5 tips for moving home this summer
Moving home in the warmer months certainly has its advantages, not least the lack of school commitments or bad weather to pile on additional unwelcome hassle and stress. That said, there are certain disadvantages too, such as the higher prices that removal companies often charge at this time of year.
So, how can you ensure that such an important and sensitive operation as a house move goes well for you and your family during the summer months?
Plan well in advance
It might be easy to presume that because it’s sunny and cloudless and everyone’s out and about and having fun, moving home is also fairly stress-free during the summer – but of course, this often couldn’t be further from the truth.
Removal companies can be expensive and difficult to find at short notice, you might forget important tasks associated with the move due to complacency, and you may find yourself wasting time during the day that adds yet more to your removal costs. It couldn’t be more important, then, to plan your use of every hour of the day of your move carefully and well ahead of time.
Don’t simply hire the cheapest removal company
In so many areas of life, going for the cheapest option can be a very real false economy, and the situation is no different when it comes to removal firms. Does the company that you are choosing have a reputation for reliability? Are its staffers suitably trained? Is the business accredited?
These are all factors that you will need to concern yourself with as much as price. After all, you won’t want to be left in the lurch or let down by a bunch of cowboys who, yes, do sadly still exist in the modern removals industry!
Pay attention to the children
While you may be relieved not to have to factor in the responsibility of driving the kids to and from school in the middle of a house move, your children being so free may also expose them to some of the stress that you feel over this crucial operation.
That’s why it is so vital to prepare your kids well for any drastic changes that the house move will bring for them – such as a switch to a new school and the associated need to make new friends – and present a continually positive front to them about the transition. You will need to keep them suitably entertained, too!
Try not to move on a Friday or over the weekend
Everyone has the same idea about the right time to move home – do so from as early as possible on a weekend, and you can settle into your new home without any disruption to weekday working life. Alas, this ends up being a recipe for chaos, with the likes of removal firms, solicitors and estate agents all often extremely busy on a Friday as a result.
So, if you can, schedule your move for mid-week instead, not least as this will also save you a decent amount in fees and you can sort out any financial or paperwork issues at a time when offices are open. If you’ve got no choice but to move over a weekend, make sure you really do have everything fastidiously planned out, booked and arranged in advance.
Be alert to unexpected weather changes
Sure, it may be the summer, but it’s still Britain, so you should keep a close eye on the weather forecast a few days before your big move and plan accordingly. If the forecast shows abysmal conditions, you might want to try to reschedule the move with your chosen removal company, or there may just be some light rain ahead that’ll force you to take extra care to keep boxes dry as you load them into the van.
In the event of sweltering heat being anticipated, meanwhile, you’ll want to get the family’s summer clothing ready, along with some nice, cold refreshments for everyone helping out with the move.
As you can see from the above list, there really is a lot to think about when you are overseeing a house move in the summer. Are you planning to move house in Oxford or wider Oxfordshire in the next few months? If so, you may wish to familiarise yourself with our highly rated removals service here at IRIS Removals & Storage.
