Whether your first home was a rented flat or your first step on the property ladder, the process of moving in was probably quite straightforward – it’s the second move which often catches people by surprise.
While moving out of your parents’ into your first home was probably daunting and bittersweet, the logistics of moving may have been quite straightforward. This is mainly because you won’t have accumulated as much stuff and your life might have been a bit less busy than it is now.
If you’re moving for a second time, perhaps into a bigger home or one that’s more suitable for your current or future needs, you’ll find that moving house feels very different.
Here at Ballards, we’re experts in all things removals and are here to help – so we’ve compiled a list of our top tips for moving house if you’re moving out of your first home.
Have a good clear-out before you pack
When you’ve lived in your own home, you’ll find that you’ve accumulated lots of belongings over the years – and you won’t actually need them all!
To make your move easier, it’s a good idea to have a thorough clear-out and get rid of anything you no longer need or want. By doing this, you’ll reduce the amount of things you need to pack and transport to your new home.
Sometimes, this might include furniture that either won’t fit your new home or which you simply don’t want any more. So as much as you might love that corner sofa you bought for your first home, if it doesn’t fit your new living room, it’s got to go!
If you’re moving in with a partner, this is particularly important because you won’t need to have two sofas, two fridges or two washing machines when you live together.
You might decide to sell your unwanted belongings to make some extra pennies or you might donate them to your local charity shop, but another option is to put some of your lesser-used possessions into storage. At Ballards, we also offer 24 hour self storage, as well as removals, so we can help with both elements of your move if required.
Make a checklist of what you need to do
Moving house can become overwhelming, so to make things less stressful we’d recommend making a list of all of the things you need to do – both before the move and once you’re in!
- Set up your wifi
- If you’re moving into a new-build home, register your address with Royal Mail
- Set up your council tax direct debit
- Take meter readings on the day you move in and register with your providers
- Update your address on your driving licence
- Register with your local doctors surgery
- Change address details on your car insurance
- Give your new home a deep clean
- Sort your removals company/self-drive van
You might also want to redecorate to make your new home your own. If your old home is a rental, you might prefer to have a bit of an overlap so you can get all the painting and decorating done on your new home before you move in.
Pack your breakables like a pro
When packing fragile items like plates, glasses and mugs, you need to make sure they’re fully protected from any bumps and knocks during transit.
For plates, it’s a good idea to create a cushion at the bottom of the box – you can do this using bedding or towels or purchase packing paper. You can also make them even more secure by packing them vertically, to ensure they’re safely lodged into place in the box and you’re making the best use of space.
When it comes to glasses, wrap them individually to prevent the glasses from hitting against each other in transit, and for glasses with stems make sure to gather extra padding around the stem to offer it some extra protection.
Mugs can also be awkward to pack because of their shape, but the trick is to treat the handle as a normal part of the package when wrapping them up.
If you’re moving out of your first home and need help with removals (or storage) then our expert team is here to help. Get in touch today for a free, no obligation quote.