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
Friday, 29 May 2009
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
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
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
Monday, 25 May 2009
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
For more information please visit www.gocompareremovals.co.uk
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
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
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
Monday, 18 May 2009
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
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
Friday, 15 May 2009
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
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
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
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
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
Friday, 8 May 2009
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
