A whopping seven million UK homeowners plan to renovate their property in 2025, according to a new report published by insurance firm Aviva.

Its How We Live report released in February found one in four homeowners plan on investing £14,000 to enhance their living space with the most popular renovation plans including:

• Extending the layout of a property
• Creating a home office
• Upgrade an existing bathroom, or adding an ensuite

Besides encountering hidden costs, one of the biggest blockers for granting the go-ahead for a home renovation project is space and the potential lack of it while your home represents a building site.

What many families do not consider is how long-term storage can make life at home far easier by temporarily storing those precious but non-essential goods in a safe and secure environment so space in your property is maximised when it might feel like it’s at a premium.

In our latest blog, we consider the top five things all homeowners wish they knew before starting a home renovation project.

#1 – Utilise short and long-term storage facilities

For anyone who has lived in a property which has been renovated, they will be able to articulate the feeling of relief when their home was back in working order.

However big or small the job is, rushing work to regain your living space should never be the answer. It might feel like your property is cramped during renovation works, but it needn’t be with short or long-term storage solutions.

Making the most of external storage facilities unlocks the ability for a homeowner to streamline their living area. Strip it back to basics and make living more comfortable with this simple approach.

#2 – Categorise belongings into essential and non-essential items

Essential items: Ovens, fridges, beds.

Non-essential items: Small furniture, antiques and collectables, seasonal items.

Consider what you need and what you want. Items you need like the essentials listed above can stay – although depending on where you are renovating your property you might even choose to store some of your essential items.

Temporarily providing a new home to your non-essential items reduces clutter and will increase your living space.

#3 – Relocate your home office to an appropriate spot

More than 40 per cent of UK workers engage in remote work at least once as part of their working week.

It goes without saying juggling working from home while your property is being renovated can be a challenge. It only strengthens our belief that storing non-essential items temporarily helps to unlock new living space, which can be used to help you prioritise your day-to-day essentials.

#4 – Invest in a surveyor

Your home is likely to be the most expensive purchase you make in your lifetime.

Why risk encountering expensive hidden costs when this can be prevented by instructing a qualified chartered surveyor.

This will detect any potential defects to your property, and ensure all measurements are accurate to save time and money in the long run. At ISIS Removals, we’re well-connected in Oxfordshire and can recommend trusted tradesmen who can carry out such works professionally and efficiently.

#5 – Plan your renovating, logistically and financially!

On a final note – plan!

Make sure you have sufficient funds in place to cover all the above blockers and work out practical living arrangements while your property is being transformed.

Following the above steps is a good starting point in achieving this.

If you’re planning a home renovation in 2025 and would benefit from ISIS Removals’ short and long-term storage provisions, drop our friendly team a call today via 01865 770227 or email info@isisremovals.co.uk and a member of our team will get back to you.

In the UK, approximately a third of property transactions are prompted by the seller’s choice to downsize.

Downsizing has its benefits, particularly in the present economic climate.

A smaller home means lower costs across the board – maintenance, utility bills, council tax, buildings insurance and the option to save on interest by decreasing your mortgage term.

But switching from a four-bed to a three-bed doesn’t pass without its challenges, the obvious one being that a smaller home means space to store household goods and personal possessions is at a premium.

Whatever the motive behind a person’s decision to downsize, the option to take advantage of long-term storage solutions can often be the difference between a smooth, stress-free, move and one which perhaps creates more problems than it solves.

Despite this, it’s not a solution every person considers.

At ISIS Removals, our best-in-class long storage facilities make storing your essential belongings and items a safe and straight forward process.

Key considerations

Like the practicalities of using long-term storage, the benefits of investing in a space to hold your belongings however big or small can be out of sight, out of mind.

It’s important to stress not everyone requires long storage.

But downsizing your property can expose just how much clutter (most of which will still hold some sentimental or financial value) you have built up over the years. Here’s how long storage can help:

• A permanent home for precious items

We all have them – family albums which haven’t been touched for years and childhood possessions we just can’t let go of. They deserve a place in your life, but perhaps not your home – especially if you’re downsizing.

• Simplify your move

When moving home, flexibility is often all a person needs at a time where most outcomes are out of your control. Having access to a long storage facility will without question make logistics that bit easier when it comes to moving day.

• Maximise your living space

So many of our possessions aren’t required in all seasons – summer furniture, festive decorations and equipment for seasonal hobbies, for example. Why let them take up space in your home when you can plan a seasonal rotation of items you will and won’t require?

• Retain key assets

You don’t have to think small when considering long storage. Units are extra-dry and monitored by CCTV 24/7 meaning larger items like sofas and tables can be kept for future sale or even retained if you’re still searching for your new home.

Using long term storage

In a nutshell, storage helps you take back control of the space which has been lost to everyday clutter.

There are considerations such as making the most of your loft space and using shelves and smartly designed furniture to enhance your property’s storage capacity. But, ultimately, these are all likely to be temporary fixes.

At ISIS Removals, we’re home to a team of moving and storage experts who take the stress out of the logistics involved in any property or commercial move. Our storage units are security patrolled, extra-dry and purpose built to keep everything from furniture to fine art in perfect condition.

Storage options include:

• Domestic storage
• Commercial archive storage
• Metal containers for trade self-storage
• A facility to store large loose items

Do you need a hand downsizing or making the most of the space in your current home? Drop our friendly team a message today to see how we can help.

Call: 01865 770227

Email: info@isisremovals.co.uk

Many people consider moving house to be one of the most stressful life events to navigate. Whilst it can be exciting, all the packing and logistical challenges can quickly make the whole experience feel overwhelming. However, with the right planning and expert advice, moving can become stress-free.

From careful packing to creating the ultimate survival checklist, there are plenty of helpful tricks that can help keep your moving day on track and remove some of this stress.

We asked our team for their recommendations on how to make your next house move simple and stress free. Keep reading to find out their top tips.

1. Perfect planning

It may sound obvious, but one of the best ways to remove some of the stress of your move is by making a simple schedule and then sticking to it.

Start by booking your moving date well in advance, and then make a step-by-step plan of when you need to get everything done, be that sorting through those boxes in the attic, packing up your unused winter wardrobe, or tackling the ‘messy drawer’.

Try dedicating a day or two to each room, leaving the kitchen and bathroom for last as these contain the things you’re likely to need right up to the last moment.

Don’t forget to contact all your utility suppliers 48 hours before you move out to notify them of your new address so you can get things up and running in your new home as quickly as possible.

2. Bin the clutter

As you go through each room, try to be strategic by throwing away all the things you never use/no longer need.

We recommend using the 3 R’s to help you decide what to do with your unwanted items:

• Reduce: only buy essentials until you move – remember, you can just as easily put in that order once you’re in your new house.
• Reuse where possible rather than replacing in the run up to moving day.
• Recycle anything you no longer need and where appropriate take it to a charity shop

3. Packing for success

We can’t stress enough how important it is to leave yourself plenty of time for packing. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your new home with all your belongings in a jumble because all your packing was done in a last-minute rush.

A room plan and clearly labelled boxes will help your removals team load the van in the best possible way, as well as making it much easier for both you and them to sort boxes into the correct rooms in your new home.

We also find that taking photos of your belongings before disassembling them can be really handy for more complicated items.

Does packing still sound like a pain? Then why not work with a removals company who’ll do it for you!

4. Make a moving survival checklist

To ensure you have quick and instant access to any moving day essentials, we recommend creating a moving survival checklist.

Think about what you’ll want the second you get into your new home, be it food, bedding or toiletries, and put all these things together in a distinctive, easily identifiable bag or box.

Keeping these essentials to hand will help you hit the ground running in your new house.

5. Consider using storage

Using storage can come in very handy at times, particularly, when you need extra space to refurbish your new home, or when you’re downsizing and you simply don’t have room for all your furniture. It is also ideal for an emergency situation, such as if there are delays on a moving date.

Investing in a high quality storage solution will ensure your valuable items are safe and secure at all times, no matter the move.

So why choose ISIS for your move?

At ISIS Removals and Storage, we take pride in delivering a high-quality, reliable, and stress-free service.

We’ll help you plan out your moving journey by sending over one of our experienced moving specialists to create a personalised step-by-step moving plan, so you can relocate with confidence.

Booking your move with us is the best way to ensure your valuable items have a safe journey to their new home.

We’ll cover the packing to take the weight off your shoulders and give you the confidence that your possessions will be handled with care. Planning a move? Get in touch with us today to get started. Call us on 01865 770227 or click for a quote.