Moving into Your First Home: 11 Moving Day Tips
At last, moving day is in sight. An exciting new life in your first ever home awaits – once you’ve unpacked all the boxes of course. Here are a few moving day tips to make your first day in your new home run smoothly.
11 Top Moving Day Tips
We all know moving can be a stressful time, and one of the most common questions we’re asked by new homeowners is “how can I make moving day easier?”. So, here are 11 of our top tips to make moving day a breeze.
1. It all starts with the packing
When should I start packing to move house? Rule number one – start packing early! Getting everything packed and organised well ahead of time is the best way to avoid moving day panics.
So, how do you pack up a house to move?
- We’d recommend packing room by room and labelling everything. You’ll be glad you did when your boxes arrive at your new home.
- Have a clear out. Don’t waste time and effort moving junk. Plus, who wants to clutter up their brand new home? If you don’t need it, recycle it, sell it or bin it.
- Don’t overload things. Remember you, or someone else, has got to carry the boxes safely. Put heavier things in small boxes and fill big boxes with light things.
2. Professional removals or do it yourself?
In the weeks before moving day you need to decide who you want to help you move. Professional removals companies vary in price, and it’s worth getting a few quotes. Or you can always hire a van and get help from friends and family.
Whether you’re getting professional help or hiring a van, remember to book these well in advance.
3. Consider what you’ll need in your new home
As well as packing, you should also think about what you’ll need, and what you won’t need, in your new home.
For example, you may be moving into a new build home with built-in appliances, meaning your current ones are no longer needed. You should make arrangements to sell or get rid of these ahead of the move, so you aren’t moving bulky items that you don’t need.
Take note of what is included in your new home and what you may need to buy, so you can be sure you have everything you need once moving day comes around.
4. T-minus 4 weeks – time to get organised
If you’re using professional removals, they need to be booked by now.
Now’s a good time to start notifying friends and family before things get too hectic.
Don’t forget to notify your GP, dentist, schools, employer, utilities suppliers, DVLA, mobile phone company, TV and broadband supplier, banks and credit cards as well as insurance companies.
It’s a good idea to take a look through your bank statements, as everyone you’ve got a direct debit with will need to know your new address.
5. The week before
Most of your worldly possessions should be boxed up and ready to go.
You’ll need to give the council a call to set up your Council Tax payments.
If you receive Child Benefit, or any other benefits, make sure you inform HMRC too. If you don’t you could lose out on what you’re entitled to.
6. Know where it’s got to go
Print off a floor plan of your new home, or ask your sales adviser for one. This will help you know where things need to go and make sure big items fit, meaning no nasty surprises on moving day.
7. Pack a moving essentials bag
We’d recommend packing a separate bag for moving day containing the essentials you’ll need on the day or valuables you don’t want on the moving truck – think phone chargers, any medication, toilet rolls and toiletries. It’s also handy to pack a change of clothes for the next day, as you may not get around to unpacking straight away. A small overnight bag or suitcase for each member of the family will definitely ease the stress of digging around for essentials in your new home.
8. Make arrangements for children and pets
Moving day is undeniably busy and usually a little bit stressful – having kids and pets running around can add to this. If possible, make arrangements for your children and pets for the bulk of the move. Ideally, have a friend or family member with a flexible schedule look after them for the day. This frees you up to focus solely on the move and get all the stressful parts out of the way before the whole family reunites in your new home.
9. Wear comfortable clothes
Moving day is usually much warmer work than you anticipate – particularly if you’re handling the physical part of the move yourself! Make sure you’re wearing cool, comfortable and practical clothing on the day. Comfortable shoes are also a must as you’ll be on your feet for most of the day.
10. Don’t forget to feed the troops – and yourself
Moving can be thirsty work and you’ll need all your energy, so make sure everyone is well fed and watered. It’s a good idea to prepare a moving-in day picnic with everything you need to keep you going. A cooler with cold drinks and quick, easy snacks will also be much appreciated on the day. And remember, the secret to any successful move is to make sure the kettle is always the first thing to be unpacked.
11. Moving-in day
It’s here. The day you’ve been waiting for.
Our Sales Executive will be on hand to help in any way they can and, once the legal completion has gone ahead, your new home is all yours.
New build exchange of contracts
Packing and moving is the stressful part, but what about the rest of moving day? We’re sure the legal side of the move is also something that’s on your mind. For a full breakdown of the legal aspects of your new build home, including the exchange of contracts and deposit, head over to our guide to Sorting the Legals.
So, what can you expect on moving day?
Exchange of contracts is one of the final steps you’ll make before moving into your home. This will be handled by your solicitor and it is at this point that the home is legally yours. Once contracts have been exchanged your mortgage lender will release the funds for your home and you will pay your final costs, such as your solicitor fees.
Next, ownership of the home is transferred from us to you. Your solicitor will receive the deeds and then register your ownership with the Land Registry. As soon as legal completion has gone ahead and the transfer of ownership is complete, you can pick up your keys and moving day can commence!
We want you to enjoy your Keepmoat home from the very first day.
If there’s anything we can do to make moving in easier, let us know.