What is the Best Moving House Strategy?

While moving house can be nominated for one of life’s most stressful moments, it really doesn’t have to be.  The key is forward planning and having a team of professionals to help you. At Isis removals, we always work with a good strategy in place and encourage all our customers to do the same. Here is a plan for the best moving house strategy. 

Contents: 

Admin in advance
Moving House folder
Packing Materials
Packing Strategy
Moving House Survival Kit
Vehicles and Parking Restrictions
Set up and celebrate
Isis – Master removers of Oxford 

Advance admin 

To keep the ground stable on the other side of this major transition there are various organizations to inform about your change of address. Primarily, your energy provider, local council, and internet and phone providers should be informed of your move-in date.  Having energy, internet and a phone line working upon arrival is going to be essential for you.  Secondarily you will need to let the DVLA know, as well as your banks and employers.  If you have a TV license, it is important to inform them you have left your previous location and are moving on.  Applying for your resident’s parking permit in advance is wise.  Finally, the Electoral register will need to know your new address, plus your insurance providers. 

Moving House Folder 

Keeping all your documentation in one place is obviously good planning.  With a reputable removals and storage company, you will already have a moving plan and checklist in place.  Plus, ideally, they will supply you with inventory sheets for your packed items and any stored items.   It is common practice for a removals and storage company to agree on a budget for your move in advance.  This helps you to prepare and plan for what is ahead.  Keeping receipts all in one place will help your peace of mind through the process.   Meter readings are important for your energy provider as you leave one property and begin up at the next.  Tying up loose ends in advance is going to ensure you a clean slate in your new home.  A moving house folder should contain: 

• Moving plan
• Moving checklist
• Moving Budget
• Receipts
• Inventories for house and storage
• Utility documents for new locations
• Meter readings for both properties 

Packing materials

Banana boxes from Morrisons aren’t going to make the grade. Considering the different range of packing materials required can help you get a handle on the task at hand.  Preparation is key, bearing in mind the most common blunder people make is leaving packing until late in the game.  Check out this list to be better prepared in advance.

• Small, medium and large boxes
• Heavy duty boxes
• Wardrobe boxes
• Wine Boxes
• Mirror Boxes 
• Telescopic tubes for artwork 
• Stretch Wrap for artwork and furniture
• Bubble Wrap
• Marker Pens
• Labels
• Foam/ Paper/ Material for packing

Packing strategy 

As seasoned removals and storage experts, we recommend packing on a room-by-room basis.  Start with the least important sectors of your domicile, like the garage/shed or utility rooms. Prepare to declutter ruthlessly as its important to shed several skins in a house move.  Don’t underestimate how long it will take to get things dispatched to your local recycling centre.  So much time is used on difficult decisions around what to keep, and where to relocate things too.   Packing room by room means you can unpack room by room and helps to keep order in the potential chaos of the move.  As you pack room by room, extract your essentials for the Moving House Survival Kit.  Having a plan in place at this stage will help you on the other side immensely.  When the time comes for unpacking, again a room-by-room strategy is advised.  This time focus on the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms, and save the outer zones until last.  

Moving House Survival Kit 

What is this survival kit exactly? Despite its apocalyptic title, it is how you can get set up smoothly on the other side.  Sacrificing efficiency and well-being in a house move is not necessary, by our standards anyway.  In short, your Survival kit travels with you in your vehicle aside from the removal vans.  This way, once you are in the door, you will have the basics to set up a dignified and positive situation in your new home.   Whatever problems you encounter, you should be prepared to establish your new territory, ideally starting with the kitchen.  These are some essentials to have with you in your survival kit. 

• Kettle and Water
• Tea/Coffee/Milk/Sugar/Beverages
• Toaster
• Mobile phone chargers/battery packs
• Cups and crockery and silverware for each family member 
• Food supplies for a meal and breakfast the next day
• Bathroom essentials for each family member
• Towels and Bedding for each family member
• Speakers/Radio
• Cleaning products/binbags/ cloths/ gloves/ etc
• DIY kit, picture hanging equipment, basic tools
• Medications
• Toothbrushes and chargers 
• Toilet paper

The right vehicles and parking restrictions 

If you are moving into an unfamiliar area, it’s good to know the parking restrictions.  Having a local removal and storage company at the helm will take that stress away from you.  They will be aware of all the different one-way systems to take heed of and any parking and unloading problems that could arise on the day.  Having their custom-designed vehicles with ramps and the right equipment will make all the difference.  Attempting to move furniture with untrained family members into your own vehicles can be a sure way to flirt with stress on the day.  At ISIS we are part of the Master Removers Group, a network of leading-edge removals and storage providers in the UK.  Our network allows us to share industry insight into new technology, equipment, and resources, keeping us always on top of the game.  BAR-approved, we are tested by stringent and rigorous criteria every year for providing safety and assurance when it comes to your possession and your process.  You can guarantee that your property will be expertly handled by our trained team and transported in leading-edge vehicles. 

Set up and Celebrate

Once you are in your home and have set up your basic kitchen, you can check that all family members and pets are on board and well.  Have the houseplants made it, and do they have enough light? As the removal team bring in the boxes room by room, you can approach the unpacking in the same way.  With a clear strategy, it will be easy to keep chaos at bay and remain functional for work and school and preparing your new home.  Take the time once you know everything is in to sit back and relax and have a small celebration.  It may have taken months or even years to get here, and now you have finally arrived. Your goal has been reached and you are in a good position to hang some artwork, play some music, and enjoy your new home!

ISIS – Master Removers of Oxford 

Not hiring a professional team is one of the top ten mistakes people make when moving house.  As Oxford’s local removals and storage company, we understand the importance of a good strategy.  We would help you create a moving plan and realistically budget for your specific set of circumstances.  At every step of the way, we would be there to see you are working through your moving checklist and have everything well-timed and planned out.  If you are coming from overseas or returning to an international location, we will handle the necessary paperwork and can navigate a clear path for you.  If it is local Oxford storage you need we have competitive prices and can also help you with our local Man and Van service.  With years of experience providing Oxford with removals and storage, we know the city and surrounding areas well and can anticipate any issues that may arise in advance.  For a competitive quote or to talk it over, get in touch today.