Packing Tips When Moving House

Packing your belongings is one of the most stressful tasks that you need to do when moving house. You should start by getting rid of unnecessary or unused items. That way, you will have less to unpack in your new place. It’s also a good idea to create a moving folder. Collect moving contracts, purchase or rental papers and new addresses in one folder so that if something comes up during the move or planning, you will have records of payments and agreements on hand. Here are other packing tips that you should consider when moving house.

Book Early

Look for a moving company as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could pay a higher price or fail to book a moving company. This is particularly important if it is peak moving season. If you don’t have the patience or time to clean your old house before you move out, you should also look for cleaners as soon as possible.

Pack Early

It’s best to start packing early. Pack up off-season items first. For example, if it’s winter, pack up your summer clothes first. When it’s time to move out, you can rest assured that you have packed everything and you won’t miss any important item in your old home. Don’t forget to prepare a bag that contains your daily essentials such as your toothbrush, money, medications and change of clothes. If the moving van gets lost or catastrophe strikes, you will at least have your daily essentials with you.

Contact the Utility Providers

Once the move-out date is finalized, call your utility providers to transfer the service to your new place. You don’t want to spend the day in your new home without electricity, heat or water, so schedule everything in advance. Don’t forget to ask the utility providers to stop their service in your old home.

Get the Right Packing Supplies

Buy adhesive bandages, box cutters, permanent markers, garbage bags, packing tape and paper towels in advance. You don’t want to buy supplies at the last minute or while loading your stuff into the moving van. Don’t worry if you weren’t able to use all of them while packing because you can still use them afterward.

You should also put your stuff in the right boxes. Store light items such as pillows and linens in large boxes. Put your books and other heavy items in small boxes. Heavier items should be placed on the bottom of the box and lighter stuff on top. Appliance packing needs to be done carefully and preferably by a specialist team . Fill in empty spaces with packing paper, clothing or towels.

Label the boxes with the room they are destined for. You should also write a description of their contents. That way, the movers will know where they should place each box in your new home. Keep an inventory list of your items and number each box so that you will have a record of what you have packed. Don’t forget to tape the boxes properly. And if you’re loading the moving van on your own, you should pack the heavier boxes first. But if you’re using a moving company and you have to move fragile items, ask them how they handle such items. This kind of service comes with an additional cost, but it will be worth it because you will have peace of mind knowing that your items will arrive at your new place in one piece. Also, if you have lots of stuff to take with you but don't want to deal with all the stress in regards to logistics, consider buying some personal storagesolutions, this will ease the stress and allow you to pick up your other items at a time convenient to you.

See our previous blog post here: Is Bournemouth a nice place to live?

How to Choose the Right Moving Company?

Simply having a large ad or a website doesn’t make a company trustworthy or legitimate. That’s why you need to know what you should consider when looking for a moving company. After all, you are entrusting your precious possessions to people you’re not familiar with. You have to do your homework so that you can hire the right moving company that matches your needs and budget. Here’s how.

Read Reviews

Read reviews on Yelp and other trusted websites or ask your colleagues and friends for recommendations. Reviews offer a trustworthy, impartial look at the service of a moving company. If you have pool tables, gym equipment, pianos and other specialty items, make sure that the company has specialists who are knowledgeable in handling such items. Companies will usually include this info on their website, but you can also read reviews to check if they offer such services.

Get Quotes

Choose three moving companies and then ask for in-person quotes. If they refuse to give an on-site quote, don’t hire them. Compare their quotes and find out what is included in the cost. Will the movers pack your stuff or do you need to do it yourself? Will they offer moving supplies such as boxes, tape and blankets? If they do, how much will they charge for it? By asking the right questions, you can avoid unexpected fees on moving day.

Look Out for Red Flags

Always look out for red flags when choosing a moving company. Most reputable companies will not ask for a deposit before the move date. If the company is too eager to get the payment immediately, it’s possible that it’s not a legit business.

You should also note how unprofessional or professional the company seems. If they can’t answer questions or show up late, you should move on and find another company.

A professional moving company will also have its own van or moving equipment. So beware of those companies that show up in rented moving vans.

Insured and Licensed

Make sure that the company is insured and licensed. In case something happens during transit, you will be compensated for any damage to your items. You should also ask if they have any professional accreditation.

Confirm the Address

Visit the company’s website or get their business card and then search the address they have provided online. The address of the company should be registered and listed under their company name. Beware of companies listed under residential names because it suggests that they are either a new organization or someone you shouldn’t trust.

Start Early

Look for a moving company as soon as possible. That way, you will have a lot of time to ask for quotes. Don’t forget to get a written estimate of their bids. If all aspects of the move you have discussed are recognised in the proposal, it means the company has paid careful attention to your moving requirements. If they charge extra fees for certain services like moving furniture, it’s possible that they are confident in their capability to do so.

See our previous post here: How much do house removals cost?

How Much Do House Removals Cost?

The removal cost can vary depending on various factors such as the moving season, the distance between the new and old location and the volume of stuff you want to move.

Removal companies will also consider the stuff that requires special protection and care. Additional services like packing and handling of fragile and large items will also affect the removal cost.

Removal companies can place your furniture and boxes into the areas you request, but you have to pay an additional fee for this service. You will also pay extra if they need to use removing windows or other equipment to successfully move stuff that doesn’t fit through the door.

That’s why you should check the services that are included in their quote so that you can make the most of your removal company.

Factors That Affect the Removal Cost

Removal companies provide different unpacking and packing services at an extra cost to fit the needs of each customer. They can pack your stuff for you, but this service will come with an extra fee. You can also pack your items on your own and then buy packing materials from the company.

If you have electronic goods or fragile antique items, you should tell the company about it. These items are safer to move in wooden crates, but you will have to pay extra for this service. Here are other factors that can affect the cost of removal.

Access

Removal companies should be able to access the front door of your old and new home with their vehicle. Toll roads and ferries could result in extra removal costs. The cost of getting a parking permit is usually not included in the quote. So, if there are parking restrictions in your old and new home, you should discuss it with the company before the move date.

Third-party service

Third-party services such as disconnecting the dishwasher, removing carpets and curtain rails and disconnecting the washing machine could also result in extra removal costs.

Cancellation policies and late key charges

The company will charge you a late fee if you didn’t arrive on time to pick up your keys. So, for your peace of mind, ask the company if they offer late key waivers. If they offer this kind of waiver and you were late, they will wait up to three hours in your new home without charging extra fees.

Don’t forget to double-check the cancellation policies of the company. That way, you won’t be charged with extra fees if you cancelled your move date.

See our previous blog post here: Moving advice from a trusted removals company