Don’t rush into moving house, make sure you have everything in place
One of the things that you should never do is rush into a house move. It’s a common mistake that people make because they just want to buy a property and then get it sooner rather than later.
While we understand the enthusiasm here, if you rush into a purchase then it’s likely that you are going to end up regretting it. It’s a long process and an expensive one, so it’s not one that you want to look back on and wish that you had done differently.
So, it’s important for you to take your time and ensure that everything is as it should be before you commit to any purchase. What kind of things are we talking about though? Let’s look at everything you need to consider when moving house.
Find the right area
It’s important to find the right area for you and your family to live in. You don’t want to live somewhere that you are not going to be comfortable or a place in which you don’t like the area. As such, you need to be completing your research thoroughly on the different areas that are going to work for you.
In order to determine what area this is though, you need to know what you want from an area. If a low crime rate is what you want, then you don’t want to live in places that are known for being high in crime, but you’re not going to know until you check.
When you find somewhere that you like the look of, look into the statistics that are freely available. It’s about a combination of the aesthetic, the safety, and whatever other factors are important to you. At the end of the day, you just need to make sure that you are not moving somewhere that doesn’t suit you.
Work our what size property you need
When you are purchasing a house, you need to ensure that you are buying the right size for your needs. For example, if there are four of you living in the house at the moment, you may need three bedrooms, or if you want to have a spare room then you are going to need four. If you are hoping to expand your family, then you may also need to get some extra space for if/when this happens.
You’re also going to have to think about whether you want a garden, a garage, a basement, a loft or whatever other space you have in mind. Remember that the bigger the house, the more it’s going to cost.
Look at local schools
Consider if you need to take a look at schools when moving house. If you have children that already go elsewhere then this may be too far from your new place. Be sure to check out schools for yourself and read what OFSTED have put in their reports. You don’t want to move your children from a good school to one that needs improvement.
Work out your budget
Speaking of cost, getting your budget sorted as early as possible is going to be in your best interests. The last thing that you want to happen is to fall in love with a house, only to find that you can’t actually afford it. The best thing that you can do is to set your budget before you actually start looking at properties. At least this way you will avoid looking at anything that is outside of your price range.
What a lot of people do is set their main budget, and then a secondary budget that they can use if they need to. This second budget is only for if you find yourself falling in love with a property that is just too perfect for you to pass up. Don’t forget that you need to keep some money back in case any repairs need doing, any new pieces of furniture you want for the space and so on. We know that it’s never fun to adhere to a budget, but it’s got to be done!
Start decluttering
Another thing that is great timing for a house move is decluttering. This can of course be done at any time of year but makes more sense to do it when you will be packing stuff away into boxes.
You may be wondering how to declutter and what to do with all the things you don’t want. You have a couple of options when it comes to this, you can either sell your unwanted items or donate them to charity. You could also just throw them out if they have seen better days.
The issue with decluttering is nobody can give you an extra hand with this, as you need to be there to say what you want and don’t want. Don’t stress yourself out with decluttering, it can take as long as you need. If there are things that you want to keep but don’t necessarily need in your new home then you could rent out a self storage unit. There are plenty around, it is all about finding the right size for the right price.
Deep clean your existing property
When it comes to moving house, you will need to clean your existing property before you sell it or move out of it. You wouldn’t want to move into a house that hadn’t been cleaned before your arrival so don’t let anyone else do the same. A deep clean of your home can sometimes seem like a huge job.
It doesn’t have to be, especially if you do it one room at a time. Head to each room, or delegate tasks to other family members if they are capable. Clean from top to bottom, ensuring you get in all the little nooks and corners. Equip yourself with a scourer and some spray so you can wipe all the surfaces and skirting boards.
If you don’t want to do this yourself then you always have the option of arranging a house clean that is specific to moving out. Make sure the company you use is reputable and has reviews from previous clients.
Find your movers
Something else you need to do is arrange the movers to come in and help you get from A to B. You can of course do this yourself but it will take a lot of work if you want to do it in one go. It can also work out as slightly more if you do things yourself. You will need to hire the van, the boxes, and pay for fuel. Additionally, you’ll probably need to transport your car as well. It’s a good idea to get a car shipping quote so that you can budget properly for you move.
Check out what various moving companies can offer you, some may offer a service when they pack, move, and unpack for you. Make sure that the moving company you use has the right insurance in place to cover breakages during the move.
Change the locks on your new home
Finally, when you move into a new home you may want to change the locks. You may not have heard of this or even know why people change the locks when they move into new houses. The reason is, when people have lived in your home previously you don’t know if they have kept a set of keys.
This means you could come home one day and someone has let themselves into your property. Getting the locks on doors and windows changed will give you the peace of mind that you are the only one with a set of keys.
We hope you found this article helpful and that it gave you some ideas on what needs to be done when you are arranging a house move. It is thought to be one of the most stressful events in an adult’s life, but it doesn’t have to be.
