Moving to a new home can be a stressful time, and it helps to reach out for help, rather than trying to do everything yourself. You’ll need to rally the troops and get everyone working together, which means you can delegate tasks to each family member. It’s also a good idea to read up on tips for relocating to avoid many common problems others made.
Aussie regularly updates our website with new content, with lots of information on moving and other related subjects. From over two decades of experience, we believe the following steps will increase the likelihood of a successful move.
How to Plan and Execute the Perfect Relocation –
At Aussie, we have two things we firmly believe affect the outcome of every relocation. The first is plenty of early planning; the second is working with a reputable removals company. You’ll need to get all your tasks down on paper (or Word document), as well as a blank calendar. Once you have it all set-out, you can put everything into a specific week, in relation to your moving day.
Your new list is what’s typically referred to as a moving checklist. You can use it to keep on top of every task. Some of them can be split into smaller action points, like decluttering before you begin packing. With this in mind, you’ll also put together a home inventory, and there are apps where you can catalogue every item with an accompanying image.
Aussie has a range of primary and specialist removals packages available, for both household and business customers. We always discuss using a self storage package for contingency reasons, as delays in moving sometimes occur. Aussie Clean is our professional cleaning service, which is especially useful for tenants claiming their security deposit back. Additionally, we offer a dedicated Handyman service for any small repairs.
If you take specific steps with the preparation side of your move, it will undoubtedly reduce any stress and concerns. And if you are looking for a removals company who will work with you at all stages, then booking with Aussie is the smart choice.
One – Start Planning Straight Away –
When you start planning to move to a new house, there’s a lot of tasks for you to take into account. The number one thing which people forget to consider is how important time is. If you think of the old phrase ‘time is money’, it’s easier to think of how you spend it wisely before the day of your relocation. If you put plenty of effort into the planning stages, the final result will work in your favour.
There’s another thing you should be mindful of before you put your current house up for sale. The average time a property spends on the UK housing market is two or three months. The data during the pandemic hasn’t shown any changes, but it’s worth adding a month to this figure. However, this doesn’t include any additional time people put in to update their property. You might be looking at an average of five or six months before you sell.
And the reality for most homeowners is the need to sell your current home to facilitate your next move. So, with this in mind, there’s no time like the present; you can start doing some research or costing today. Another task you should start as soon as possible is decluttering. If you reduce the number of items you’re moving with, it can save you money.
We’ll say this repeatedly – there is no such thing as too much preparation. You’ll most likely need to visit your new city or town for a week or two to get some first-hand experience. That means budgeting for these trips, which will add to your overall expenses. You can use Google and find out more about the local amenities, healthcare, education, entertainment, and transport.
Two – Have Self Storage as a Back-Up –
During our two-plus decades of providing removals and storage in London, we’re yet to meet anyone who enjoys packing. If you don’t specifically plan this part of the relocation, you’ll have to move boxes, furniture and appliances in and out of the way. This soon becomes a tiresome exercise, which is why savvy people rent a self storage unit.
As you pack, you can transport each full box or container to your storage unit, which gives you more space to move around. One of the many advantages of storage is the higher level of protection for your belongings. There’s no safer or more secure option for safeguarding your possessions from theft or damage. Aussie’s storage units have temperature control measures which eliminate any water retention or moisture issues.
Aussie has three storage options for you to choose from at our branches in London. Our Self Storage package is suitable for anyone who needs regular access or is looking for a short-term storage option. Aussie also has a Container Storage service for anyone with long-term storage requirements. Then we have our unique AusBox Storage package, which is an affordable option for fewer items.
Every Aussie Man & Van branch comes with top-notch security systems in place. Each depot has twenty-four-hour CCTV coverage, in addition to regular security checks by our staff. Nothing can get in or out of our facilities without our knowledge or permission.
Three – Create a Moving Checklist –
It doesn’t matter if you’re moving to another part of London or up to Edinburgh, all relocations take a lot of energy and planning. We touched on this earlier, but it’s worth repeating this crucial step in the relocation process. Your moving checklist will serve as your master document, which you can refer back to. This list will have information for each task you need to complete, so it’s worth using a calendar to set out where you need to carry out each task by.
It’s crucial that you only use a reliable removals company with a strong reputation for your move. This will give you the expertise and professional handling skills necessary to avoid breakages. Furthermore, make sure this includes the highest standard of removals service for affordable prices. And by booking with Aussie, you’ll receive all this and more. Our range of services covers all removals and related situations.
It’s a good idea to start getting rid of any clutter now as it will save you time and money in the long run. Then you can see whether you have the time and patience to undertake the packing yourself. It’s also possible for our expert removal’s team to do this for you. Aussie employs the very best people with decades of removals and trade experience. If you do choose to do it yourself, you can buy industry-quality materials from our online store here.
Four – Declutter and Recycle –
In previous blog articles, we made the suggestion that people should start and complete their decluttering in one week. However, this isn’t always possible, and you might find it easier to do this over three or four weeks. This will give you time to go through every room thoroughly and decide whether you can sell, donate, recycle, or repurpose.
One benefit of decluttering is the potential to save money on your relocation. The total volume of items for a removals job is called the load. If you reduce this significantly, it might make it possible to use a smaller vehicle. You can also contact us to see if we’re applying any further discounts during quieter periods or on less popular moving days.
There’s a vast amount of recycling points spread throughout Greater London, and you can click here to find them. If you have things you would prefer to donate instead of selling, you’ll discover upcycling collectives all over the city, as well as charity shops. It’s possible to declutter your home while also helping the environment by avoiding sending your old things to a landfill.
Five – Double Check Everything –
The final piece of the relocation puzzle is to double-check everything against your moving checklist. You should contact us to go through the relocation plan and to make sure there are no issues. We’ll then do our final checks for things like traffic reports, parking and loading provisions for the moving day. Then, we’ll confirm the time of arrival and completion with you. As you can tell, we leave nothing to chance.
The next suggestion is to check all mortgage payments and documents are in order by contacting your mortgage broker. It’s vital to do this to avoid any issues with the handover of keys. From previous jobs over the years, delays often happen at this stage and are usually avoidable. Making assumptions is typically why this happens.
You should inform your local council and utility providers to confirm your date of departure. Record the meter readings and save them in case of any future disputes. If you forget to do this, you might get an unwelcome bill or court summons. You’ll also need to leave your current property in a decent state, so consider using Aussie Clean’s services.
Then you can prepare the car for the journey to your new home, remembering to check your oil level and tire pressure. Include things for the kids and pets, such as treats and water. You’ll also need to take comfort breaks if you have young children or a dog. Plan your route the night before and use a satnav for directions. Now you’re ready for the next chapter in your life, with Aussie here to assist you every step of the way.
Six – Book with London’s Best Removals and Storage Company –
With five branches spread throughout London, one in Bath, Gillingham, and Oxford, Aussie is the fastest-growing independent removals and storage company in Southern England. We also accept jobs in the neighbouring counties, and we’re the favourite removals and storage company in every area we work in. That’s why we have loyal customers who use us for their next relocation and other services.
Customer service is the number one focus for everything we do at Aussie Man & Van. In addition to our core packages, we perform specialist services that you won’t find anywhere else. For us, it’s all about matching our customer’s needs with the correct service. And by offering more options, we’re able to attain the highest standards of service delivery.
If you’re planning your next relocation in or from London, please contact us today. We can take on any removals or storage job, delivering the best possible service.
