Essential Guide To Moving House And How To Pack For Moving

Moving can often be one of the most stressful life events, involving a combination of emotional upheaval, logistical challenges, and physical exertion. However, with the right preparation and a little foresight, the process doesn't have to be overwhelming. By taking a systematic approach and staying organised, you can minimise the chaos. Here are some valuable tips to help you tackle your house move, ensuring that everything from packing to moving into your new home goes as smoothly as possible.

How can I make moving house easier?

It’s simple—plan ahead! One of the most effective ways to ensure a smooth and stress-free move is to start with a well-thought-out plan. Begin by creating a comprehensive moving checklist that outlines everything you need to accomplish before, during and after your move. This checklist will act as your roadmap, helping you stay organised and on track throughout the entire process. We recommend this home moving checklist from Safe Store. It offers a detailed step-by-step guide for every stage of your move, from planning and packing to settling in. 

To make the most of your planning, work backwards from your moving date. This way, you can allocate sufficient time for each task and avoid any last-minute rush or unexpected surprises. By spacing out your tasks over the weeks leading up to your move, you'll avoid feeling overwhelmed and ensure that everything is in order when the big day arrives. This proactive approach will give you the peace of mind that nothing important gets overlooked, and you'll be better prepared for a smooth transition to your new home.

If you live in a large house or have a particularly hectic schedule, managing a move on your own can quickly become overwhelming. In such cases, enlisting the services of a professional moving company can be a game-changer. These companies specialise in the art of packing and relocating homes, bringing a level of expertise and efficiency that can significantly reduce the stress and workload associated with moving. By hiring professionals, you can rest assured that your belongings will be handled with care and precision, from the initial packing stages to the final placement in your new home. This not only saves you time and energy. but also allows you to focus on other important aspects of your move. Overall, a professional moving service can transform what could be a daunting task into a much smoother and more manageable experience. The British Association of Removers is a great place to find a professional and highly regarded removal company.

Get quotes from several moving companies and read reviews from previous customers. Also check if your moving company offers insurance or if you need additional coverage for valuable items. If you’re considering using a professional packing or moving service then make sure you book them well in advance to secure your preferred date. This guide from Which? has some great advice on how to choose the best removal company.

Use your house move as a way to declutter too. Moving is a great opportunity to sort through and minimise your belongings and minimise, and also reduces the amount you have to move and can make unpacking easier. Go through your belongings and decide what you want to keep, donate, sell or discard. This video is a great guide to how to declutter when you move home.

On the moving day make a plan for the order in which items will be loaded and unloaded. Start with heavier items and larger furniture. Transport important documents, valuables, and personal items with you rather than packing them in the moving truck.

If you’re moving to a smaller property than your current one, or if you anticipate needing some extra time to unpack and get organised in your new home, renting a storage unit could be a practical solution. There are personal storage units such as Big Yellow that are available across the country.

Downsizing often comes with the challenge of having more belongings than your new space can accommodate, and the last thing you want is to feel cluttered or overwhelmed by excess items. A storage unit allows you to safely store furniture, seasonal items, or boxes that you may not have room for immediately, giving you more flexibility to settle into your new space without the pressure of finding a place for everything right away.

What personal details do I need to update when moving house?

When moving to a new home, one of the important yet often overlooked tasks is updating your address across all your accounts and services. From utility companies to personal bills, there will be numerous address changes that you'll need to make to ensure a smooth transition. The key to handling this efficiently is to plan ahead.

Once you’ve compiled this list, work through it methodically. Prioritise the essential services first, so that there are no interruptions when you move into your new home. As you go along, tick off each item to ensure nothing is forgotten

This change of address checklist provided by Compare My Move is an incredibly valuable and comprehensive resource designed to help you stay on top of the numerous address updates you'll need to make during your move. It covers a wide range of essential categories, ensuring that you don't overlook any important details when notifying companies and institutions of your new location.

The most obvious ones are utilities that you need to cancel or transfer to your new property. Speak to your gas and electricity company, tv and internet provider, and water suppliers, as they will likely offer a transfer service which makes things much easier than setting up a new account.

You’ll then need to consider your personal bills such as subscription services, bank accounts and credit cards, mobile phone suppliers, work related and employer details, life and travel insurance, driving licence, car insurance and DVLA, and dentists and doctors. 

Rather than managing your address changes manually, there are various online services available, such as Transfer My Bills, that can help streamline the process of updating your information when moving to a new home. These services are designed to handle the often time-consuming and tedious task of notifying your providers—such as electricity, gas, water, and internet—of your change of address.

By using an online service like this, you can save yourself the hassle of contacting each provider individually. These platforms work efficiently, gathering all the necessary information from you in one place and then handling the communication with your utility companies on your behalf. 

Setting up a Royal Mail redirection service for your old address is another smart step to take when moving home. This service ensures that any mail sent to your previous address will be automatically forwarded to your new property, providing peace of mind in case you forget to update your details with any important contacts, companies, or institutions.

By arranging for a redirect, you won’t have to worry about missing crucial documents like bills, bank statements, or personal correspondence that might still be sent to your old address. It acts as a safety net during the transition period, giving you additional time to make sure all your contacts are updated with your new address. Royal Mail redirection can be set up for a period of 3, 6, or 12 months, depending on how long you feel you may need the service.

One important task that is often overlooked during a move is recording your gas, electricity, and water meter readings. It’s crucial to make note of these readings on both the day you move out of your old property and the day you move into your new one. These readings will serve as the basis for your final utility bills at your old address and the starting point for your accounts at your new home.

Taking accurate readings will ensure that you’re only charged for the energy and water you’ve actually used. Without these readings, your utility providers may estimate your usage, which could lead to incorrect billing. 

How to pack for moving house?

Before you start packing you need to make sure you’ve got everything you’ll need. First off, get some quality boxes - you can buy house moving boxes online like these from Amazon. Use small boxes for heavy items (like books) and larger boxes for lighter items (like bedding). If you’re on a budget why not ask around if anyone has any spare? You might also find supermarkets are happy to give away cardboard boxes too.

When preparing for a move, having the right packing supplies can make a significant difference in ensuring that your belongings are protected and your packing process is efficient. Bubble wrap and packing paper is crucial for protecting fragile items such as glassware, electronics, and ceramics. You’ll also need sturdy packing tape to seal your boxes securely to ensure that your boxes are tightly closed and that they won’t open during the move. Packing tape also helps reinforce the bottom and sides of boxes, providing added support.

A set of markers is essential for labelling your boxes. Clearly marking each box with its contents and the room it belongs to will make unpacking much more straightforward. For those who prefer to be exceptionally organised, investing in a label maker can be a game-changer. This not only speeds up the labelling process but also makes it easier to read and organise your boxes, which can be particularly helpful when moving large quantities of items or when multiple people are involved in the packing and unpacking process.

Remember that you don’t need to rely solely on traditional moving boxes. You can make the process more efficient and cost-effective by utilising items you already have on hand, such as suitcases, storage boxes, bins, and laundry baskets. Instead of buying bubble wrap or packing paper, you can use soft household items such as bedding, towels, and even clothing to cushion delicate objects. Wrapping glassware, dishes, or other breakables in thick towels or blankets can provide ample padding and prevent damage during the move. Not only does this help protect your belongings, but it also allows you to pack two things at once

A highly effective packing hack for moving is to use vacuum sealing bags for items such as bulky clothing, bedding, and towels. Vacuum sealing bags are an excellent space-saving solution that can significantly reduce the volume of these items, making them easier to store and transport. When you vacuum seal clothing, bedding, or towels, you remove excess air from the bags, compressing the contents into a much smaller and more manageable size. This not only helps to maximise the available space in your moving boxes but also keeps your items neatly organised and protected from dirt, moisture, and potential damage during the move. This video shows how easy it is to pack clothes into vacuum storage bags, along with more innovative house packing packs.

Start by packing room by room to maintain some organisation - firstly pack the items you use less frequently. Label each box with its contents and the room it belongs in. That way when it comes to unboxing everyone at your new property, you’ll know which box belongs in which room and what is in each box. You could even use a colouring or numbering system to identify priority of boxed items. Don’t forget to label boxes with breakable items too so you know to handle them with care. These ready made house moving labels are an efficient alternative to doing your own.

We highly recommend the house packing checklist from CompareMyMove. It provides a detailed, room-by-room guide that simplifies the packing process, offering practical advice on how to efficiently pack each area of your home. This checklist helps you stay organised and ensure nothing is overlooked, making your move smoother and more manageable. Check out this video from packing and house movers Bust A Move Moving on how to pack up your house like a professional.

We also suggest you pack an essentials box with items you’ll need immediately upon arrival, such as toiletries, a change of clothes, basic kitchen items, and important documents. That way you won’t be rummaging around looking for items when you’ve already had a busy day of moving.

Key Takeaways

By following our comprehensive guide to moving house and our expert packing tips, you can significantly reduce the stress and complexity of your move. Our guide provides step-by-step instructions and practical advice on every aspect of the moving process, from planning and organising to executing the move itself.

By implementing these strategies, you’ll be better equipped to handle the challenges of moving, minimising disruptions and ensuring that the transition to your new home is as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Our goal is to make your moving experience more manageable and less overwhelming, allowing you to focus on settling into your new space with ease.