Your Moving Day Checklist: Part 1
When moving day is upon you, tensions can run high, so it’s important to be as organised as possible to avoid getting stressed out.
If you have followed our previous advice from 9 Essential Things To Do The Day Before You Move House, then you should be feeling fairly confident at this point, and after an early night with lots of sleep and a fully charged phone in hand, you should be ready to face the challenges of your Moving Day.
To help your day run as smoothly as possible, we have compiled a list of things to do before you close the door on your old home.
6 Things to do before you leave your old property
• Wake up early
No matter what time your actual move is, or how prepared you think you are, there will ALWAYS be something that will need doing. With a high level of anxiety in the air, the hours will start to fly by, so getting up early will ensure you have extra time for those unplanned emergencies, be it a delay in the exchange of keys or a flat tyre on your car!
Start with a good breakfast and run through your ‘to-do’ list before your movers arrive.
• Pack up your last minute essentials
Once you have washed, dressed and eaten breakfast, pack away all your bedding, clothing, toiletries and any breakfast items used.
We like to suggest our customers adopt the “Last On, First Off” motto, which ensures that items that might be needed right up until the last minute are packed on last, so they are first off at the other end.
Our guide to Packing An Essentials Box for Moving Day will give you some idea of things to think about.
Items we suggest include a kettle and refreshments, a small cleaning kit for any last minute spills and clean bedding and towels for your first night in your new home.
• Take meter readings
Taking meter readings for your gas and electricity usage is important to do at both your old and your new property, as it ensures that you are correctly billed and not over charged for any reason.
The easiest way to do this, to avoid discrepancies, is to take a dated photograph using your mobile phone.
• Greet your removal team
Your removal company is likely to arrive very early at your property to begin work, especially if you have booked a packing service.
Once your movers arrive, give them a walk-through of your property. Highlight any furniture that needs dismantling, fragile boxes and any areas not to be touched (for instance you may have a room set side to house your pet during the removals stage – see our How to Move with Pets article).
Have plenty of water to hand for them, and show them where the bathroom is, in case it is needed during the moving process.
• Oversee the move
Plan to be in the house during the removal period, so you can oversee the boxes and furniture being dismantled and moved onto the truck.
Your movers may also have questions to ask, so having you to hand will mean there are no delays to their queries plus it will give you some peace of mind seeing how your belongings are being handled and packed away.
• Do a final walk through
Once the property is cleared, do a final walk through and check every room, cupboard and storage space for any mislaid items. Ensure that all lights and taps are switched off, and check that all windows are closed and doors locked, before you leave the property.
Consider giving each room a quick clean over ready for the new owners. Clear any rubbish bags and recycling, and place these in the outside bins. If you are taking your large refuse bins with you, then perhaps a neighbour will kindly allow you to use theirs.
Once everything is done, lock the door and hand your keys over to your estate agent.
Make sure the legal completion of your transaction has taken place before allowing the new owners access to your old property. Be conscious of the timeline as there are often hitches, so it is generally easier to leave your old house keys with the estate agent to avoid having to hang about waiting for the new owners.
Then congratulate yourself on completing the first part of your Moving Day – but it’s not over yet. Read Our Guide to Moving In to your new home to find out what is next on your Moving Day checklist.
NEED A LOCAL REMOVALS COMPANY, GIVE US A CALL.
At Casey’s Removals we can offer our customers a full or partial packing and unpacking service, which includes dismantling of furniture. We also specialise in short notice and emergency moves, should you need to move quickly.
Contact us to find out how we can help make your next move stress-free. Our phones are open until 9pm, 7 days a week.