Great 'Things to do when you move' Hunt

Royal Mail redirection is great - BUT don't get complacent. Don't forget that couriers (i.e. pretty much anything you buy online / mail order) won't get redirected - easy to overlook, especially on sites that remember your address details.

Also, keep every envelope that's redirected from day 1, and write on it (or on a separate list) the company name / phone number, etc, so you can call them up and change your address properly. Don't wait until the redirection is coming to an end to update addresses, because you'll miss some!

Finally, if you have a removal company, make very clear what stuff you don't want them taking - ideally, get it loaded into your car *before* they arrive. Years ago my parents were planning on staying that night in the old house, and driving to the new one the next day, but the air beds, changes of clothes, kettle, toiletries, etc all got whisked away by the removal guys before they'd realised, so they spent a cold, uncomfortable night on the floor!

aaah loads of times ive moved, hoping this one coming up will be the last (ive said im not going to move after that unless they take me out in a coffin).

dont forget to inform, dentist, docs, gas, elec, tv licence, water, school, dvla (licence and cars), car insurance, house insurance buildings and contents, tax credits (if u can get thro), child benefit, work/employer, any charities u donate to, your ebay/internet acc, banks (dont forget kids accounts), transplant/donor cards etc, vets, pension, phone and internet, council tax and of course your friends....im sure i will have forgot something cos i always do!

pack all boxes but be wary of removal firms, occasionally a box will go missing, if you put stuff u dont want anymore in a box and label it 'jewellery cameras etc' then u can guarantee that will go astray (but if its full of your old tat u wont care :rotfl:). ALWAYS count the boxes in - we label ours 'Bedroom 1 of 5' etc - easier to count back and the movers put them in the rooms for u.

Our local ASDA lets u take the bubblewrap from the fruit as it is recycled, but please ASK before u take it, but ive never had a no. Iceland is good for boxes as they have frozen stuff in they are quite sturdy, when u have moved u can put all the boxes and wrap on freegle/freecycle and someone will collect it and even better re-use it.

keep list of tel numbers in your bag/pocket or even better stored on your mobile tucked in your knickers!

get someone to look after kids/pets if poss as stressful for them, make sure u have a box handy with toys or pets things/food easily located.

in essentials box thats last to go, first to open: plastic gloves, bleach, tea towel, hand towel, antibacterial soap, loo roll, teabags, milk, kettle and mugs/spoon and a big fat bar of choccy to share and money for a quick takeaway later, along with cider!!! Put allen keys from dismantling bed etc in the essentials box, then u know where they are.

dont rely on p.o to divert your mail (i got a xmas card in feb...grrrr), best to ask person who's moving in to keep hold of what comes through but if you change ur address quick with all the above it should only be junk mail coming through.

only move very fragile things yourself, my cuckoo clock has a warning on it that anyone who touches it will get a headbutt (does the trick)

check the weather and hope for the best.... and remember its all over in a day

leave paper taped to the door so u dont forget the meter readings

good luck and happy movings to u all x

I've just moved and was stung by Virgin Media (avoid like the plague) as they charge to disconnect internet provided over a BT line, even if you are outside of contract. This is because BT charge them to turn off the internet provision on your line. If you are moving to a new provider, what you should do is move your internet to your new provider in the current house a while before you move, then move it with you rather than just changing provider when you move. This means you are not charged for disconnecting your internet without a MAC code and the new provider will pick up the cost for you. (See forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=1821665 for more info on the charge).

If you are doing a big move (eg family house), use a reputable remover (BAR member?) and get them to do the packing - everything, or at least kitchen, breakables and clothes (ours used portable wardrobes). Anything they pack is insured. Check their insurance cover before signing up.
If packing yourself, don't use black bin liners for anything except rubbish - pay a bit extra for see-through ones, then you can see at a glance what's in them.
My parents, who are super-organised, drew a plan of the new house with the position of all the furniture marked on, and the removers put all the furniture in place and unpacked everything into it, so when they arrived, everything was ready and unpacked and they had nothing to do!
Check where the nearest corner shop/cafe to your new home is in case of emergencies (lost kettle, no water etc)
The main point (as mentioned by others) - well before you move, declutter declutter declutter. Do you want to pay a removal firm (or worse, put lots of your own effort) to move stuff which is going to sit in a box in the garage for 5 years? You probably don't need half the stuff you have, so sell it on ebay, freecycle it or take it to the charity shop and let someone else have the benefit.

mrsk wrote: »

The only safe place is in your own pocket!

Not if you are my late grandad!
He put the keys to the new house in his suit jacket pocket, put the jacket in his wardrobe whilst he helped move some stuff. The wardrobe was put onto the van first ....without emtying the contents. ( don't know why) They travelled 150 mile - arrived at the new house with no keys. Had to unload the van on the street:eek:!
Welcome to the neighbourhood folks! My grandma was shouting so much we were all embarrassed- goodness knows what the neighbours thought.