Moving home! The very thought of it is probably enough to send shivers down your spine and cause you to break out in a cold sweat, and this is unsurprising as moving home is right up there with divorce and death when it comes to heightened stress levels!
The fact is though, that any kind of ‘change’ creates stress and whether you are moving home within Chelmsford or relocating from further afield, plenty of planning and preparation will be required.
Moving home, and especially relocating to a new town or city, represents one of the biggest changes you may make in your life and so naturally brings a great deal of stress along with it. This in turn can lead to a double whammy, as stress can often lead to a lack of energy and motivation. So how are you expected to plan and prepare for your home move during one of the most stressful periods in your life?
Stay focused!
When preparing to move home there will be an element of multi-tasking required as there are such a lot of elements vying for your attention which need to be done. At Martin & Co we understand this and genuinely want your move to run super smoothly, so with this in mind, we have compiled a handy moving home checklist to help you remain stress free.
At first glance, some of our suggestions may appear to be common sense, but you will be surprised at just how often the simplest of tasks is overlooked or forgotten when the dreaded stress strikes!
Moving home calls not only for exceptional organisational skills, but also proactivity. Grabbing the bull by the horns and completing certain chores well in advance of their deadlines will go a long way to helping you stay ahead of schedule, so the aim of this home moving checklist is to help you accomplish that by concentrating on the basics of planning and preparation.
Get rid of everything you don’t need
One thing you can accomplish efficiently is to sort through all of your ‘stuff’ and get rid of the things you don’t need. Moving unwanted items from your current property to your new property is a great waste of time and effort, so don’t do it! It’s surprising how much more in control you will feel once you start narrowing down your inventory. Getting rid of unwanted items can be done through a car boot sale, selling on eBay or donating to charity.
File important papers and documents together
Since moving home is hectic to say the least, you need to be aware of the exact location of all your important items. These are the things that you absolutely must not misplace and should be hand carried on moving day, not placed in a box for the removal company to transport.
Make sure all of the following paper items are kept together in one secure place such as a document wallet:
- Address Books
- Birth Certificates
- Passports
- Bank Statements
- Insurance Policies
- Marriage Certificates
- Credit Cards and Statements
- Medical and Dental Records
- Irreplaceable Memorabilia
- Photos and Photo Albums
- Vehicle Documents
- Pet and Vet Documentation
- Wills
- Any other important or legal documents
Prepare well in advance for the move to your new location
There are many things you can organise before you reach your new home that will help smooth out the bumps of the moving process. In particular, make sure you contact utility companies and arrange for your new services to be connected. These can include:
- Cable TV
- Gas
- Electricity
- Water
- Oil
- Telephone
- Internet access
Contact your insurance companies too as you will need to have your policies amended ready for moving day:
- Car insurance
- Home & Building Insurance
Prepare change of address forms for all of your correspondents:
- Credit card companies
- Banks
- Vets
- Kennels/Cattery
- Insurance companies
- DVLA
- Magazines and other subscriptions
- Family and friends
Register for new medical providers such as a new doctor and dentist if necessary.
Keep a ‘little black book’
Keep all your important phone numbers written clearly and legibly in a diary or notebook, for both your old and new contacts. This should include banks, doctors, emergency contacts, family members, friends, estate agents, removal companies, pharmacies, schools, storage facilities and utilities.
With proper planning and preparation, the whole moving process will be smooth, and you won’t frantically be searching for a new doctor, pharmacy or important information at the eleventh hour.
With proper planning and preparation, you will have your important documents at the tips of your fingers at all times and you will endure minimum chaos and clutter.
Keep this handy moving checklist safe and get organised or for more home moving planning and preparation advice, drop in and talk to the expert team at Martin & Co or telephone us on 01245 330500 and we will be happy to ensure your home move runs smoothly.
