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.
