Sometimes new homeowners think it’s not worth bothering with insurance if they’re just moving from one part of Chiswick to another says Harper: "It’s a good idea to check with your house and contents insurer, as well as the removal firm, to clarify that your belongings are covered in transit, even if you’re just moving between the Glebe Estate and Gunnersbury."
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) advice for movers
Get multiple quotes from removal companies - Once you are clear about your move in date start researching removal costs. Hiring a removal firm can certainly ease the burden, but don’t settle for the first one you come across. Many offer different levels of service including simple transportation of items right through to packing them for you, so it is worth shopping around.
If you are downsizing - Look at storage space rental costs. It might work out cheaper sourcing this service independently from your removal company.
Use a professional - A member of the British Association of Removers (BAR), the trade association that maintains professional standards within the industry. Search for your nearest BAR firm.
Don’t rule out moving yourself - Work out the distance to your new property, and most importantly the size of vehicle you require to transport your possessions. If you are willing to put the work in yourself, it can save a lot of money. That said, special furniture might well require experienced removers to pack and protect it so as to avoid damage during transit so don’t be over ambitious. Should you decide to do it yourself, research self-hire services in the same way, being careful to check you have the correct vehicle license for the type of vehicle you end up selecting.
Set up services as soon as possible – It is frustrating to move into a new property only to find the gas and electricity isn’t working. It is worth checking with the agent for the previous providers so you can call them to change the name on the contract or set up new accounts. Also, make sure that phone and broadband services are enabled prior to moving in as these often take a number of weeks to become active.
Check who holds the key to the door – This might sound like an obvious step but it is surprising how many new homeowners forget to check the date for when the keys will be released for the property. Ensure you clarify whether your new keys will be released by your solicitor/conveyancer or your agent, and when. Often it will be on moving day, not before.
Research access points on the day – Ensure there is adequate access for large vehicles to avoid delays on the day. Check that access will still be available to neighbours and other vehicles using the road outside the property during offload.
Plan your packing well in advance – Many people make the mistake of packing up rooms according to what will fit best into boxes but it makes much more sense to plan where you want to put items in the new property. Labelling goes without saying but working on a floor plan for where you want everything to end up will help you to work out whether it will fit or not at the other end.
Dismantle heavy furniture first – It’s very tempting to focus on packing the smaller items that can be easily put into boxes first but tackling larger furniture like cabinets and wardrobes should be made a priority as this usually takes longer. Transfer these items to the front of the house in the days leading up to the move so they can be loaded first.
Pack a basics box – A spare change of clothes, a wash bag and a charger for your phone can be very helpful.You want to avoid searching through boxes on the day because your phone has died!
