box and they’re on board the removal van. Well, it doesn’t matter how well you’ve padded them at the sides but a sudden up and down jolt which is highly likely to occur on the road could crack the whole set of plates just in one movement if that’s the way you’ve stacked them. But, if you’d placed them all on their side and surrounded each of them with bubble wrap, the likelihood is that they’ll have remained intact. So, to minimise damage, try to look upon each of the boxes and bags you pack as having the potential to break or to get damaged and to work out what would help prevent any potential damage.

Choosing the Right Packaging
The good thing is that packaging companies have also asked themselves this very same question and have devised a whole range of packaging materials to suit all types of containers that you wish to transport your possessions in. The key is to have a variety of these materials at your disposal so you can cover all eventualities and that you have sufficient packaging as it’s better to have too much than not enough as overfilled boxes, bags and containers are far more likely to get damaged. So, the items you should get hold of should include:

Sturdy boxes in different sizes (pay close attention to the seal on the bottom that will indicate a weight limit and an ‘Edge Crush Rating’. 32ect is standard for most moving boxes and for more advice, you should refer to the internet or seek advice from a local packaging manufacturer)
Packing tape
Bubble wrap
Packing paper (or plenty of old newspapers)
Makeshift items which can be used as padding such as seat cushions, pillows, blankets, etc. Therefore, by having a sufficient quantity of the correct types of packaging at your disposal and by taking a little consideration as to how each box/bag or container should be packed, you can help to minimise the potential of any damage occurring and here are some final tips to consider:

Dismantle any self-assembly furniture
Secure drums and motors of appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators
TVs, hi-fis, computers and the like should be packaged up in their original boxes with the original internal packaging wherever possible
Garden tools and equipment should be cleaned and tied together
Don’t move flammable materials in the removal van or your car as this can often invalidate your insurance

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk/house-removal-advice.htm

Leaving Day - Final Things to Remember

Well it’s finally arrived…the day you actually move into your new home! Hopefully, you’ll have planned the countdown to moving day with military precision and it’s simply a case of getting over the final hurdle. Here are some useful tips which should help you on the last stage of the transition from your old home to your new one.

Removal Men
Much of your day is going to be spent liaising with the removal men and making sure that the logistics of the move all goes according to plan. All your boxes and other containers should be placed on an inventory and you should tick off each box one by one as they get loaded onto the removal van making sure that the boxes get loaded onto the van in the correct order. You should give the removal men the directions to your new home and do a final check throughout all of the rooms in your house to make sure that they haven’t forgotten to load anything onto the van. It’s often a good idea to walk around the house with the leading removal man as they are very used to the kinds of typical things that people tend to overlook.

Remember, they carry out removals day in, day out whilst you’re only likely to do this less than a handful of times in your lifetime and, with all the stresses and the ‘million’ other issues which will be floating around in your mind, it’s hardly surprising if you tended to forget something. One of the most common things people will tend to forget is any clocks on the wall. You may have been glancing at them all day from time to time but many people overlook them when it comes to finally getting on the road. Also make sure that you exchange mobile numbers with the removal company’s lead man so that you can get in contact with each other should any unforeseen problems occur on the way between your old house and your new one. Once the van reaches your new home, make sure you also check that all of the boxes and containers have been taken off the van and keep another copy of your inventory for this purpose. You’ll also need to instruct the removal men as to which boxes go in which rooms, alongside details of how and where you want any specific larger items, such as furniture or beds, to be situated.

Thirsty Work
Make sure that you have made provisions for a kettle and other drinks throughout the day for both your family and the removal men. Moving house is extremely thirsty work and keep some snacks handy

Children and Pets
Before the removal van arrives, make sure that any provisions for young children and any pets have been taken care of if someone else is going to be looking after them elsewhere whilst you get on with the business of the removal. If you’ve not made these kind of provisions and you have relatively young children, situate them with some toys in a quiet corner of the house where they can stay occupied and out of the way. Older children can be used to provide additional help, for example, carrying their own boxes to the van or given other tasks such as making sure that each room has been cleared as boxes are stored onto the van. If pets are going to be present, you may need to reassure them more than usual as both dogs and cats can be particularly vulnerable at this time as their familiarity with their environment will be constantly changing as more and more stuff is packed onto the van. It’s a good idea to feed any pets early on in the day so that they’re less likely to suffer from travel sickness later when it comes to the actually move.

Final Checks
Once you have agreed that everything that is to be packed onto the removal van has been completed, do a final check of each room and don’t just restrict yourself to looking in wardrobes and cupboards. Look around each room and check walls and ceilings too as well as behind doors. It’s amazing how many people forget picture frames, clocks etc. Once you’re sure everything has been cleared, make sure you lock up all of the windows and doors before leaving to take the keys to the estate agents or to the new owners. Also, make sure that you've written down or made a note of your final meter readings for things like gas, electricity and water.


Once the Removal Men Have Unloaded Your BelongingsOnce all the boxes and the rest of your belongings have been unloaded into your new home and you have verified everything is OK with the removal men and have given them the all clear that their job is done, the only final thing you need to do on your first evening in your new home is to get something to eat and make the beds – it will have been a long day and no doubt you’ll simply want to get a good night’s sleep. The unpacking can wait until tomorrow.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Moving Out When a Relationship Goes Wrong

Moving Out When a Relationship Goes Wrong

Relationships end for all kinds of reasons and under many different circumstances. No break-ups are ever easy especially when you’re living together, and they are all very different and unique to the couple involved and though none are ever easy, some are less complicated than others. It’s difficult to produce an article that can give you the definitive answers as to the best way to go about things as circumstances will differ for every couple but, hopefully, here is some general advice which should make things a little clearer and help to make the transition go more smoothly.

An Amicable Departure
These are always the simplest situations to resolve. It may well be that you both take an adult view that the relationship has run its natural course and that you have come to an agreement that one of you is to move out. No matter how upset you feel, the important thing here is not to get drawn into fights, slanging matches and harbour ill-feelings towards one and other. What your aim must be is to get out with the minimum of fuss and to ensure that you’re not making life any more difficult than it is already for the person staying behind.

Once you have discussed the fact that one of you is to move out, you’ll need to draw up some plans for any bills that the person leaving will still be liable for. In some cases, he/she may be able to settle all their share of impending bills before they leave but if that’s not possible, you might need to agree to things such as sending copies of bills to the person leaving and to make arrangements as to how they are going to pay their share. It may mean meeting one final time or a couple of further phone calls to settle any remaining financial matters but you should be mature enough to cope with that. Once the formalities have been agreed, you should then move all of your belongings out as soon as possible. It’s important that you take everything that belongs to you with you – don’t leave anything behind as it sends out the wrong signal that you might be thinking of moving back in at a later time.

Obviously, in some cases, you’ll have joint possessions. If so, the division of these need to be discussed when you’re sorting out your bills obligations. If you trust the other person, it often helps both of you if you can arrange a mutually agreed time and day where the person leaving can be left alone to pack up their belongings and leave without the other person being present.
Complicated SituationsNot all break-ups are going to be as straightforward or as amicable as the situation above describes. If you are married and/or there are children involved or if you have joint ownership on the property or have a joint tenancy agreement, you may need to seek advice from a solicitor or, at least, from Citizen’s Advice to establish your rights. This is not always straightforward or a formality so, if you find yourself in a similar situation, be sure that you seek advice as soon as possible and do not move out of the house before finding out your rights, unless you are in physical danger or it’s simply impractical to remain there.
Where Children are InvolvedYou should try to keep any disruption in their lives to an absolute minimum. Discuss the situation with them at the earliest opportunity and do not speak negatively about your partner. Try to keep their regular activities and their day-to-day routines as normal as possible and when discussing things with them, keep it simple and stick to the facts. Don’t be tempted to use your children as a confidante or encourage them to take sides as this will put them in an untenable position.

In essence, whilst moving out when a relationship goes wrong is never easy, the important things to remember are to try and do this as easily as possible for the both of you whilst, at the same time, ensuring that you establish your rights and put your children first. No matter how you’re feeling emotionally, if you keep in mind that time is a great healer and that the more simple you make it for each other, the sooner you can both get on with your lives productively, the easier the transition will be.

For more information please visit http://www.gocompareremovals.co.uk/

Cheap Tips to Transform Your Home

When times are tough and money is tight, sometimes a change in the home can do wonders for your spirit and mood. And if you are moving into a new place and want to make your own mark, a transformation of colour or a new interior design can really bring a fresh feel to a room or space.

Householders worry about the cost of making these sorts of changes but not all changes have to be expensive. What you do need to invest is your time, your thoughts and your enthusiasm. Here are a few cheap tips.

Change Colour Cheaply
The best way to give yourself a new colour scheme without breaking the bank is to find some free paint! Spend half an hour or so ringing round your friends and family, asking them to dig out their half-finished tins from the backs of their sheds. Then spend an afternoon rounding them up.

When you get home, try mixing the colours together until you get some shades you are happy with. Remember, a whole room does not need to be painted in one colour. Find tones that complement each other in order not to restrict yourself by lack of paint. Paint different walls in different hues - and do the same under and above dado rails, picture rails and cornicing.

Focus on One Wall
You could also consider creating just one “feature wall” within a room. Either do this using the free paint you have rounded up or using wallpaper. Again, ask around. Lots of people have one or two rolls left over from papering a space. Otherwise, ask at the counter in your local DIY shop. There is often a roll or two left at the end of a line - and you might be lucky and pick up a bargain.

Other innovative, cheap and cheerful solutions include using magazines and newsprint on a feature wall, then lightly colour washing over the top. Or even painting a mural - once again using those tins you have collected from friends and family.

Changing Accessories
Don’t forget that changing a few accessories in a room can also have a transformational effect. Look at your room and then decide on a colour scheme. Spend an afternoon or so going round discount and second-hand stores rounding up items that work well together colour-wise. For a bathroom, look for towels, tooth-brush holders and soap dishes etc. For a kitchen, you want plates, fruit bowls and racks etc. If you are looking to transform a living space, look for vases, candles, cushions, rugs and throws. These need not cost a fortune but can really give your room a different ambience

Pictures and Plants
Moving along the same lines, consider bringing in a few pot plants and pictures. Ask friends if they can split plants or give you seedlings. Visit garden centres and local shops to snap up their special offers. Consider visiting those discount stores again to find brightly coloured or stylish pots that will match your design. Pictures can also really help to bring a fresh feel to a space. Take your own photos or consider framing artwork by your children. Look out for reasonably priced prints in cheaper shops or on-line. These days it is easy to buy very reasonably priced ready-made frames straight off the shelf. And why not be daring and go for some large sizes that will really fill your walls?

Fore more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk/house-removal-advice.htm

Packing Room by Room

When it comes to packing not all rooms are the same but here are a few useful tips to help you when it comes to packing room by room.

Bathroom
Your primary focus is going to be on any cupboards or drawers which contain toiletries or medicines. You need to go through your medicine cabinet carefully and separate those medicines which you no longer use or are past their expiry date and get rid of them. Getting rid does not mean flushing them down the toilet as that can cause contamination. Once you’re left with the rest, divide them up into two separate piles packaged up in plastic bags and any which are ‘essential’ should be kept separate from the others that you may only use occasionally. Toiletries you intend taking with you should be put in sealable plastic bags and make sure that any tops or caps are securely tightened. Anything contained in a glass bottle should be placed in a box with bubble wrap as opposed to a plastic bag.

Bedrooms
Check the wardrobes first followed by any dressing tables and cupboards. If you have particular clothes you don’t want to get wrinkled, you may need to get hold of some wardrobe boxes but everything else can either be left on hangars and folded into a box or, if you’re not particularly fussy, you can simply fill your holiday suitcases with clothes and shove everything else in boxes. Shoes should be kept in their original boxes if you still have them or wrapped in newspaper as pairs and put into a larger box. Jewellery should be put in a secure box and carried with you on your person. Don’t allow expensive jewellery to be loaded onto the back of a removal van with everything else. In fact, many companies won’t permit this anyway, unless you’ve taken out special insurance.

Linens, sheets and pillows should be packaged up into clear plastic sacks and you can buy special mattress boxes if you don’t have any plastic sacks large enough. Dressing tables and cupboards should be completely emptied out and their drawers taped so that they cannot fall out when carried. Wrap all ornaments in bubble wrap and place carefully in boxes marked fragile. Curtains and any other drapery should be placed in a wardrobe box or folded neatly and packed in a medium-sized box. This would apply to curtains and drapery in all rooms. Be careful with blinds so that they don’t get tangled up with each other. Separating them with paper is usually the best way to prevent this happening. Mirrors, pictures and picture frames should go in special cartons which your removal company can obtain for you. Be certain that the cartons you purchase are designed to carry the weight of the mirrors and picture frames.

Dining Room/Kitchen
Things like china and glassware should be wrapped in newspaper by each individual piece unless you have the original boxes they came in as a set. Bubble wrapping them at the top, bottom and sides of the box will also help to protect them. Plates and platters should be stacked vertically if possible and separated by newspaper or bubble wrap. Any silverware should be wrapped in newspaper or bubble wrap to prevent tarnishing. Rugs in any room should be professionally cleaned before you move and there are special containers which your removal company should be able to get hold for these items. You need to be very careful if you have chandeliers. Usually, you should leave the packing of these to the professionals. Once again, secure any drawers in cabinets with tape and remove any glass table tops and store them separately where possible.

For things like expensive tables, they can be covered in blankets and you can get hold of protective corners as this is where a table is likely to get damaged and any self-assembly items should be disassembled and all screws, nuts etc, kept in separate bag or box and marked accordingly. When it comes to food in cupboards, a useful guide is to consider the weight to cost ratio. Tins especially can take up so much room and weight yet many tinned goods are that cheap to buy that you may be better giving these away or disposing of them. Don’t forget to take the opportunity of getting rid of all those items that have passed their ‘use by’ date. All perishable foods and frozen goods will also need to be given away or disposed of unless you’re only travelling a short distance and you have freezer boxes.
Take the opportunity to get rid of the majority of cleaning products but keep one or two handy as you’ll need them to do a final ‘once over’ wipedown before you leave and you might need them for the same purpose again in your new home.

The Living/Front Room
Things like curtains, drapery, pictures, frames, mirrors have all been discussed previously and the same applies here. Put all seat cushions into large clear plastic bags and secure. Lamps, lampshades and other fragile items should be wrapped in newspaper or bubble wrap and put into boxes marked ‘fragile’. All your electrical items such as TVs, computers, hi-fis, DVD players etc should be packed in their original boxes if you have them. If not, use bubble wrap and place them in a well protected box. Getting hold of some polystyrene balls to fill the box with will give added protection.

Make sure all connecting leads and supplementary devices such as remote controls are boxed up separately by each individual item and don’t forget to include the user manuals so you’ll be able to reconnect everything correctly at the other end.
This is by no means an exhaustive guide to packing room-by-room. There may be a study and a children’s play room to consider as well, for example. However, by considering the items in question and ensuring that you’ve packed them appropriately; you’re far less likely to be dealing with damaged goods when you reach your new home.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk

Advice on Moving Refrigerators and Freezers

Refrigerators and freezers alongside other bulkier items of furniture and other household appliances are usually the most difficult items to move from one house to another. They’re cumbersome and heavy and you should never attempt to move these items on your own. It’s not simply an issue of their bulkiness and weight, however. You will need to both prepare and clean your appliance first before moving it and also make provisions to store any of its contents, give them away or put them in the bin.

Defrosting
You should fully thaw and defrost your fridge and freezer ahead of moving day. Although this is likely to cause you some inconvenience, it has to be done otherwise you’ll have problems with things like condensation and ice on the day of the move. Not only that, you need to make sure it is fully dry and has been fully aired out before moving it or it may result in a musty smell so this is one of those tasks which you should be prepared for about 1 to 2 days before the move. Even if you have a frost free appliance, you should still prepare it a couple of days in advance.


Removable Parts
Make sure you remove all the trays, crispers, chilled drink dispenser, shelves, egg tray and any other removable part of the fridge or freezer otherwise they’re likely to come out of position when they’re lifted which could cause them to break and to damage the lining of the appliance. Keep these parts in a container and label them so that you know where they are when you reach your destination.


Cleaning
Assuming that you’ve removed all the spare parts and foodstuff items, in particular perishables, from your appliance, you should unplug it before beginning to clean it. Use a cloth and mild detergent (or a baking soda solution) to clean the interior of the appliance. Don’t just wipe down what you can easily see. In fridges especially, you need to look underneath shelf runners too as you’ll often be amazed at how much grime has gathered or remnants of food are caked on to the underneath of the runners. Likewise with the door seals.

It’s no use just running a cloth along the top. Pushing the sides of the seal apart is likely to reveal a whole lot more dirt than you bargained for. Once you’ve done this and wiped down the exterior of the appliance, you should leave the door open for at least 24 hours to allow for any moisture to disperse. You’ll also need to wash the removable parts and let them dry too before placing them in a separate container. Don’t forget that glass shelves should be handled carefully and wrapped in some kind of protective covering and transported in a separate bag or container marked ‘fragile’. You should also remove the base cover at the bottom of the fridge and vacuum the condenser or compressor as well as emptying and cleaning out the evaporator pan.

Moving the Appliance
You should remove any handles if possible to avoid them getting snagged on something or damaged during the move. It’s also a good idea to pack the interior of a fridge with lightweight blankets to keep it more stable during transit. In some cases, motors may need to bolted down so you should refer to your instruction manual about that or speak to an expert if you’re not sure as many appliances are not designed to be carried on their sides as it can damage the motor so you should make sure you check otherwise you may end up ruining the appliance. Wrapping some blankets or other soft covering around the appliance before you move it will also help to minimise it being scratched or its exterior being damaged.

A Word of Caution about Freezers
If you’ve planned things well, you should have run down the food in your freezer in the weeks leading up to the move but if you’ve forgotten to do that, be very wary about leaving food in the freezer and taking it with you. Freezers were not designed to be lifted full of food and you can damage your freezer by trying to carry it with excess weight inside. Not only that, frozen food can’t be kept frozen during a move and it can defrost and deteriorate far more quickly than you might envisage. This can cause bad odours which can be absorbed into the lining which can often be impossible to get rid of and, therefore, it will make the freezer unusable. The best thing to do is give away any remaining frozen food you have left to neighbours or simply dispose of it in the bin. It might seem a waste of money but a new freezer is bound to cost you more.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk/house-removal-advice.htm

Moving Overseas

Most of us will have spent lazy days on holiday lying on a sun-kissed beach with not a care in the world and have thought “wouldn’t it be nice to live abroad?” at one time or another. And whilst many Brits will go on and turn their dreams into reality and become part of the millions of expats living overseas, there are so many considerations to take into account and it involves far more thought and careful planning than you’re likely to have thought possible. If moving overseas is something you are seriously considering, however, here are just some of the many issues you’ll need to think carefully about.

Permits/VisasFirstly, depending on where you are looking to move to, you may find that it’s difficult or nigh on impossible to obtain the relevant paperwork such as visas and work permits unless you’re moving to another EU member country. Therefore, it’s important you find that out from the outset because without the necessary paperwork, all of the other considerations will be meaningless.

Health and InsuranceIt’s not simply a matter of a couple of weeks’ travel insurance but you’ll need to take out comprehensive insurance policies for your health, travel, home and contents, third party liability and motor insurance. Health insurance is vital as without it, you could end up being left with bills you simply cannot afford to pay if you suffer from a serious illness or have a bad accident whilst abroad. It’s not like the UK which has the NHS. In certain countries, you may not even be entitled to the most basic of healthcare facilities without having the proper insurance. You should also be aware of any potential health risks in the country you’re travelling to, make sure that you have all of the proper vaccinations and have taken any other necessary health precautions.

Cultural IssuesOnce again, a holiday experience abroad is likely to be very different from becoming a resident in a certain country. Even if you do tend to go on holidays away from the typically British resorts overseas and enjoy conversing with the local natives, actually living amongst them as a resident can be very different and in many places, you’ll need to get to know their culture, heritage, traditions, customs and way of life before you go as you may find that certain practices and beliefs are so far off from what you feel you can accommodate within your own lifestyle so it’s important you gain a grasp of these first before deciding if a move to a particular country is right for you.

Children and EducationIf you are planning to move abroad with children, you’ll also need to look at the implications for their schooling. Will there be schools there where English is widely spoken? Are the schools of a high standard? How do your children feel about integrating with foreign children and perhaps having to learn a new language? All of these and much more are questions you’ll need to have answered.

Cost of LivingMany people quit Britain for a life abroad because of the cost of living which they believe is far cheaper overseas. Whilst this may be true in some countries, it is not true of all and it’s important you find out if you can actually afford to live overseas whilst maintaining your required standard of living. Remember things like healthcare costs which are often not taken into account when considering like-for-like costs of living between the UK and countries overseas.

EmploymentIf you have a job go to, you’ll also need to consider what you would do if the job ended at any point. Would you be able to obtain another job within your chosen field quite quickly and, if not, how might this affect your ability to afford the means to sustain yourself and your family?

Finance and TaxesYou’ll also need to consider opening a foreign bank account and to find out more about taxes and other charges which you will incur in the place you are moving to and the cost of any implications of financial assets you still might have in the UK.

These are just some of the issues which will need careful consideration before moving overseas. Others would include things like accessibility to public transport if you don’t intend having a car, crime and personal safety and communications infrastructures if you rely on them for work or for keeping in touch with friends and family back home.
The important thing to remember is that many expats go on to lead far happier lives and have never regretted leaving the UK for a life overseas. There are, however, many for whom it ends up turning into a nightmare. Therefore, the key thing is to plan meticulously, ensuring that relocation overseas is viable and something you are determined to do and then to also have some kind of ‘exit strategy’ in place, should emergencies occur or you decide later that you wish to return home.

For more information about overseas moves please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk/international-removals.htm

Shipping Overseas - Plane or Boat?

If you’re moving many miles away overseas the two main options you’re going to have are whether you transport your belongings by air or by sea. Obviously, if you’re flying yourselves, you may end up thinking that it’ll be easier to transport everything on the plane but if you have a lot of stuff, it may well end up having to go on a different cargo plane altogether anyway. The main factors are going to be cost and how long you’re prepared to wait for your belongings at the other end. This article will outline a few of the pros and cons of each method.

Shipping by Sea
Shipping costs are worked out by volume as opposed to weight which is how sea freight is calculated in terms of cost so you’ll obviously save yourself a great deal of money should you choose to ship everything by sea. The downside, however, is that you’ll wait a lot longer for your belongings to appear at your destination and, depending on circumstances, that could mean that you incur additional costs if, for example, you prefer your creature comforts and decide to take up temporary residence in, say, a hotel and stay there until your belongings arrive. You should also note that, unlike with air freight, your bottom line quote will usually not include insurance which you’ll also have to take out independently and which could bump up the total cost considerably. And, although it can vary between companies, insurance is usually based on either coverage for loss only or the more expensive coverage for loss and damage so when you ask for a quote, make sure you know what you’re covered for. Also, as most shipping companies will only ship your belongings in wooden containers or crates which are seaworthy, this could mean them taking up more space than you have available to you in your home as you’re trying to pack and they might also not be included in the cost or you will be charged extra for them.


Shipping by Air
Air freight, whilst being more expensive, is a much quicker way of getting re-united with your belongings at your destination and it’s this convenience that may make you think that it’s worth paying the extra cost which can be quite considerable. But, as you can also use your own boxes it can make the whole process a lot quicker and simpler and it’s really only the cost that might be too prohibitive.


Get Several Quotes
The best thing to do is to obtain a number of quotes from both companies who specialise in sea freight and those who specialise in air freight. Then, once you’ve decided which method you’re going to opt for, then you should compare the quotes again and find out the bottom line and whether or not it includes things like insurance and door-to-door pick up and delivery as what, at first, might seem the cheapest quote might be the most expensive once you add on all the extras. Just as you would with any removal company, try to find out as much as you can about the companies you’re comparing – how long they’ve been established, where they tend to ship to the most, do they ship to your destination regularly, do they have their own packers, can they provide you with written references, how long it will take from the moment the items leave your door to the time they arrive at the other end etc. These are all questions you need to find out before you can finalise which company you intend using.

For more information about overseas moves please visit
www.gocompareremovals.co.uk/international-removals.htm

Moving Your Car Overseas

If you’re moving abroad and intend shipping your car overseas the two main things you’re going to need to consider are looking for an appropriate company to ship it and the things you need to do with regards to informing the DVLA.

Informing the DVLA
You must notify the DVLA if you intend taking your car out of the country. That applies even if you’re moving to France and driving your car through the tunnel. You need to complete section C of your V5 registration document to show the intended date of export and then a certificate of export (V561) will be issued to you in place of your V5 registration which will then enable you to register the vehicle abroad. To obtain a certificate of export, you should complete the relevant section of your V5 document and return it to the DVLA in Swansea or make the application at your local DVLA office but you need to do this a minimum of 14 days before your intended date of export. If you currently have a V5C registration certificate, you need to complete the relevant slip on the V5C which is called the V5C/4 (the notification of export) and send that to the DVLA. You’re then able to take the remainder of the V5C to the country you’re going to when the vehicle is being exported. If you are not in possession of either a V5C or V5 registration document, you can obtain one by completing the form V62 which you can get from the Post Office, and then send that to the DVLA. Then, follow the steps above. More information can be obtained from the DVLA website.

Choosing an International Car Shipping Company
It’s important that you shop around when looking for a company to ship your car overseas. Prices can vary widely and the cheapest price may not always be the best value for money. There are several things you’ll need to consider.

Will they be shipping the car from door to door or from terminal to terminal? Some companies might be cheaper but they might only ship your car to the nearest port to where you live at the other end. This won’t be too bad if you don’t live too far from the terminal but if you’re several miles away, this could involve greater costs overall. And, if you’re moving to a remote location, the actual cost of delivering the car to your new home might very well end up costing more than the actual shipping itself so when obtaining quotes, make sure you obtain full quotes which meet your exact specifications and not just get a basic quote with just the ‘top line’ on it.

What about shipping insurance? Most international shipping companies will offer some kind of basic insurance coverage but you need to find out what ‘basic’ includes and, more importantly, what it doesn’t include. Some may offer a higher premium depending on your destination and the type of car you have. And, if you’ve got an antique or ‘classic car’ or some kind of expensive sports model or luxury car, you’re better off taking out a higher insurance premium to cover the cost of your investment.

Routing of the Journey
To keep charges as low as possible, some international shipping companies will use different routes and different carriers to get you a lower price. Whilst that’s very noble of them, it’s no use to you if that means your car goes all the way around Europe one way then comes back upon itself and comes all the way around the other side before it finally reaches its destination. You’ll probably want your car as soon as possible after you get to your destination yourself, so you also need to check how long it will take before your car reaches its intended destination.

Try to obtain bona fide references from people who have used the company before in order to ship their vehicle. You might not object to paying a little extra if you’ve been able to obtain references and have good faith that your car is in good hands. Also, all shipping companies will give you a shipping report which will highlight any minor damages, dents or scratches that are on the vehicle before it is shipped. Before you sign this make sure that you agree with the reports findings. It’ll be the only record of the state of your vehicle before it is shipped and you’ll want to ensure that your car matches the report when it reaches its destination before you can be sure that no further damage has been inflicted on it during the journey.

For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk