In one sense, completing on a property is “job done”. Emotionally and financially, these are the most significant parts of moving. However, this is just the start, and there is a long list of other considerations that are, yes, you’ve guessed it – costly. Moving your possessions from A to B. Getting settled into your new home. Updating your contact details with relevant parties. Read on to learn more…
Moving your possessions
If you have anything more than a car boot’s worth of belongings, you’ll probably need help getting them from one home to another. This typically means either renting a van or getting movers. If you’re offered the chance to borrow a vehicle, make sure that you’re adequately insured to drive it.
If you’re using movers, it’s advisable to look at their reputation and headline price. Quality of service is worth paying for, especially in a potentially stressful situation, like a house move. However, you may be able to save some money by booking in advance and timing your move strategically. For example, move mid-week instead of at the weekend.
Also, only move what you need to move. Use up consumables (like food) as much as you can. Declutter anything you’re not using and not going to use. If you can start this process well in advance, you may have the option to sell some of your unwanted belongings. Even if you can’t, however, moving them on will reduce the amount of stuff you need to move.
Do you need temporary storage?
If you’re moving to a bigger home, you should be able to get all your possessions inside it. If, however, you’re downsizing, you might want to consider using temporary storage. Generally, you want this to be near your new home so you can access it easily. This may require you to move your stuff and have the movers deliver it to two locations.
Using temporary storage allows you to do the bulk of your decluttering after you move. This can be a better option if you have many personal items to deal with. It puts you under less pressure, but the fact that you’re paying for storage can be motivation to tackle the job.
The insurance issue
You should have insurance on your new home from when you exchange contracts. The buyer will be responsible for any issues with the property from that point. You should also ensure that you have insurance coverage for the moving process. If you use professional movers, check that they are insured. Likewise, if you’re using temporary storage, it’s advisable to have insurance cover for that too.
Redirecting post
You probably do just about everything online these days. Even so, it can be worth setting up a postal redirect, at least for the first month, if not the first quarter. Some organizations do still use letters for certain forms of communication.
What’s more, there may be a delay between you informing them of your move and them updating their systems. If letters were already in the pipeline, they might still be at your old address. A postal redirect will catch them.
Think about cleaning
This one is a personal decision, but it’s worth considering. If you want your new home given a proper deep clean before moving into it, you either need to do it yourself or pay someone to do it for you. There is a relatively strong argument for hiring professionals as they may have tools, products and skills you don’t.
Budget for new purchases
Assume you will have to buy some new items for your new home and budget for them. It’s better to have the budget and not use it than to find yourself needing to spend money on unplanned expenses.
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