Planning Ahead For Your House Move

Even if someone has moved several times over a lifetime, tips and advice always come in handy. For what one has done only a couple times, professionals do regularly to earn a livelihood. Hence, there’s always something that years of experience in the market can offer. To help you out, we have listed in this article several tips that might come handy in the move. Stay tuned for more.

Brainstorming

The first step towards a smooth transition is always brainstorming, going through the process in one’s own mind, figuring out options, and selecting what best suits one’s needs. During this step, you should decide whether you’ll be doing the move yourself or taking help of a peer or a professional! Keeping your budget in view, explore your options and familiarize yourself with all the options available.

Create a Timeline

It is an established fact that the process of moving is quite complicated, as many multilayered steps overlap and create the beautiful results that you desire. In order to smoothen it out, it’s best that you create a schedule and timeline, with expected dates and time of each step. This way you can be completely organized when the day of move arrives.

Budget

Before getting into selecting which company, you’ll be entrusting with the task of moving your house, check out your budget, chalk out a specific chunk for specific tasks related to the move, and take quotes from all the top companies that are on your list! Even if you are considering moving yourself, without professional help, take out a specific budget for the project of relocation.

Notice to the Landlord

If you are among most of the population that prefers rented property over owned lots, don’t forget to give a month’s notice to your landlord. In most contracts, the one-month notice is mandatory, and in case of non-compliance, it can result in loss of your deposit with the landlord. It’s best that you check your rent agreement and give a notice accordingly.

Discarding Trash

While staying in one place, humans tend to collect a number of materials that become unnecessary and useless over the years. Whether they are old t-shirts that have no actual value in today’s time, or papers that came casually in mail, purge them out. Make your move as light as possible and recycle or discard as much as possible.

 

Our St Albans Removals establishment, with several decades of work in the moving industry up our sleeve, offers moving services at the most cost-effective rates in the market. We invite you to visit us and discuss the move with us to let us make this tiring task as seamless as possible.

 

Emerging From Lockdown – Is It Safe To Move Home?

 

Delta variant, emerging from South Asia, is round the corner. Countries across the world, and especially Europe, are closing borders, cities, and markets. Population is freaking out, while the pandemic spreads faster than wildfire. Moving one’s house can take days of preparation and procedure in normal circumstances, now add a once in a century pandemic, the stakes rise to the sky. With markets closed, and government directions to stay at least two metres away from other persons, the process of moving becomes way more complicated than it actually is. Keeping in view the needs of our times, through this blog post we discuss the general idea of moving during CoronaVirus and offer some tips that may come handy vis a vis hygiene and safety.

The United Kingdom is ping ponging between lockdowns, while the government is issuing new directives and instructions in the shape of rules pertaining to lockdown measures. Despite these things at hand, one can still move. Housing market is open, so is the moving industry. But keeping in view the safety concerns over our heads, one should always prefer professional hands over saving pounds, for there exists no wealth greater than the wealth of health. In essence, all members of the population are directed to follow national guidance on home safety, these include washing of one’s hand at regular intervals, social distancing, covering of one’s face, as well as breathing in fresh air.

The first rule to follow is to hire a moving company, as they are equipped with necessary tools, decreasing your chances of coming in direct contact with the virus, or an infected person. With these in mind, provided in the following lines are a list of precautions that you should keep handy before making a move.

Hand Sanitizers:

Always keep hand sanitizers around you when professionals from the moving company arrive. Force them to regularly use sanitizer inside your house, as well as the truck they are using for the move.

Disinfecting House:

Several studies show that the novel virus can stay on nonliving surfaces for around 24 hours, including doorknobs, cupboards, as well as the boxes you might use for the move. Try to disinfect every material and surface that you might encounter and speed up moving the cardboards outside of your house to minimize the chances of virus’ spread. In between touching things, wash your hands regularly with soap for the prescribed two minutes each time.

No Interaction:

While representatives of the moving company are in premises of your house, you are requested to always maintain at least a two-metre distance, and at all costs not to assist or help with moving card boxes or other material to the truck from the house. This might be okay in normal circumstances, but in present pandemic reality it does more harm than good.

Regular Testing:

Another thing you should do before and after the move is to get tested for the virus, and only allow people if the results come negative. In case you have a flu or other symptoms commonly related to corona, then call it a day and delay the process until your reports get confirmed.

Vigilant:

In case you find a removal company officer or more not feeling well or expressing symptoms of Covid, you must contact the management at the earliest and inform them of the situation. Don’t forget to remain calm, polite, and humble in this process, for not all people with symptoms usually test positive with the virus.

Only Professionals:

Never trust an ill reputed, or non-reputed company with the move. The process is delicate in nature, and in these times any compromise on the quality of the company can ultimately result in compromising your safety. Therefore, always hire a professional for the task.

Practical Tips For An Autumn House Move

Practical Tips For An Autumn House Move

When you’re moving house, the time of the year will have a direct impact on how stressful moving day is. Extreme weather, in particular, can make your move more complicated and it can result in you running behind schedule or having to contend with unpredictable issues. For this reason, removal companies consider autumn to be one of the best times of the year to move home. There’s unlikely to be a heat wave or a snowstorm in autumn, so you shouldn’t experience too many problems on moving day. Tips For An Au Practical Turn House Move

It’s often easier to prepare for an autumn move because children are back at school too, so you can pack your boxes in peace. You won’t have to worry about finding all-day childcare on moving day either. Not to mention, you will be settled into your new home in time for the Christmas festivities. So, planning a house move for September, October or November can be beneficial. To help anyone likely to be moving this autumn, below we have put together some practical tips that may come in handy.

Prepare For All Weather Conditions

Whilst the weather is usually fairly mild during the autumn months, which is perfect for a house move, it can also be sunny, wet or windy. Try to dress for all eventualities on moving day, for example, wear jeans and a t-shirt but also have a jumper and raincoat to hand. You will then be comfortable if the weather is mild, but you can add some layers of clothing if it starts to get chilly or you experience some rain.

Try To Avoid The October Half-Term Or Book In Advance

Generally speaking, removal companies are quieter during the autumn months, so you shouldn’t struggle to book the moving services you need. However, if your moving day is during the school’s October half-term, it may be harder to find a removal team with availability. To prevent any problems in this regard, try to arrange your house move for another day or ensure you’re booking as far in advance as possible.

Arrange Unpacking Removal Services 

If your house move is before the clocks go back towards the end of October, it will start to get quite dark in the evenings. To prevent you from having to move boxes around in the dark and to make unpacking in your new home easier, it can be beneficial to book an unpacking service. A removal company can help you to settle into your new home much quicker, so you won’t have to contend with problems caused by lack of daylight.

Add Some Lightbulbs To Your Essentials Box

Even if you book an unpacking service, you should still prepare for it getting dark earlier during the autumn. An extra tip is to have a selection of new lightbulbs in your essentials box. Then, if any of the interior or exterior lights in your new home aren’t working when you arrive, you won’t have to worry about going to a shop before you can start unpacking your belongings. This is something you will definitely thank yourself for doing.

Protect The Floors In Your New Home

The last thing you want is your removal team ruining the flooring in your new home by walking over it with wet or muddy boots, so make sure you lay some plastic floor protection. A removal company will probably be able to supply you with this and they may even lay it for you too. Using carpet protectors can prevent you from having to clean up leaves and other debris as well, giving you one less thing to worry about on moving day.

Getting Assistance With House Removals In Ayrshire

If you’re planning a house move this autumn and you’re looking for a local company to assist you, feel free to get in touch with us at Moving Home Made Easy. Our expert team can guide you through every step of the removal process and we can provide you with a range of useful removal, storage and packing services.

We have years of experience assisting homeowners with house removals in Ayrshire, so you can have peace of mind knowing you will be in good hands with our team. Our comprehensive removal service is designed to make moving day hassle-free for our customers and we pride ourselves on providing the highest levels of customer service throughout. We look forward to hearing from you and helping with your house removals in Ayrshire.

3 Reasons Why You Should Book A Removals Home Visit

3 Reasons Why You Should Book A Removals Home Visit

When you’re moving home, one of the most important tasks during the lead-up to your move is booking a removal company. Although removal services are an additional cost to consider, they are always a worthwhile expense and they can help to make your move as hassle-free as possible. With a range of packing, removal and storage services available these days too, there is a solution for every homeowner. 3 Reasons Why You Should Book A Removals Home Visit

If you’re starting to get quotes for the removal services you need, you will likely be able to request a quote online by filling out a detailed form. However, you can also book a home visit and arrange for a move manager to visit your property and provide you with a quote. This visit usually takes approximately 30 minutes and it can be very beneficial. If you are wondering whether booking a home visit is worthwhile, below are 3 reasons why, whenever possible, you should opt for this service rather than completing a quote form online.

To receive an accurate quote for removal services, it is essential to tell a removal company exactly what needs to be moved from A to B. The quote you’re provided will be based on the number and the size of the items you need to move, and lots of homeowners will underestimate their possessions when completing a quote form online. This results in the quote being wrong and additional charges being payable on moving day.

When you book a home visit, a move manager will ensure the quote provided covers the exact items you need moving. By showing a move manager around your home and pointing out everything that needs to be moved, you can trust you will receive an accurate quote. You won’t have to worry about unexpected charges on moving day and you can book the removal services you need knowing how much they will cost.

Ensure Moving Day Goes Smoothly 

Some moves are more straightforward than others and booking a home visit can help you to prepare for all eventualities. When visiting your property, a move manager won’t just look at the different items you need to be moved, they will also look at things such as the access to your property and the width of your doorways, for example.

A home visit will enable a move manager to provide you with the best advice based on the precise requirements of your move. This can help to prevent avoidable problems on moving day and ensure everything stays on track. With many years of experience behind them, a move manager will know exactly what to look for during a home visit to ensure your move will be as straightforward as possible.

Find Out More About Additional Removal Services 

Meeting a move manager during a home visit will give you the opportunity to find out more about the other removal services available. For example, if you’re interested in packing services, they can tell you roughly how many boxes you will require and how long the packing process will take on the morning of your move.

Asking any questions you may have about the different removal services available will help you to ensure you’re booking the right services for your move. You may find that a removal company offers more services than you initially realised too and they can take all of the pressure off of your shoulders on moving day, enabling you to focus on other things.

Moving Home During The Festive Period

Moving Home During The Festive Period

Lots of homeowners start putting their Christmas decorations up at the beginning of December, but if you’re moving home this festive season, Christmas decorations are probably the last thing on your mind. Moving home can be stressful at any time of the year and if you have the added pressure of Christmas being just around the corner, you will understandably be stressed about ensuring everything goes smoothly on moving day. Moving Home During The Festive Period

If you’re moving home in December or early January, our team at Moving Home Made Easy is here to help. Below we have put together a list of useful and practical tips that can help to make your house move easy and stress-free.

Create A Moving Checklist

Organisation is key when you’re moving during the festive period and one of the best things you can do is create a moving checklist. This checklist will help to ensure you’re not forgetting anything important at this very busy time of the year and you can have peace of mind that you’ve done everything you need to for your move. To help you out, our team has put together a comprehensive moving checklist, so you don’t need to search the internet for one

Enlist The Help Of Some Experts 

Instead of relying on family and friends to help you with your move, it’s highly recommended that you book professional removal services. A team of expert movers can make moving day much less stressful and they will work with you to ensure everything is carefully transported from A to B. Lots of moving companies offer packing and unpacking services, and these are very popular around Christmas time. These extra removal services will prevent you from having to live out of cardboard boxes for weeks and help you to settle into your new home.

Buy, Wrap And Pack Presents In Advance 

Even if you’re moving a few weeks before Christmas day, we would still advise that you have all of your Christmas presents wrapped prior to your move. Being prepared with Christmas presents will give you one less thing to worry about and you won’t have the hassle of trying to hide things during your move, especially if you have children. Ideally, you should put all of your wrapped Christmas presents into moving boxes and clearly label them, they will then be handled with care and not get lost amongst all of your other belongings.

An added tip is to send your Christmas cards out early too. Post them before you move into your new home and include a note with your new address inside each card. This is a quick and easy way to tell all of your family and friends what your new address is.

Pre-Plan Your Broadband Installation

WiFi is considered to be essential nowadays and it’s something you’re likely to need when you move into a new home, particularly if you video call family and friends over the festive season. December is a busy month for all businesses and to prevent disappointment, you should book your broadband installation in advance. Once you know your moving date, do some research into broadband deals and speak to the company you’d like to install your internet connection.

Arrange A Grocery Delivery 

When you’re entertaining family and friends this Christmas time or planning a housewarming party soon after your move, it can be beneficial to organise for shopping to be delivered to your new home. Supermarket opening times can differ a lot over the festive period with various bank holidays and if you want your cupboards to be stocked up ready to welcome visitors, a grocery delivery will prevent the stress of trying to get to a shop and buy everything you need.

Booking A Moving Company

If you’re moving home this festive season and you haven’t yet booked removal services, don’t hesitate to contact us at Moving Home Made Easy. We are considered to be the go-to moving company in Ayr and we are proud to say that many of our previous customers frequently recommended us to family and friends. So, you will be in very good hands with our fully-trained and highly experienced team of movers and packers.

We provide a range of professional services for house removals and whether you are moving across the street or around the globe, we can help you. Feel free to explore our website today to find out more about how we can make moving day as stress-free and hassle-free as possible. We look forward to helping you settle into your new home in time for Christmas.

Who To Inform When Moving House

Who To Inform When Moving House

Among the other various administration tasks that need completing during a move, one of the most important is remembering who to inform of your new address when you move house.

PEOPLE TO INFORM WHEN YOU MOVE HOUSE – CHECKLIST

When working out who to inform when moving house, think about the following groups:

Utility companies 

  • Gas / Electric / Oil
  • Water
  • Broadband
  • Telephone
  • TV services
  • Mobile phone

Important Organisations

  • Government
  • Council
  • DVLA
  • Passport
  • Your employer
  • Doctor
  • Dentist
  • National Blood Service
  • Schools/Playgroups

Finance

  • Banks
  • Credit cards / other credit
  • Building society
  • Savings
  • Shares & investments
  • Mortgages
  • Pensions
  • Insurances

Insurance etc. 

  • Car insurance
  • Home insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Travel insurance
  • Pet insurance
  • Car breakdown

Shopping, Leisure, Entertainment, etc.

  • Gyms/health clubs
  • Mail order
  • Store and loyalty cards
  • Travel and holidays
  • Memberships/alumni – university alumni, professional bodies, trade unions
  • Charities to Inform When Moving House
  • Subscriptions (magazines/newspapers)

Unpacking After A Move: Tips For Being Organised

Unpacking After A Move Tips For Being Organised

After A Move Tips For Being Organised  move requires just as much effort as the packing beforehand, but it’s well worth it as it’s a great time to create a wonderful space to become your new family home.

So fear not! We’ve got several tips to help you figure out how to unpack after a move, how to keep your unpacking process stress-free and help you get organised and settle in quickly at your new home…

TOP TIPS FOR UNPACKING AFTER A MOVE 

1. Walkthrough your house with your removal company before they leave

Before you start unpacking make sure to do a walkthrough with the removals company crew leader before they leave.

Check if everything is in the place you want it, that nothing obvious is missing and have them double check everything is unloaded from the back of the van. Ask them to take away any packing materials that you’ve already unpacked with them if you have them available before they depart.

Check to ensure everything has arrived intact

Accidents can happen so it’s important to check all your packages, especially valuable items quickly to ensure they have arrived in the same condition they left. Most insurance policies will have a time limit for notification of claims, for example 7 days from delivery. If you discover any damage take photos and make sure to keep hold of the item in case it has to be inspected.

2. Where to start with unpacking? Get the basics set up first.

If you packed an essentials box and loaded this last then now is a great time to unpack it.

Kitchen

First up get a basic kitchen set up to help keep you fed and watered. Kettle, cups and teabags, cutlery and plates for that first night take away!

Cleaning 

Once you’ve got a simple kitchen set up unpack your basic cleaning kit. This means you can quickly clean any areas you need to before unpacking your essentials in (giving kitchen cabinets a wipe out for example).

Bedtime basics 

Next up get the basics set up for sleep. Assemble the beds, get the bedding on and find your toothbrush and pyjamas so you can quickly collapse at the end of what has likely been a long day.

3. Move on to tackle one room at a time

Once you’ve unpacked the basics it’s a good idea to work on a room at a time, starting with the rooms you want to use most quickly, for example setting up a comfortable living room or dining area.

You don’t have to unpack everything, but set it up to the extent you can use it for the first few days. Everything else that’s not needed urgently can stay boxed until you’ve decided exactly how you want to arrange the furniture or whether any decorating is required.

Flat pack your boxes once empty and get rid of the used packing material as you go to give you more space.

TOP TIP: The key to good unpacking, is good packing – clear labelling, decluttering before the move and making a plan of where you’d like each item to go so the movers can unload into the right room can really help you get a head start.

4. Think about the children

Moving is an unsettling time for children in particular so make sure unpacking their bedrooms takes priority over yours to help them settle in quickly.

Let older kids get started with unpacking their own bedrooms if they want to or give younger ones some choice in where their favourite items might go in their room.

If you can, try and keep to their normal bedtimes. If you can’t, then perhaps think about leaving them with friends or family for the day/night and getting their rooms set up with beds and toys first thing the next day so it’s all ready for their return. Our articles on moving house with children explain more about how to keep moving day as stress-free as possible for them.

5. Set up the bathroom when you can

Much like the kitchen, the bathroom will be a room required by each member of the family almost immediately.

Make sure you keep some fresh towels and toiletries in your essentials box so that people can use the shower or bath straight away – and don’t forget things like toothpaste, toothbrushes and toilet paper!

6. Dispose of packing materials as you go

A great tip for being organised when unpacking is to dispose of each box as it’s emptied.

Flatten them down and keep them out of the way – not only does it create more space and make it feel like you’re making progress, but it also prevents you from re-filling it with other things that you’ll just have to unpack again later!

7. Don’t rush unpacking

The key to being organised when unpacking after a move is, simply, to take your time.

Once all of your essentials are up and running and you can eat, sleep and wash, the rest can be done at your own pace. Always leave things like books, pictures and ornaments until last, just in case you have to redecorate and things need to be moved all over again.

If your boxes are clearly labelled then you shouldn’t have any trouble finding what you need when you need it, and can enjoy organising your new house and finding just the right place for all of your things!

How To Pack Folded Clothes

How To Pack Folded Clothes

If you’re moving house and handling your own packing then some items – like your clothes – can be particularly tricky. Here we show you what packing materials you will need and how to pack folded clothes in order to make sure they are well protected during your move.

What you will need: Box, packing paper, tape, marker pen.

Start by constructing your box. Tape one corner down for easy access whilst packing and line the bottom with a few sheets of packing paper. Make sure the box is lined all the way around and that the paper overhangs across each side of the box. This will be important later on.

Transfer folded clothes straight from your drawers into the box.

Once the box is full, place a couple of sheets of packing paper over the top of the clothes, then cover that with the paper sheets you lined the box with earlier. Tape the box up securely and label it clearly.

Spectacular Reasons To Move To Tunbridge Wells

SPECTACULAR REASONS TO MOVE TO TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Commuting to London 

With lots of new developments in and around the town Tunbridge Wells has become a favourite commuter hotspot for those working in and around London, with a direct service into the city in under an hour from the town centre or High Brooms stations.Move To Tunbridge Wells

Pubs and Restaurants

Whether you like the traditional old pubs with roaring fires and cosy chairs or a funky modern wine bar there’s something to suit everyone when it comes to pubs and restaurants in Tunbridge Wells.

Some of the most popular and highly rated inlude Sankeys, Mount Edgecumbe, Saint Johns Yard, The Barn, Fuggles Beer Café, The Compasses and The Wells Kitchen.

Events and Activities

Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding villages have an active social calendar with something for all the family.

From theater, comedy and the arts (check out The Trinity Theater and the Assembly Hall) to live music at the many pubs of the town or at The Forum. From family fun days, a multi-screen cinema and bowling alley to beer festivals, craft events… the list goes on and on. Check out Tunbridge Wells Events for a list of what’s going on now and what’s coming up.

 Parks and Outdoor Spaces

As well as being in the heart of ‘the garden of England’ and surrounded by beautiful countryside there are loads of parks and great outdoor spaces within Tunbridge Wells itself, meaning outdoor living is accessible for everyone right from your doorstep.

Some of our favourites include the large park and boating lake at Dunorlan, the lawns and ornamental gardens of Calverley Grounds, the scenery up at High Rocks and Grosvenor and Hillbert Park which is a great place to play, walk, exercise or just hang out.

Shopping

Tunbridge Wells is perfect for a wide range of shopping interests. Royal Victoria Place is a great place to start for fashion, technology, home and more from some of the UK’s biggest high street names.

The High Street is perfect for beautiful independent shops selling more unique wares and fresh produce. Or you can head out to the North Farm Industrial Estate for super stores from big brand favourites like John Lewis, TK Maxx, New Look and others.

Schools

Tunbridge Wells has some of the best education options in the County for your children.

From pre-school right up to college level including state schools, faith schools, private schools, free schools, academies, private schools and colleges, there’s lots of choice here. Visit Kent County Council – Education and Children for more information.

Kent and Sussex on the Doorstep

You’d need a whole new blog to write about all the great places within short driving (or bus/train) distance of Tunbridge Wells, but let’s just say you’re spoilt for access to a much bigger world of activities, food and drink and places to visit from here – think castles, parks and steam railways to cycle tracks, sailing and even the beach!

Pack Plates And Bowls When Moving House

Pack Plates And Bowls When Moving House

If you’re moving house and handling your own packing, then some items like china plates and bowls can be tricky. Here we show you what packing materials you will need and how to pack plates and bowls to make sure they are well protected during your move...Pack Plates And Bowls When Moving House

HOW TO PACK PLATES AND BOWLS FOR MOVING HOUSE

To pack your plates and bowls sufficiently to protect them during a house move you will need:

  • packing paper
  • packing tape
  • marker pen

Take a look at our guide to packing boxes and materials to find out more about which boxes you’ll need for loading your plates and bowls alongside the rest of your kitchen items.

Instructions

  1. Start by stacking your packing paper neatly on top of your packing station, which should be flat, stable and around waist height.
  2. Take the first plate and place it to one side of the paper. Fold one sheet of your packing paper over the top, then place the next plate on top.
  3. Fold another sheet over this plate, then place another plate on top of that.
  4. Repeat the process until you have a stack of around 4 plates.
  5. Tuck the paper neatly around the plates so that they form a bundle, turn them over, then take a couple of separate sheets of paper and wrap again.
  6. You should end up with a neat, compact bundle of plates that are well protected.
  7. When placing inside the box, ensure they are stacked on their side – this will minimise any impact damage should the box be accidentally dropped or knocked in transit.
  8. Mark your box as ‘fragile’ and indicate that the contents include plates or items of china so that a) your removal crew are fully aware of the contents when loading the truck and b) it’ll be much easier for you to unpack when you get into your new home as you’ll know what’s inside the box.

For more tips on how to pack for your house move check out our guide to packing to move house

Looking for professional packing services?

If you’re worried about packing fragile items like plates, bowls and other chinaware then choose a removal company that offers professional packing services.

Trained packers will use specially designed packing materials to expertly pack and wrap all your fragile items to minimise the risk of anything getting damaged in transit to your new home.