If you have been thinking that it is time to move house then you probably haven’t made this decision lightly. You will have weighed up the pros and cons as moving can be one of the most stressful events you can go through. If you don’t have a choice but to move, either due to a growing family or relocating for work then take a look at the article below. It will give you some top tips and ideas on how you can make your house go as smoothly as possible.
Find A Realtor
One of the first things you need to do when it comes to moving is find a realtor. Of course, you don’t have to use one and you can go down the private route. However, a realtor will ensure that everything is done the right way. If you are buying a house then they can make sure everything is being handled, morally and legally. Finding a realtor can be a lot harder than you think, you need to find one who is great at what they do. Take a look at reviews before deciding on who you are going to use. You can use the same realtor to sell your current home and find yourself a new home. That way everything is kept in house so you will always know which stage you are at.
Declutter
A major part of moving house is decluttering and getting everything together that you need. Decluttering can seem like a huge job, especially if you have been in the same house for many years. However, if you do your decluttering one room at a time then this will seem a lot less daunting. In each room, sort your things into four piles. These should consist of the belongings you want to keep, throw away, donate, and sell. It can be a nice gesture to donate your unwanted items as you never know when other people will need them. If you have a lot of more expensive items then you could sell these on, such as phones, laptops, or other tech. Take a look at websites and stores that will buy your old tech from you for a great price.
Repairs
If you have been putting repairs off for a long time then your to do list could be pretty long. You don’t want to sell your home as a fixer upper so it is essential you start working your way through that list. It may be simple things such as re-papering the walls or filling in holes, however if you have bigger jobs such as a leaky roof then you don’t want these to get worse. If some of the jobs you have to do are bigger than your level of expertise then you could hire a contractor or handyman to do it for you. Make sure you only use reputable companies and people, you don’t want the problem to get worse.
Research
Before you move out you will need to find somewhere else to live. Your realtor can help with this step but what they can’t help with is you choosing the area you want to move to. If you are moving for work or schools then you might not get a choice as to which area you move to, however, what you can control is the street you move to. Some will be nicer than others, make sure you chat to people in the local area to gauge whether it’s a nice place to live. A lot of people will be brutally honest when you ask them what they think of the area, so don’t be afraid to ask.
Deep Clean
Once you have done everything in the house and you are about ready to move out then you need to carry out a full deep clean. This should get rid of all the dirt, dust, and debris that has built up over the years. A moving out clean should be more in depth and thorough than any other clean. If you don’t have time to do it yourself as you want to focus on your new place then you could hire a cleaning company to do it for you. They will make sure you leave the place sparkling and spotless. Some include oven and carpet cleans while others just do the surface areas, make sure you check what you are getting for your money.
Use Removals
You might want to use a removals company to help you load up and drive to your new place. Again, you can get different types of services from removal companies. Some will come in and pack everything for you, load it onto the van, drive it to your new place, and then unload it at the other end. However, some can and will just drive the van for you if you want to do everything else yourself. There is also the option of saving money and not using a removal company at all, you could hire a van for the day and get it all done before you need to return the van in the evening.
Change Locks
Finally, when you move into your new home it is a good idea to change the locks. You never know who has lived there previously and kept a set of keys, the last thing you want is to come home to a stranger in your house. Contacting a decent locksmith will give you peace of mind that the only set of keys to your home belongs to you. Ask for a quote on changing all locks on windows and doors. Make sure you only give spare keys to the people in your life that you trust the most.
We hope you found this article helpful and that it gave you some pointers on how to ensure your house move is smooth sailing. Remember, don’t rush and take it one step at a time. If you leave everything to the last minute then you will feel the stress and pressure hit you.
