Removals and Storage

10 things to remember before the removals van comes - or how to not stay friends with your  soon to be ex neighbours

1. Pack the cat, or leave the little vicious creature behind.

2. Wear clean undies, you new house will notice, or you might get hit by the removal van.

3. Give the postman a leaving present (wink wink). Or the milkman, you choose but don’t be over generous

4. Set fire to your neighbours fence, the one you don’t like obviously, claim it’s an accident.

5. Leave a note for the new people, claim the house is haunted and you couldn’t stand it any longer.

6. Remember your stash from under the floorboard in the cupboard. No explanation required.

7. Deliberately over stuff the bin, even though collection isn’t until next week.

8. Remove all the light bulbs; the person in your new house might have done the same.

9. Stand naked in your garden, it might be the last chance you get. Alternatively, put out the wheelie bin with just a kitchen apron on.

10. Infest the garden pond with something that will eat the fist, i.e. a crocodile. If no crocodile available, buy a piranha or a shark from the local pet store. Set up a hidden video camera.

When moving home you must remember to tell people who have your old address what the new one will be. Important people to inform your change of address are the bank and any other financial establishments who have your details.

Of course tell your family and friends too.

The telephone company should be told which day you will move so that you can arrange to pay right up to the last day of residence and also you should tell them or the new company at the new address, when you are moving in to that address.

The gas company should be told about the move for the same reason and the electric company. Also tell the water company. All these utilities must be paid up to the last day and the new area companies should be informed if they are different.

Don’t forget the council tax people. Your TV license can be stopped on the day you move and a new one started for the new address. If you have bought a whole year’s license, you can send it back for refund on the remaining months.

Arrange with the local post office to forward your mail that may filter through and make sure to inform the people who are still writing to the old address that you have moved. If you have a TV service or internet connection paid for to the old house, tell the companies so that they can set you up at the new one and you can just hopefully continue where you left off but in a new area. You don’t want to be paying for someone else to have those facilities.

 Some removal companies will move a full fridge or freezer but it isn’t too much bother really just to empty them gradually leading up to the move and defrost them ready. That way they will be fresh and clean when they get to the new building. You can put any remaining cold things in a cool box. Before you go, check the roof space to see that you haven’t left anything in there that you will regret. Once you vacate for the last time, anything remaining becomes the next owner’s property.

Also check sheds and garage. Turn off any taps and switch off all the electrical sockets and the heating and lights. Lock the door and leave the key at the arranged place.

Happy moving day:)

Moving house can be a stressful time. Here are some tips to make it easier:

(1) Arrange for redirection of mail in advance, to avoid a delay in receiving important items like bills.

(2) If you have deliveries made to the house such as milk or newspapers, give several weeks notice to cancel them, and rearrange them for your new address.

(3) Arrange to have your meters read in your current address, and pay the final bills.

(4) When packing, try and pack items in boxes according the rooms they are from.

(5) Have a good clear out before you move; give unwanted items to charity shops.

(6) Make sure that your belongings are insured when in transit.

(7) Arrange for telephone, internet and television to be connected in your new address.

(8) Give out your new address to all relevant companies, such as banks and credit card companies, and your family and friends.

(9) Have a cash float available to deal with unexpected expenses.

(10) When you arrive, check for loss or damage immediately.

Moving house is never easy, but in light of the recent 2008 Budget, taking on the strain and the cost of uprooting your entire family and all your belongings will have many of us counting the pennies and trying to get the very best out of selling our homes. CheaperStorage.org’s definitive guide to getting the best out of selling your property will teach you how to get the best price from your home with a quick sell, and how to save money whilst you’re at it.

1. Look at your house from the view of the prospective buyer – detach yourself from possessions and the ‘home’ you have made for yourself and put the spotlight on the property’s best features.
2. Clutter, dirt, neglect = bad. Open spaces, clean surfaces and working appliances = good. Most simple repairs can be done by yourself, although you may need to hire a professional for repairs to plumbing or electrical fixtures.
3. Repaint and re-carpet only where necessary, and be careful about redecorating – garish colours and bad paint jobs can bring the value of your property down whilst costing you money in supplies. Consider taking up old carpets if you have good wooden flooring. A little varnish could do wonders and gives the room a more spacious, airy feel.
4. Make sure the rooms smell fresh (and not pumped full of air-fresheners) for when your viewings start. Fresh flowers are a nice aesthetic touch, and bring a pleasant scent to rooms.
5. Make rooms spacious and comfortable; remove floor rugs, clutter and collections, as well as excess furniture and accessories where possible – remember you are selling the house, not its contents, so keep the floor space as neat and spacious as possible.
6. If you have one, de-clutter your garage as much as possible to make room for at least one car, perhaps consider using a storage space. Clean and de-cobweb any nooks and cranny’s!
7. Try to put away most of your family photo’s and personal items to help the prospective buyers see themselves and their families occupying the space.
8. Most importantly, always try to look through the eyes of the buyer, and remember that you are not making these changes to live with; you are just trying to get the best out of your home!

With the internet brimming with websites to accommodate your moving home needs, it is easy to forget to send out those all important change of address notices to everyone. Usually in the chaos of the home move when you’re in the midst of organizing furniture removal and so forth, our most nearest and dearest are the only ones to learn of our new address.

It is vital that everyone is aware of your home move, especially if you are changing a business address. Likewise, no-one wants to hold a housewarming party and find that hardly anyone has turned up because you only told a handful of friends.

With change of address cards, you can ensure that everyone is aware of your new residence and can even add your own personal message to make the announcement even more special to family, friends and colleagues. Many companies give you the option to choose from specially selected verses. Whether it be a simple line or a full blown verse, change of address cards can be adapted to whatever style you desire.

A change of address card is a personal way to leave a memorable message and some will even allow you to add a photo of your new home.

Browse the internet to find the perfect change of address cards for you. Some websites even offer this service for free. Others will allow you to be as flamboyant or as casual as you want.

Print them out yourself or have them specially delivered to your door so as to give your family and friends the personal touch when it comes to moving home. You can then look forward to receiving those welcoming phone calls and housewarming cards in return.