Homes Extra: Moving House Made Easy

Surrounded by boxes and don’t know where the kettle is? You must be moving! Sara Whatley highlights some of the professional services available to help make your house move as smooth as possible 

Are you thinking of moving house but don’t know where to start? Of all the stressful situations life can throw us moving house is up there with the best of them. Yet with a bit of planning and a few helpful reminders of the professional services available hopefully that stress can be reduced.  

Moving house can be especially daunting if you have lived in the same place for a long time. Not only is your home full of memories and possessions, but the thought of managing that move can be overwhelming. What do you need to do when you get there? 

With that in mind lets delve into the professional services you need for a successful house move.  

Estate Agent – An estate agent will help you buy, sell or rent a property. They will list your property in its best possible light, including photographs; arrange and conduct viewings; and negotiate on your behalf. When all is done and dusted, they will provide you with the keys to your new property and take back your old ones.

Mortgage Advisors – Getting a mortgage is a big financial decision, so having a mortgage advisor on hand to help you navigate the mortgage market is a must. They will search the mortgage deals on offer and recommend the best one to suit your circumstances, giving you advice and guidance along the way. 

Surveyors – Instructing a surveyor when moving home will afford you a great piece of mind. It is their job to inspect the property both inside and out and to record any potential issues or likely future risks. They will look at the condition of the property, safety aspects, environmental aspects such as flooding, and much more besides. An in-depth report will then be available for you to read.  

EPC Survey – It is also necessary to have an Energy Performance Certificate so that potential buyers can see the energy efficiency of your home. Your estate agent will have a list of qualified Domestic Energy Assessors, or you can appoint your own. It should take no longer than 3 hours and the areas they look at include: age, construction and size of the property, heating system(s) and controls, insulation and lighting etc. They will then issue a certificate that rates the energy efficiency of your home from A to G, with A as 'Very Efficient' and G being 'Very Inefficient'. It will also give recommendations to improve energy efficiency. The certificate is unique to the property and lasts for 10 years.

Solicitors – When buying or selling a house a solicitor will handle the legal side of things. They will offer legal advice throughout, making sure their clients understand their rights and obligations. They will deal with contracts, searches, stamp duty, deeds, land registry, funds, and completion.

Removals – A good removal company can be worth their weight in gold. They provide an essential service and offer packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and as additional services they can help with storage, unpacking, and even organising.  

Now let’s turn our attention to what you might need to do when you move into your new property. Many people say it is a good idea to live in a new house for a few months at least before decorating or building. It’s important to get a feel for a house, see how you use it and consider what would enhance it for you and your family. Saying that, there are some things you will want to do straight away, depending on the state of the property.  

Cleaning – Deep cleaning a house top to bottom is no mean feat, especially on moving day when there are a million and one other things to do as well. This is where hiring a professional cleaning company could help take the stress out of the day, leaving your old home spotless and your new home sparkling and ready for you to settle into.   

Basic Essentials – When moving into your new home you might want to check the basic essentials, such as windows, doors, and carpets. If they are in dire need of replacement then set to straight away, but if you can live with them, or even better if they don’t need replacing, then settle into the house before changing anything.  

Home Improvement – When the time comes for home improvements and decorating there are a number of ways to approach the project. If you are a confident DIYer then you can get going yourself, or if you need a helping hand there are many professional services out there to assist, from style and interior advice, to painters, decorators and builders. 

The Garden – Generally the advice is to live with a new garden for a year to see all the seasons and what your new garden already holds. Take notes to help you remember. Then it is time to start planning any changes you would like to make, either yourself if you are a keen gardener or with some assistance from landscape gardeners if needed. 

Change Of Address – For many this is a big stressful job and can take a lot of patience and list making. However, there are companies who can take the stress out of changing your address by doing it all for you. Do some internet research and you will find lots of websites with helpful change of address checklists so you don’t forget anything, or services to do it for you.