A Quick Way to Move House

There are many ways in which you can move your house quickly. Quick and easy are two words one sadly does not think of when it comes to moving house and home. Now this all depends on what you consider moving your house.
There are two ways to move your house quickly. One way is to have everything boxed. Every little knick knack and item all wrapped up in bubble tape and placed in a box. Then that leaves just your large furniture to move. Rent your moving vehicle and don't be afraid of renting a vehicle that may be too big. You can never have enough room when moving your house and home.
Also remember to use one size of box for everything you pack. This is a perfect way to make sure that all your boxes will fit in the moving truck snug and secure. Loading a truck is the most difficult part of the moving experience. However, always keep in mind, like a giant jigsaw puzzle, everything has a place. This ensures that all the boxed items are in the back of the truck when loaded first. Then you place all your furniture in the truck behind the boxes. Doing this will secure not only the boxed items in the back of the vehicle but also allow you to secure the furniture with straps and bungees before closing the door. This way the furniture comes out first when you unload at your new home.
The second way to move your house fast is to just pick it up and relocate it. Now this is not a joke, you can relocate your entire home. Although there is some major planning which goes into this, not only do you have to secure all the items inside the house. Tie down the furniture and still box all the small breakable items for the move. You also have to remember to have all the utilities turned off and the plumbing disconnected from the house. Moving an entire house is quick but as stated not so easy. In your new location you need to have your foundation already set, all the piped and utility connections need to be established for when the house arrives and is placed on the new foundation.
No matter what method you want to choose, these two options should make your moving experience pass by quickly and smoothly without so much as a hang up.

A Guide to Cleaning When Moving House

When you prepare to move into your new home, you will need to make sure you have a moving house cleaning plan in place for both your old and new residence. The plan should consist of cleaning activities for each room of the house so that you can ensure that any dust and dirt are properly washed away so that you can enjoy your new home.
The Kitchen
High on the list of your moving house cleaning plan, should be cleaning the kitchen. Considering all the food preparation and cooking that gets done, it is essential to disinfect every surface. It's also worth cleaning the cupboards and cabinets of any marks that may have been caused by cans and other sharp objects.
You should also thoroughly clean all appliances, particularly the refrigerator and microwave - preferably before you move in. The chances of cleaning it after you've moved in to your new home are slim considering it's likely you would be exhausted from all the unpacking and storing.
The Bathroom and Toilet
Next on your cleaning list should be to focus on the bathroom and toilet. Disinfect and clean every surface as you did with the kitchen, and take special care to clean the floors. Check inside closets and cabinets to ensure that everything has been removed, and clean the walls if necessary. Once done, tick it off your moving house cleaning plan.
The Bedrooms
If the bedroom floors are carpeted at your old address and you were living there on a lease, you may be contractually obligated to have them steam cleaned. Chances are you will need to show proof of cleaning to the landlord or their real estate agent. So hiring a professional carpet cleaning service would be essential.
Apart from that, make note in your moving house cleaning plan to also scrub the walls of any scuff marks as well as any built-in-wardrobes, if the bedrooms have them.
The Living Areas
In the living areas, make sure to clean all the floors thoroughly and hire a professional domestic cleaning service if necessary. You can then focus on the walls and the fireplace (if you have one). After these areas have been cleaned, you can look at any small crevices where dirt may have become trapped.
Having a plan for home cleaning will assist you greatly in organising and conducting effectively the necessary house cleaning duties when you move house.

Moving House - A Simple Action Plan

While many people say that selling a house is the most stressful thing, others will say that it is moving house that makes them fret. All the worry of all your possessions getting from one place to another, all packed into one long day of fun! However like most things, if you plan ahead and think carefully about what is coming up, then there is no reason why the stress should take over.
Preparation
Once you know you have completed on the new house, or your notice period of tenancy has been accepted, it is time to plan your move.
Before you start browsing online for storage or removal companies, you need to ascertain what you are and are not going to keep hold of. We all generally have 'clutter' that we've kept hold of over the years, and much of it can be reduced after a thoughtful clearout. So review your possessions and work out what you can eliminate from the move. Then you need to decide if you are going to make the move yourself or whether to hire professionals. This can be quite a decision as there are of course many pros and cons. While being quite expensive (when you add it to all the other costs associated with moving), it does ensure that on the day all you need to is get to the new house and enjoy the fruits of others labour!
Of course though, some will not want strangers moving their things, or will feel that with a concerted effort from the family, it can all be done in a day anyway.
However make this decision early and if required, get the company booked as soon as you can.
Remember also that you may wish to have the first day at the new house as a time to fully clean it. Nowhere feels like home until you have gone over it with a duster, so you may want to leave the first day to cleaning prior to moving.
Action
Now it is time to do things. Before you start the packing, make sure you have all the 'admin' taken care of. You do not want to call the electricity company for a final account to only find you've packed the last bill with your account number!
Make sure you call all the necessary suppliers to your house and arrange such things as change of addresses and also redirects on your post.
If you have a young family or pets, it is wise to have then 'offsite'. For the day of the move, you really only want to be worrying about the move itself, nothing more.
Pack it up
When packing, all you need is forethought, it's not a science and it can be organised with common sense, however make sure you have given it some consideration:
Equipment - make sure you have all the boxes you will need. Get packing tape, bubble wrap, newspaper, marker pens etc. You can of course box the items within the room they come from as you pack and then label the boxes (as well as remembering to seal and package the well!). If the house you are moving to is empty, make sure you leave a room plan for the removal company so that they can understand which room relates to which.
Remember to pack in a manner that will be useful to unpacking. Having things like tea bags or toothbrushes at the bottom of a box won't go down well when you want to 'have a cuppa before we unpack'.
Make sure that things such as bed sheets, clean clothes and some food and drink are easy to get to.
Moving Day
If you have hired professionals who have either been storing your possessions or will be completing the move, then you have little to overly concern yourself with. Most companies will arrive, start the move, and complete the move and leave, leaving it to you to simply unpack.
If however you are completing the move yourself, it's a day to be up early and ready for action. Remember, bend at the knee, take adequate breaks and be careful! It's all effort and keeping calm, and before you know it, you're home!

Tips on Moving House from a Serial Mover

Moving house is reputed to be among the top three most stressful things the average human being goes through during life. The most stressful thing is bereavement, the second is divorce and the third is moving house. Sometimes, the top two experiences swap around in the stress polls, but always moving house comes in as a strong contender for third place.
So what, you might say. Well, I have moved house more than seventy times during my life and I suspect I will move once or twice more before I finally shuffle off my mortal coil. This could account for my reputation for being slightly mad. I have learned one or two useful lessons along the way which might help to pave the road for those of you who are considering the Big M.
The first thing is to spring clean thoroughly. This sounds poor advice since you are about to vacate the family home and it is gong to get filthy in the process, but in fact if you turn out your belongings, throw away the stuff you no longer wish to live with, and clean the furniture in the process, your job at the other end will be far easier.
Whilst cleaning, organize any collections you might have into boxes so the things which are not urgently required when you get to your destination can be stored somewhere, in that way you can unpack them at leisure. Label everything clearly on the side and the top and instruct your packers or removal company that boxes or cartons must be stacked at destination with the label showing. Mark your boxes for whatever room you want them in at destination, such as Dining Room, Bedroom 2, Kitchen etc. If you are really efficient, go one step further and number the boxes according to the priority in which they will be needed.
Unearth carrying cages for your pets and make sure they are clean and ready for use. Items which are not fragile or too heavy can be packed into drawers. There is no point in the removal company stacking empty drawers, so make use of them. Remember not to put anything precious in open drawers, though.
Pick two or three DVDs which the children like and tape them to the side of the television or the top of the DVD player. When you get to your new home, ask your husband to set up the television and DVD player straight away, so the children are amused and happy while you deal with the chaos of organizing boxes and setting up a working kitchen. Packing a few emergency amusements for the children can buy you a whole lot of available time for the important stuff in your new home.
Pack an emergency kit for your arrival. This kit should include:
The kettle, plus cups, coffee and tea bags, can opener and corkscrew, cutlery, sugar, milk and emergency snack food. If you have pets, remember you will need their dishes straight away.
A separate box containing enough linen for the family beds for that first night.
Towels soap, shampoo and toothpaste.
Hot water bottles (sometimes new houses are cold until the central heating gets going).
Any medicines that need to be taken on a daily basis.
Pack some family clothes and other essentials as you would for a two day holiday, into suitcases. That way you have emergency clothes for everyone until you get around to unpacking into wardrobes.
Pack valuables such as jewelry into bags that travel with you, do not entrust them to anyone else. The same goes for all of the family documentation that is absolutely vital, such as passports, medical cards, etc. If you have been efficient enough to complete an inventory, remember to keep it with you.
Try not to do what I did once, arrive at your new home hours after the removal vehicle, and then have to pay an enormous fee for extra time because the removal staff could not gain access. Remember also not to bury the keys to your new home at the bottom of a packing crate. Check you have all the keys you need, such as garage, garden stores, boiler house, or roof space.
Do not pack the essential cleaning materials you will need to spruce up the house you are vacating. You will need to clean it for the new owners, so remember to set aside the vacuum cleaner and other necessary cleaning items such as cloths, spray polish and bleach until the last moment. I always donate to the new owner a clean towel, new soap in the bathroom, and new toilet rolls in all the bathrooms. I have always managed to remain friends with the people who buy my houses and I am sure that is the reason!
Some people display the most revolting behavior when moving house. I bought a home in the South of England once and the day I moved in, I disturbed the ex owner while she was busy stripping the apple trees of every single piece of fruit. She and her husband were packing them into a large box and muttering something about how they had grown them so why shouldn’t they take them. Why indeed. I suspect she was prepared to make herself ill eating apples rather than leave a single one for someone else.
Another lady decided to leave behind all the furniture she had agreed to sell to other people, in the house after she had moved! She left instructions for me about who was to have what, and when she would be coming to collect the money they were going to pay for it! She said it was easier for her that way. Aaaagh!
In England I believe it is actually illegal to leave a house without a single working light bulb when you vacate a house, but this does not stop some people from removing every single one! Stunning isn’t it! I am one of those people who leave behind quite a lot of comforts for new owners and I also leave my houses spotlessly clean. I always think how lovely it must be to enter a new home smelling of lavender and pine disinfectant, because I always manage to inherit disgustingly dirty houses, with filthy toilets and about twenty years of dust, grease and grime clinging to every room.
I must be house hunting in the wrong circles. Set aside a room for your pets in which to recover. Set aside another room for yourself in which to recover. Enjoy your new home.

Jan Gamm writes reflections on life with an emphasis on world travel. She has lived in many countries and traveled extensively in the Far East, the Middle East, America, South America and throughout the South Pacific. She writes for fun and for money whenever she can manage it.

Moving House With Your Cat

Moving house is a stressful time for the whole family, and often it is our pets who suffer the most. Cats are especially susceptible to the stress of moving house, as they are normally family animals and like to be involved; the confusion of moving house can be very traumatic for them.
There are however a few things you can do to make the move a little less disturbing for your cat.
When you start to empty and box up the contents of the house, start with one room first and completely empty it. When you have done this, put the cats' bed, toys, food, litter tray and a lockable carrier in the room. Having the lockable carrier in the room, will make it less intimidating for the cat when it needs to use it for the journey. Introduce your cat to this room, as it will be its home for the next few weeks. Although the room will be empty, your cat should be quite happy as it contains the things your cat is used to seeing such as its bed. The good thing about using this empty room is that should you need to keep the cat away from something (when you are moving house a curious cat might jump in to a box being packed), you cat should not be upset as it is used to going in to the room.
When you have moved house, your cat should be your first priority. Find an empty room and place all the same items in it as you had in the empty room before. This will be your cats room for the unpacking time. Only let your cat out once the entire house is unpacked and sorted out. Your cat will want to explore the house, however it may be nervous of the new surroundings, so talk soothingly to it, and try to calm it. Also make sure you show the cat where its food bowl and litter tray are. Your cat will then being to explore the house by itself.
If you let your cat outside, try not to let it out too soon. Make sure your cat is used to the new house first, otherwise it may run away. Let the cat in to the garden in short, supervised intervals, and when your cat seems happy with the garden and how to get back in to the house, you can happily let your cat go and explore its new territory. Once you move, you need to remember to update the contact details on your cats collar, should your cat get lost in your new neighbourhood, people will need to be able to contact you.

Moving House - Choosing a Removal Company

Are you in the process of moving house and looking for a reliable Removal Company to help you move house. This always seems to be a big problem for families, couples and singles moving house, what removal company to use. There are so many companies offering a reliable service at competitive prices but some are dreadful, they don't take care of your belongings, things get broken, lost and or damaged.
Points to look for when choosing a Removal Company:
o Transparent Pricing - this gives you a full breakdown of all the costs from moving and transporting your belongings.
o Quality Assurance - have regulations in place and work to the British Standards ISO.
o Vehicle Tracking - you can track the vehicle in which your belongings are in for security.
o Full Liability Cover - this ensures your belongings are covered from the start of your move to the end.
Those points will offer you more than peace and mind, what happens if your belongings did get broken, lost or damaged and there was no liability cover. This would mean you wouldn't receive a replacement or it fixed by the Removal Company you would have to pay for it yourselves and why should you when you didn't break it.
If you're moving abroad from the UK you really need to make sure you do choose a well known removal company who has been recommended to you or has a good reputation. Moving abroad can be stressful enough let alone with problems of moving your furniture and belongings over there. You need to feel happy with your choice of Removal Company and get on with them. Some removal companies have contacts with border control and shipping and also removal companies in the location you're moving too. This helps you, border and shipping paperwork for your belongings etc. can be complicated and an experienced removal company will be able to help you fill the correct forms in and make the move more smoothly. Having them know removal companies in the location you are moving too helps in case the vehicle in which your belongings and furniture are in can't access your property as it may be too big. The removal company would then be able to get help from a local removal company with smaller vehicles which can access your property.
If you hate the thought of having to pack all your belongings up, make a list/inventory and then unpack it all on the other side then why not ask your removal company if they offer this service. Most removal companies now offer a packing and unpacking service. They may be able to pack and box your belongings safely and securely making an inventory list along the way (what's in each box etc.) and when you reach your destination they will unpack all of your items check them off on your inventory list and then clear away all of the rubbish for you. This service not only helps you save time but also stress as well, so why not ask your removal company today.
If you're moving out of your house, you may not be moving into another property straight away, you may be going travelling or moving in with your parents. Whatever your circumstances you may like to think about storage for your belongings. Many removal companies offer storage solutions now where you pay a monthly rental fee for using a unit. The units come in a variety of sizes it all depends on the amount of belongings you want to store. So ask your removal company if they offer Storage solutions.
Just remember a reliable and experienced Removal Company will take the stress away from your move from house to house so why wait, contact a Removal Company today!

How To Move House Efficiently

Anyone who has moved house will undoubtedly say that it can be quite a stressful and tiresome thing to do. Moving house is not something we all do every day and as such there may be many aspects that will contribute to an efficient house move that we simply do not immediately think of.
Millions of people move into new home every day and it is rarely something that we look forward to. The idea of being firmly settled in our new homes is a wonderfully encouraging idea but the path we have to take to get there is often the last thing we want to think about. We often spend a large chunk of time worrying about what we might forget; who we won't get around to telling, if everything will go smoothly during the move and so on. In reality, with careful planning and preparation, you can eliminate most of the stress.
Efficiently moving house needs almost military precision and organisation. You can never have too many lists of things to do so pull out the paper and pen and make sure you have enough time devoted to your preparation stage. Make lists of the people and organisations to inform about your move, make a list of the relatives and friends you may want to send a card to with your new address details and make a list of items you think you can pack first.
Stock up with packing materials and make sure you have a variety of boxes of all sizes and shapes. If you are unsure about how many you need, if you have given yourself enough time, you should be able to make a start on the packing and also be able to pick up more boxes if you need them.
Get friends and family involved. Enlist their help with your packing and give each person strict instructions about what is to be packed where and also how. If you find you have items you no longer need, you can also pass them on to others while they are helping you out, killing two birds with one stone.
Make sure everyone has a thick marker pen and a pad of paper to note down what is in the boxes and any notes needed that will help you when you begin to unpack at the other end.
Lastly, try not to worry about your move. There may always be something we overlook but if you have attempted to be as prepared as possible, there's every chance you will have an efficient and happy move.

Making A Moving House To Do List

Moving abroad can be an incredibly stressful thing. With this in mind, you should really make yourself an all encompassing moving house to do list. It's well worth spending a decent amount of time on this, as one single moving house to do list with all the important information you'll need will be a godsend in the coming weeks and months. So what needs to go into this document?
First off on your moving house to do list will be to sort out the finances involved in the move. This will include things like taxation. If you're moving to the EU, there are many ways to offset your tax burden, so schedule time with the tax office and get some solid advice. This will include pension forecasts and social security.
Similarly, health issues should be looked into. Finding out what your rights are as regards healthcare is important for your family, and should be one of the first things on your moving house to do list.
What about if you have a home in the UK that you are keeping to rent out or sell. You will have to let your mortgage lender, insurance provider and council know. You will also have to think about your children if they are still of schooling age. Have you found an expat school for them? Putting this on your moving house to do list and getting the children involved will help ease what will almost inevitably be a stressful experience for all concerned.
Then, of course, you need to think about the actual nuts and bolts of moving. Are you going to use a delivery auction website, or are you going to find the cheapest quote yourself? It might be prohibitive to move all your belongings, depending on where you're moving, but are you likely to sell it all off, or perhaps put it into storage? All of these considerations should easily make it onto your moving house to do list, but none are as important as ensuring that you and your family go through the move as relaxed as possible.

Tips for Moving House With Children in Tow

If moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do in your life think about how different you may have to do things if you had children in tow. For many parents, moving house whilst also having to take care of children at the same time may easily top the list. Follow our top tips for moving house with children in tow to lessen the stress and strain.
Involve your children
If you want your children to stay positive about your move, especially if you are moving far from your current location, keep them involved at every point. Let them know the schedule and dates and make sure they feel part of the process. Some children may worry about not seeing friends again, about needing to start in a new school or no longer being able to go to their regular swimming club and so the more you talk to your children about what is happening and what they can expect, the less they may worry and the more at ease they will feel.
Familiarise yourself with the new area
To ensure you can maintain as much of a normal routine as possible from the minute you move house, make sure you familiarise yourself with the local services and amenities. For example, if your son loves going swimming with you after school once per week, make sure you know where the local swimming pool is and how to get there so that you are still able to keep up with your children's hobbies. Doing this will make moving house more of a normal aspect.
Get the children to help with the decorating
Involve your children with the decorating of your new home and let them play a part in decorating their own bedrooms. Going in to an empty house with beige walls may be disconcerting for younger children and asking for their help decorating and choosing paint or wallpaper may help them visualise how their new home will look in the weeks and months to come.
Keep favourite toys handy
When packing it may be useful to ensure you have a couple of your child's favourite toys and DVDs easily accessible to not only keep them entertained while you unpack but to also give you a break. An incentive such as a new toy or treat may also encourage them to help out during the move and to make everything go as smoothly as possible.

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Stay Organised With a Moving House Checklist

Moving house without a checklist is like going to the store without a grocery list. It can be done but you will end up totally disorganised and without half of the things that you need. A moving house checklist will provide you with the framework to keep you on task during the planning process and it will make the process so much easier.
Below is a list of items to consider if putting together your own moving house checklist or as a reference point of tasks to mark off during your house move.
Major Tasks to Complete

• Find and hire a removalist to assist you in moving.
• Prepare to disconnect the electricity, phone and other utilities.
• Prepare to change your address with a notification service.

Planning for the Move

• Create a list of any items that you need to take with you.
• Perform a backup on your computer's hard drive to ensure that no files are lost during the move.
• Have your medical records on hand to show to your new doctor and dentist. Get these records on any pets that you have as well so that you can give them to your new vet.
• Pack items early that you rarely use (as many as 3 weeks before moving day).
• De-clutter and donate or sell unwanted items.
• Prepare any fixtures or fitting for the move to your house.
• Plan for the financial aspect of your move. You will need cash on hand for moving day and sufficient funds to use for a removalist service.
• Have your car serviced especially if there's a long journey to your new address.
• Arrange storage, if necessary, for items that you will not be taking to your new house right away.
• Make a list of each box and what it will contain. Update it periodically if you add new items that are not listed on your list.
• Plan for any care that your children and pets will need during the move, e.g., food, medication, and adequate entertainment.
• Plan to have the electricity, phone, and gas reconnected in your new house.

One Week Before the Move

• Plan the last night at your old house.
• Collect any spare keys to your house and give them to your agent or the new home owners.
• Make sure that you notify your insurance company and any other necessary people of your new address. Send a notification to friends and family as well.
• Plan to use all of the food that you currently have in the refrigerator.
• Clean and defrost the refrigerator prior to moving day.
• Pack last-minute items before moving day.

Moving Day

• Perform a walk through of your house before you leave. Check cupboards and any other place in the house to see if you have left anything behind.
• Take a few minutes to spend them in your house before you leave.

Using this mover's checklist will help you get prepared to move house and it will also give you all of the tools that you need to ensure that nothing is left undone before moving day. Keep the moving house checklist with you to ensure that you have accomplished everything before you transit to your new home.

Surviving the Stress Of Moving House

Moving house - some people argue that it's the most stressful thing that anyone can do. While that is probably pretty close to the truth, there are lots of ways to reduce the stress and anxiety of moving house.
Getting Yourself Organized
Managing your time effectively when moving house can help to alleviate the stress of moving. Make a list of all the things that you need to do, then divide them up and allocate them to the weeks leading up to your move, allowing yourself enough days to accomplish everything on that week's list.
Cut the Clutter!
Clearing your house of all the unnecessary extras will help you be, and feel, more organised. It will also mean that when you start packing, you'll only be packing the items that you need to.   There's no point packing items that will just be thrown out once you have moved, it can be frustrating and time consuming.
Eliminating clutter also helps you relieve yourself of some of the old things that might have been holding you back.
The process of eliminating old belongings from your possession will assist you in transitioning from one stage of your life to the next, leaving the past in the past and looking forward to the future.
Get Help When You Need It
Most people find little pleasure in calling for assistance with their move if they are finding it too difficult to coordinate everything on their own. Your loved ones have probably moved at least once in their life and can understand how trying this stressful time can be. Ask friends and family if they can come over for a few hours and help you pack. If you're moving far away, this could be one of the last chances you have to spend time together for a while and they'll likely appreciate some extra time with you before you move.
Saying Your Farewells
Parting from a place that you've come to call home can be a stressful and emotional experience. Don't ignore the feelings of loss, sadness and anxiety that sometimes accompany the other feelings associated with moving away from your house, friends and family. Allow yourself time to say goodbye. Throw a farewell party, or invite friends over for dinner. Take an hour to walk through your neighborhood and visit your favourite places. Allow yourself to relive the memories and feel the emotions they elicit.
Plan Some R&R
When moving house, it's all too easy to spend long days packing boxes and cleaning the house, forgetting entirely to take care of yourself.
Neglecting yourself over the course of moving house can often result in more stress, both emotionally and physically. While it may seem like you're being efficient with your time, by making personal sacrifices for the sake of the move, you're also neglecting the most important thing that is moving: yourself!
Allocate some time in your task list for some chill out time. Allow yourself treats like having dinner out with friends and family, visiting your favorite coffee or book shop, or seeing a movie. It doesn't need to be a huge extravagant event, just something small that ensures you're taking time out from the hectic moving process to balance yourself, stop, breathe and release the anxiety.
Kids require special handling during a move; they notice a lot more than we think they do and will know when their parents are stressed out. They'll need time from you, perhaps more so than usual. The adjustments and changes can be daunting and require patience, understanding and attention. This may be difficult to give if you are putting all your energy into moving house and not enough into the people behind it all!
Don't Worry if Your Plans Fall Through
Despite your best efforts in organizing and preparing everything to the best of your ability, things still go wrong. Unforeseeable obstacles and events will happen, so you need to be flexible and allow yourself some extra breathing room to deal with these problems. Don't stress about extraneous variables that are beyond your control, it will only upset you and a solution is more difficult to come across when you are anxious and stressed out. Make allowances in your task list for unforeseen events and delays. Then, in the case that things do go wrong, you have some room to breathe and work through the issue. And if everything goes smoothly then these days can be used to treat yourself!
Plan B
A full back-up plan may not be necessary, but having a list of options in case some things don't fall into place as you have planned will avoid panic and fretting setting in. Leave a few days on either end of your move out/move in day should your cleaners not show up, or if there are problems with the real estate agencies that you are operating through. These events are rare, but it's worthwhile accounting for them.
Prepare to Feel Out of Sorts
You're going to be living in disarray for some time once you have settled into the new house; boxes will be everywhere and things will feel out of control. Just remember to keep on track by continually referring to your task list so you know that you are on track for your move and have achieved a great deal already.
Remember that it might take some time for your new house to feel like home. As you unpack, and as the next chapter of your life unfolds you will find that it's only a matter of time before things start feeling normal again.

Want to Move Your House? Contact a Moving House Specialist for Details

How does a moving house work? A moving house is basically home in motion, picking the whole structure right down its foundation and moving it to another vacant lot. These kinds of homes are suitable for people living in areas where flash floods are a problem.
There are several things that need to be considered and be done before moving the house to a different location. Hire real estates experts to help you find a new location where your house can fit well. Contact your local zoning office and make sure that all the necessary permits are prepared to prove that your relocation is legal. Your insurance company should also be contacted for the necessary insurance requirements.
Budget the cost with the help of moving specialists. They can give you the right estimation of total cost of the project. Having done that, hire contractors to disconnect and reconnect things when settled in the new location. Prepare the house plan for easier work. Contractors will be working on the house foundation, flooring, wall supports, plumbing and wiring.
The moving specialists should have a good background. It is important to know that before leaving your house in their hands. The towing process is a difficult one and experts with jacks and timbers are needed.
A moving house has equal advantages and disadvantages. It is only advantageous to people planning to move just around the area. It can be cheaper than building a new house. It can also be a good solution for people who love their homes much but needed to relocate for some reason. A new real estate development may be rising in their way and some people would love to preserve their old houses for historical reasons.
It's ultimate disadvantage is the moving limit. It will be very costly to move the house to the next city or state. If that is what you need to do, then again, you need to seek help from experts with the cost estimation. It will definitely help you decide whether to pursue with the relocation or to just settle with looking for a new house in the new city or state.

Moving House - Top 35 Moving-House Checklist

There is nothing more exciting than finding the perfect home to move into. For both a first-time buyer and a seasoned homeowner it can be a great time but can be equally as stressful. Current homeowners who are about to move have maybe the heaviest burden of stress as the move is dependent on the sale of their current property as well as all the issues involved in making the new purchase. Keeping the two running smoothly and then actually moving house can prove to be a difficult at times.
It can be easy to become absorbed in the entire house sale and purchase and overlook the small detail of actually moving house. The following is a comprehensive moving house checklist that will help anyone who is about to move home. It is not meant to be the complete list but is a solid foundation to work from and will hopefully trigger other tasks as it is worked through.
Moving House Checklist - Top 35 Tips
1. Council Tax - inform the local council when you are moving and give the new address if in the same area.
2. Electricity - inform current company when completion is due. Contact them or new company on day of moving in.
3. Gas - inform current company when completion is due. Contact them or new company on day of moving in.
4. Water - inform current company when completion is due. Contact them or new company on day of moving in.
5. Mail - consider Royal Mail redirection service to capture all the companies or people who slipped through the net and were not informed of the move.
6. Internet Broadband - inform the current provider the date for stopping service. New broadband service can take a few days to set up, so make arrangements as soon as contracts exchange.
7. Vet - avoid panic when the dog is sick by registering with good practice.
8. Pet Insurance - may be gathering dust, but it still needs updating.
9. Doctor - depending on the area it may be difficult to register with the closest doctor, so do not delay. Look for recommendations.
10. Dentist - if you are looking for a NHS dentist then do this straight away as they are like gold dust. You may have to look out of the area.
11. Telephone - give BT time to make the new connection if not taking over the existing number. No telephone no broadband.
12. House Services - if you have a window cleaner, a gardener or service set up then let them know you are moving, and maybe still need them if moving locally.
13. Library - make sure you have returned all your old books.
14. Bank - if you leave this you may have to go through a security process of letters, telephone calls and branch visits.
15. Buildings Insurance - the lender should require a valid insurance policy for the property before completion. But just in case make sure it is in order.
16. Contents Insurance - set in place before you move in readiness for completion day. May give protection to any damages while moving in, as well as possibly being cheaper..
17. Driving Licence - it is an offence not to update address details.
18. Credit Card - without a correct address the statement will not reach you, and the card holder and delivery address will not match on transactions.
19. Television License - be sure you update the address so you can carry on watching television in the new house.
20. Supermarket Loyalty Card - remember the Tesco Clubcard, Nectar Card etc
21. Online Accounts - accounts like eBay, Amazon, Next etc need updating.
22. Shares and Investments - all those filed away shares and investment plans need updating
23. Friends - do not assume everyone knows you have moved.
24. Premium Bonds - contact address needs updating.
25. Car Insurance - a change of address may even get a cheaper premium.
26. School - You may have hunted around for the right location, right school, but do not forget to apply for admittance.
27. Christmas Card List - contact those you get cards from once a year but rarely see - if you want to keep in touch.
28. Life Cover - another document that might be locked away safe somewhere
29. Employer - update your personal details with personnel.
30. Appliance Warranty - if you registered your details with the manufacturer update them.
31. Store Cards - close or update any store cards you have and maybe not used for months.
32. Subscriptions - magazine subscriptions need to be updated or canceled.
33. Deliveries - if there are any long term deliveries in the pipeline, let them know.
34. Vehicle Registration Document - needs to be done for all household vehicles. Also tax reminders will not arrive without the correct details.
35. Electoral Role - no registration, no vote.
Keeping this moving house checklist in a safe place will help ensure all those forgotten tasks are done when you move into your new home.

Mike Edwards is the founder of Mortgage Deals Help which aims to provide the UK market with up to date unbiased information relating to all aspects of the mortgage market, making the decision as to the best mortgage deal to go for that little bit easier.

How To Move House - Moving House Secrets

The last time I moved house, the guy who came to turn off the gas looked at me pityingly and said that he shook in his shoes every time he remembered his move! Well, he was right! If I had known some of the moving secrets outlined in this article, I could have saved a mountain of money!
Moving house is reputed to be among the top three most stressful things the average human being goes through during life. A colleague once joked that moving house was worse than death! How did she know? I think she meant suffering the loss of a loved one, i.e. bereavement. Looking at the positive side, moving house is a chance for a fresh start in a new environment and so getting rid of the possessions that weren't needed in your old house and which only served to make a mess, reinforces this change. The best way to reduce stress when moving house is to pack early. For many people, moving house is a major job undertaken with a degree of expected disorder at the other end. It is important to note that the amount and type of preparation in relation to moving house is itemised.
Choosing A Moving Company
Use a moving company and save your sanity. But how do you choose ? Many companies pride themselves on the high level of personalised service they give. Make sure you shop around for a company though as the prices charged can vary considerably. Decide on the pick up time, and date for the moving company to pick up. Work out distance to travel. As for a container, if done properly, it is probably a good method with a reputable moving company. A friend of mine though had to organize packers at the other end because this was not included in the mover's fee! All these things need to be checked out beforehand.
How To Save Money
Whilst cleaning, organize any collections you might have into boxes so the things which are not urgently required when you get to your destination can be stored somewhere, in that way you can unpack them at leisure. It is a great chance to get rid of clutter! Label everything clearly on the side and the top and instruct your packers or removal company that boxes or cartons must be stacked at destination with the label showing. Mark your boxes for whatever room you want them in at destination, such as dining Room, bedroom 2, kitchen etc.
If you are really efficient, go one step further and number the boxes according to the priority in which they will be needed. When you get to your new home, ask your husband to set up the television and DVD player straight away, so the children are amused and happy while you deal with the chaos of organizing boxes and setting up a working kitchen. Some companies also provide packaging and boxes for you - make sure you ask when you request your quotation. The vision of having to search through endless boxes for a small item such as a can opener is not very appealing, and if you haven't prepared correctly for the move, is a very real possibility. This means you have to plan ahead and pack ONE box of essentials which is clearly labelled 'survival box'.
But there is so much more to think of and the guide below will help you through the jungle of how to move house. It will also reveal some moving secrets which will help you to make big savings on your move.

Moving House With Children

Moving House with Children
When moving house, don't forget to take the children's needs into account.
Its very easy to forget about children's needs during a house move, as you'll be so wrapped up in the practicalities of moving house yourself. But moving house can be a difficult time for children too. They're also leaving behind familiar places and important friends. They, too, will be starting a new chapter in their life: adjusting to a new home, a new neighbourhood, and a new school.
Preparing for Moving House Let your children know about moving house as soon as you realise that the move is really going to happen. The more time the childrenhave to think about and prepare for the move, the easier it will be for them.
Give your children a chance to express their feelings, and try to be honest about your own. Most children will feel some anger, sadness, or worry about the move. These responses are natural and to be expected.
Help older children make an address book. Knowing they can stay in touch with their friends is an important part of a successful move.
In this day and age - perhaps you could help them set up their own email address or their own blog or profile on a social networking site - then they can keep in touch with their friends over the internet.
During Moving House During the house move, try to stay as positive and calm as you can. Not always easy at such a stressful time!
Babies especially pick up on their mother's mood and are very sensitive to stress, leading to a very unsettled baby - the last thing you need when you're packing.
Younger children may have spent extra time in childcare or with friends, so don't be surprised if they are more clingy when they're around you.
Involve your children in the packing. Older children can put their own belongings in boxes, and kids of all ages will enjoy decorating the boxes containing their things. Doing this will also make finding your children's things easier once you're at the new house!
Try to stick to the children's normal routines. Have meals and naps at the same times as usual.
Stay with the usual bedtime routine. Remember not to pack their favourite blanket, teddy bear or book.
Help your children say goodbye to the important people in their lives. Perhaps have a little 'going away party'.
Help the children make a scrapbook of the old house by taking their own photos of the house, their friends, even a piece of the wallpaper!
Getting Settled after Moving House To start with just unpack the essentials around the house. It really doesn't matter if all your books are on the bookshelves for the first few days, even weeks!
Try to make the children's bedrooms safe and comfortable. Make sure they've got their familiar things around them. And try to re-establish their normal bedtime routine as quickly as possible.
Let the children have a say in how they want to decorate their new bedroom. This will help them feel in control of their environment again.
Spend time exploring your new neighbourhood. Especially the things the children loved best about their old house. Knowing they can still go for a pizza or to the park etc will help in this transition.
Encourage them to make new friends by letting them know its OK to invite friends round or call them on the phone.
Moving house is a big time of change for children and adults alike. So don't expect them just to sail though it.

Three Weeks to go

At three weeks to go, you'll hopefully have finished packing your cupboards - you'll be able to start packing any non essential belongings and put them away too. If you're painting any rooms, its a good idea to try to do so in the next few days, so its all ready, and order any packing supplies you want or need. Ordering as far in advance is important because you'll have the supplies on hand.

You can start investigating schools in your new area and list any questions you may want to ask. While considering which the best school in the area is, you also have to consider how accessible it is, whether there's a school or public bus route to take your children there and whether you need to pay for this.

Your quotations should be coming in now too, from those that you've requested them from, and they should be making appointments to evaluate your belongings, to decide what size of van you'll need and how many men you'll need to help you move - or just the size of van you'll need. You should have chosen your new utility provider by now, and have any forms you need to fill out for your bank, so that there's no delays in changing your details to your new home. If you're letting, you should also have a lease by now, with details of what you are going to have to take care of on moving in.

Your Internet is also something you should start closing down, and let them know when you're moving – if they have to come pick up (or move) your equipment, now is a good time to arrange this. Internet service providers have a minimum notice clause, so its good to make sure that you meet this, or you may be over billed, or fined.

The First few days

The first few days in your new house will feel just as if you're still packing – just you'll be unpacking and making a mess.  Its impractical to even try to consider being organized and unpacked within one day, unless you have very few belongings, so you should try to unpack in the order you packed, or as close to it as possible – placing boxes in or near the room you're planning to unpack may be impractical, depending on the size of the house, but makes things easier.

Its perfectly acceptable not to unpack everything in the first few days – if you've moved to a new area, you may want to (or need to) explore and familiarize yourself with any public transport, local facilities, or shops in the area.  You'll need to go out and buy at least the basics – saving the 'big shop' until you've unpacked your kitchen.  You'll probably unpack that and your living room, and if you're not taking long off work, your home office first.

Unpacking takes place over six to twelve weeks, depending on your family, and you may find that you have to permanently store items in a garage, basement or attic, because there just isn't the room for them.

Most of your utilities should be on and connected for moving – but you may find that your Internet and phone, cable or satellite take several weeks to be reconnected.  In these cases, you should make the most of the change, and unpack as much as you can.  After a month or two, your life will be back into its work/life/sleep pattern so consider any break from it, if you can, a holiday of sorts.  Once your utilities are all reconnected, you may find you have less time to unpack, so its good to get as much of it out of the way as possible.
If you are returning to work, outside the home, after a move, ensure you know your new route to work, and allow some extra time for the journey....just in case.

Small Office Moves

Moving when you work from home is a slightly more complicated – the home office is doubly hard to move – you're moving your work place AND your house.
So what can you do to make the move easier?

Moving your home office, like any other move, is all about packing the non essentials – if you aren't using your printer much, go ahead and box it, and some paper up – keep it handy so that you can pull it out and use it if you need it.  If you do use it, but not your USB, or other parts of your computer often, consider packing them away as soon as you can.
You can also take this chance to clear out or decide whether anything is needing renewed.  Got cartridges of ink that you want to recycle? Take them back or get them refilled as soon as you can – then pack em away – its one less job to deal with – and it will save you money if you use them to be refilled (if your cartridge supports that)

You'll also need to consider how you'll fulfill your duties whilst working from home – will you be able to work on your laptop?  Or will your Internet connection be completely non-existent for the next month, whilst you close down one house and settle into a new one.

You'll also have to consider shipping issues – if you collect items regularly, you'll need to make arrangements for them – if you've got stock that's regularly sent to you, what will happen in the 'grey' area between your old house and new house, if there is one?

Moving your home office can be frustrating, and tiring, but well worth it in the long run – that corner you claimed in a rush when you started working from home could become a well planned nook in your new house, with a little imagination.

Rental contracts

When renting a house, you have to consider your own rights and needs before signing that lease. Leases protect tenants and landlords rights alike - these rights are laid out fully in any lease you sign.
Leases are considered legal contracts, so its important you know what you're signing and what you're giving up.

Your lease should contain your rent details, and how much grace you'll have if you have problems paying. Your lease will also detail who your landlord is and give you contact details for them. You'll need to consider what your lease should cover - whether you're allowed pets or to redecorate. It  should outline what your responsibilities are to do with the house - whether you'll be responsible for the house - whether you'll be required to keep the garden, if you have one - what bills your rental cost covers, what taxes and fees to do with the house you'll be required to pay and how long your lease is for.

A short hold lease is 6 months, and other leases can last longer. An average of around a year is a good length, though it all depends on how comfortable you are with the idea of possibly moving again within 12 months. It should also detail how long it renews for, when it renews.

You'll need to ensure your notice period is a fair one - and get information on how that will work. Its always a good idea to make sure your landlord is responsible for any breakages, such as the heating, boiler, or plumbing - and that you are only responsible for minor breakages, if at all. Optional additions to your lease might include whether you're responsible for window breakages, and other minor things - and whether you need to take out insurance to cover your property or whether that's included.

The most important thing to remember about your lease is that you should be completely satisfied with it, and that it doesn't put you in a position that's unreasonable, or unmanageable. Good leases give you the power to live in the home comfortably, without paying the major bills, and those leases are also usually the most acceptable for both tenant and landlord.

Preparing your old house for sale

If you're selling your house, you have to do several things to ensure its ready for a smooth and easy sale. You can hire an estate agent, interior stager or complete sales teams to sell your house - or you can do it yourself.

Houses are considered to be easiest to sell when they are clean, tidy, free of clutter, and the walls are neutrally toned - some sites and experts suggest painting your walls white, others suggest that you should paint them with pale, neutral, matching colors. If this isn't possible, it is important to make sure your walls are clean - removing clutter and cleaning woodwork and painted walls, can give your room a much needed lift.

If you're de-cluttering, you can also begin packing whilst doing so, but considering some houses sell up to three months before you're planning on moving OR up to a year after you've moved, its also important not to plan to sell straight away, unless your house is in a highly sought after area, and you've got a good, competitive price. If not, you might be in for quite a wait on selling your house - and you also have to find a new place to move to yourself.

Estate agents, and Realtors do a great job of selling houses, but in an ever increasingly competitive market, you have to do very unique things to sell your house - it has been reported that some people are offering new cars, or paying the tax on your house for the first year of your stay in the new house. The housing market is always expanding, but you can't sell just anything - dilapidated houses can't simply be considered 'fixer uppers' and all houses for sale have to meet ever increasing stringent codes - or have new owners that will fix these to meet those codes.

Painting, and Decorating

Painting, decorating and other ways to make sure your house is in a good condition to sell.

House selling has become a very competitive market, and though people are desperate in some areas to buy a house, its important you take care to ensure that the you've done all you can to make your house as attractive, safe and saleable as possible.

It is said that the average house buyer has no vision – which means you need to make their 'envisioning' themselves within the house as easy as possible.
Dark paintwork is a definite turn off – as are stained, worn or smelly carpets – both of which need to be taken care of. 

On the latter, you could offer an 'allowance' or remove a fraction of the house costs for carpets – or, if you can, invest yourself and replace them, to allow a possibly higher sale price.  Walls should be painted off white, or antique white – or possibly very pale and pastel shades if you're planning on redecorating – you may have no option if your walls are stained, marked or damaged.

Its also a good time to ensure that everything that you've been meaning to repair is taken care of is actually done – a faulty stair tread, banister or fence in the garden may only be a minor annoyance to you, but can be a danger to anyone looking at the house.

Its hard to sell your house without help, but one of the biggest tips you can take to ensure your house sells is to make sure you've removed your 'imprint'.   Looking at the house impartially, remove anything that screams 'my personality' and 'my personal space'.

Things like photos, pieces of unique artwork, and ornaments and more can be removed before people come to view the house.   Remember – they want to buy the house, not feel how you lived there, so if you haven't finished boxing up your non essentials by the time you start showing them the house, its time to consider whether you really need the clutter still unpacked – or whether its time to put it in the bin.

Packing Time

Most rooms take around two days to pack, but sometimes you also have to do other 'chores' such as repairs, painting, or replacing old or worn items before moving. Some people do that whilst planning to move, others move out and leave their house for a landlord or landlady - others still move from one housing association house to another.

It’s important to also remember that you will NOT want to pack your whole house in a week, given the choice. Packing is dull for most people - it takes a lot of time that you might want to spend elsewhere. And while it, and de-cluttering while you go, is an essential aspect of moving, there are a few things you can do to make the time go faster.

Clear out your biggest cupboards first - you can store boxes and other packed items in there - and those cupboards may just be full of clutter too - once you've cleared the cupboards, sweep and wipe down the surfaces and then use those cleared spaces for the boxes you're not using now and won't use until after your move. Pack items you know you won't need first - it might seem obvious, but packing up and pouting away your winter clothes in summer, or putting away your hobby stuff stored in the bottom of your closet is a must.

It means you're not living out of boxes for the duration of your packing, and it also means that you'll be able to store those boxes. Get rid of your children's old clothes and toys BEFORE you pack - its easy to pack around small children, harder to sneak their favorite outgrown things into the bin whilst they aren't looking.

It’s important to remember though that space wins over sentimentality, every time, and if you're going to keep something ensure its for the right reasons. Packing might take a while, but remember, if you're organized and mark your boxes while packing, your unpacking won't take nearly as long.

Packing Order

Optimal packing order is based entirely on preference. Some people like to pack their living room last - some like to pack rooms in two lots - one round to remove the non essentials, and one round to complete packing, others still like to pack where they can, when they can.

Deciding on what's unimportant and can be packed first is a good place to start. After de-cluttering thoroughly, packing any books, and out of season clothes, you can start deciding on a packing schedule. Your packing schedule should take into account any redecorating or repairs you want to undertake - and should also allow for anything you need to use.

These essentials should be packed over the last day, so don't leave out too much - or you'll find it very difficult to finish packing in time. Wardrobes, your garage, and shed can be packed as one of your first tasks - if you don't use your garage and its secure, you could then store any boxes there, or in cupboards.

Books, videos and DVD's are a good place to start, leaving your essentials out until you are about to move. Packing your bedrooms, toys, and clothes should take place over the four weeks preceding your move, but you may want to consider packing as much as you can and keeping out only essentials. Home offices should keep only the times they need to complete and fulfill orders over the duration of the move - and pack anything that you don't use as often.

Packing your dishes, cutlery and cooking utensils is probably best kept for last, alongside any of your home office materials you use regularly - over the morning of your move if you can - as is anything like shampoo, toiletries and work uniforms and equipment you use for your work. Packing might take over four weeks, but its worth it

Packing Fragile Items

Fragiles are some of the hardest items to pack. From ornaments to dishes, antiques, photos and lights, you'll need to consider what you're packing, and how best to transport them.

Large photos, framed items and paintings other wall based items are easiest wrapped in bubble-wrap and then placed carefully in a safe place – they'll need to be monitored carefully when moving, as anything falling against them could cause serious damage, tear or break them.

By far and away, the most awkward items to move are computer monitors and TV are the hardest to move – unless you've kept their boxes, you'll find it very difficult to either fit them into a box that you have acquired, or find that you need the boxes for other things.  These can be wrapped in sheets or dust covers and placed, with padding around them, in the van once the boxes are in.  Most removal companies bind layers to stop them from shifting or falling, so you can secure your monitors, and computers in the same way.

Fragile items, such as ornaments and dishes can go in polystyrene bead lined boxes, or be packed in bubble wrap, but its important to remember that this will cut down on the volume of the items you can fit into the box, and its still no guarantee that they will survive the move.

Careful packing does minimize the risk of things being broken, but one of the only ways to actually ensure that you have no breakages whilst moving is to take them with you, or, if hiring a firm, allowing them to pack.

Newspaper is a great buffer item, but remember, the ink may rub off when you're in transit, giving you another chore at the other end.  You can get white “newsprint” paper from most box suppliers, which is considered to be best for packing and wrapping fragiles.

One Week to go

Your final week will be filled with packing, rushing, and trying to arrange the last of your address changes. Your bank, credit card, mobile phone and utilities should all know that you're moving and on which date you're transferring to that address – so all that remains now is to make sure that you have new utilities in your new house and that they have a definite date for beginning.

The last week of packing is everything you have left – with an eye to ensuring that you'll be able to live out of as few boxes as possible and seal the rest.  By now, you'll probably find that you've got a lot of boxes stacked in several rooms and will be sick of the whole moving process.  But in just over a week you'll be in your new home, unpacking.

Your appliances should be checked and cleaned with seven days to go – you should possibly consider not buying frozen goods at all over the next week, unless you're sure that they won't defrost during the move.  Wastage is easily avoided and you can use up all of the items in your freezer without needing to buy more.  You may also want to start making a list of any items you'll need when you move to your new house – anything you've ran out of or will use before the move, so that you can buy more once you're in your new house.

You should also consider, if possible, cleaning any rooms you're not going to use much.  Give them a through scrubbing – it will save you having to do it (or hire someone to do it) on the last few days before your move.

You should also order any items notifying people of your new address now – giving them plenty of time to reach you – or plenty of time to be printed and collected.

One month to go

At one month out, you should consider booking your van. This is important because the longer you leave your bookings, the harder it may be to get an affordable moving company. This also goes for moving, if you're allowing a firm to pack and move you.

Packing firms may also need plenty of warning to be booked, so ensure you investigate this fully before committing to booking them with a month of time. You may need to book them sooner., or may have a little leeway. Booking at one month in advance (or more) also means its easier to collect and decide, impartially on the quotes you collected in the previous weeks. These quotes may have seemed a long way off, but at 30 or so days until you move, it may seem like a long way off, but depending on the size of your house it may be no time at all.

If you're moving house and booking a firm to help you, you may also want to consider booking a cleaning company to come in and clean behind you. They can clean your house, after your belongings are packed and have professional methods for removing stains, marks and other tricky marks on walls, doors and carpets. Even if you're moving yourself, you may need to hire a professional cleaning firm to fulfill your contract with your landlord.

At one month to go you should also start investigating utilities and other things that will transfer with you - moving is a good time to take advantage of any offers that you might get with your phone, electricity, Internet or gas. Taking advantage of this now may not make sense, but in the long run it means you can investigate your options and make an educated decision on your utilities and other billables.

moving further than a couple of stress

Sometimes, moves take us hundred's of miles from our home town – to new states, countries or continents.  These moves are harder to plan for, and require much more stringent assessment of belongings, so that you can afford the move itself.
Long distance moves are harder on families who are used to supporting one another – you'll often find that your phone bill increases and that you'll have more problems adjusting if you're moving away from familial support – if you're moving TO your family though, you can be sure that things may get easier – if a little nutty.  Moving back to one, or both families guarantees that your life will probably be filled with help – or interference, depending on how you view your family's input – either way, its worth it, once you find clear and consistent boundaries.
The move itself should be planned the same way as you would any other move – but remember, the more you're moving, the more petrol you'll need.  A 400 mile move MAY end up costing you the same as renting a van in the UK – a move out of the country may be cost prohibitive, and it may be easier just to sell everything and start fresh when you get there.
A long move such as over several hundred miles may also change schooling arrangements, or your job – uprooting over a distance of hundreds of miles can lead to new opportunities – or the loss better ones back where you were – so you have to carefully evaluate what you want from your life, and whether it would be best served by moving to a whole new part of the world.
Moving to a different country or continent may leave you with language to consider – do you speak the language that is predominant there – and if not, can you learn it?  If you can't communicate, you'll find it harder to do many things we take for granted.

Moving House

The average person moves house several times in their lifetime. Moving for a job, more space, or a change of scenery, its one of the most stressful, and rewarding times for the majority of people. From moving a few doors down, to across a continent, moving house is one of the most important things, and sometimes the hardest to organize.

From collecting supplies - buying boxes and tape, to packing your house up, cleaning and moving to your new home, its an adventure for all involved. Small and home offices are also usually quite interesting to move - a new area for local clients and a nightmare for people that run services online, so its important to plan accordingly and ensure that you've made plans to cover yourself during the move. Your small office may be the last thing you actually pack fully, but you can start by cleaning through your paperwork and ensuring everything you've got has storage - if you run a craft business or have a hobby that takes up space, its always good practice, as soon as you've heard you'll be moving, to start clearing and boxing up your non essential supplies.

 It takes careful planning to move house, but you can do so via the web at http://movingplan.com or http://helpiammoving.com - two great sites that help you plan your move and give you an idea where to start. Most importantly, you need to start planning as soon as you know you're moving - so that you're as organized as possible.

Whether you're selling your house or moving due to a new baby, need for more, or less space, because you're renting and need to move on, or are going to let your own house and move into another one - moving can be stressful....but it can also be a lot of fun.

Moving Day

The day of your move is all about getting you out of one house and into the new one – if you've hired a company, all you'll need do is oversee them, or stay out of their way entirely.  If you haven't, its important to have some strong family members and friends on hand to help you shift everything into your van.
Empty one room at a time, and ensure the cupboards (if they are walk in) are also empty – once its done, sweep, mop or vacuum, and do one final pickup then close the door.  Make it clear to the others helping you that sealed rooms are finished with, so that people aren't trailing dirt into rooms that are finished and clean.

Moving day itself will probably pass in a  blur, so its important to try to savor your final moments in the house you're leaving.  You'll probably have many memories, good and bad, there, and full closure on that period in your life is important, so that you can move on.

You'll want to keep a couple of boxes, or bags spare and on hand so that you can catch anything that you've missed, that's been knocked into a corner, or essentials that you've kept out for the move – the latter should be marked clearly so that you can find them at the other end.

Keeping your kettle, mugs, coffee, tea, toiletries and baby supplies (if you've got a small child) separate from your packed belongings might be a good idea, as is keeping any essential work, moving, utility or ID documents in a safe place during your move.  The latter will ensure that they don't accidentally go astray, or are placed somewhere that you can't find them.

You should take a final meter reading, and where appropriate, shut down any water, electricity or gas supplies if no one is going to be in the house for a few days after you.

Buying Boxes

Boxes and bags are the staple for moving - whether you're using plastic boxes and under bed storage containers, or getting cardboard ones - using suitcases, or black and plastic bags, you'll need to consider how many you need and allow for extra. You'll also need newspapers, paper, packing foam and/or bubble wrap. You'll also need tape, a marker pen and if you get them, stickers to mark your boxes.

Buying boxes and containers from hardware stores or supermarkets is a good way to get sturdy, reusable containers for your new house, but may not prove to be cost effective if you've got lots of belongings. Boxes are a good, cheap alternative to plastic containers and can be bought from websites, along with tape and stickers to mark your boxes.

Boxes are a great way to pack things into regular spaces and makes them easier to carry. You can also get boxes from supermarkets, and sometimes from recycler and on Craig’s list. Some removal firms also supply them if you're using their vans, or their moving men, or provide them if you are letting them pack for you. Packing clothes into suitcases or bags means that they are easy to transport, and easy to fit into spare spaces in your transport, but you need to make sure that the bags or cases are sturdy enough to contain your belongings well.

Cheap bags are no good if you need to use two of them or they burst when you pick them up. Snagging risks are also something you'll have to consider, as anything sharp might cause tears in your bags. Containers should all be stackable to get the most use whilst moving - or should be placed in front of your boxes so that your space is maximized whilst the move is in progress.

Hiring a company to move you

Hiring a company to move you is something that you may want to consider if you've got enough money to do so, and can't afford the time to do it yourself, or its impossible for you to pack and move.

Moving companies offer several great reasons to hire them - with different levels of service. From companies who will show up and move you and your belongings to companies who will pack, clean and move your belongings from place to place.

There are also more and more 'complete' package companies springing up, designed especially professionals - allowing them to move to their job, without the hassle of it all. These companies do it all - from finding a suitable house within your price range and requirements, to packing you and moving you in. Some even unpack at the other end for you.

You'll need to check any company out thoroughly before hiring them - each company should be vetted to your satisfaction, with viable references, if possible. You should also search for any complaints or comments about them online, and see what comes up. These recommendations should also contain information on whether they were prompt, priced fairly, or added additional costs.

You may also want to ask the company themselves for references, and information on when their cheapest and most expensive times are to move. You may find moving midweek to be far more cost effective, as weekends always carry a premium.

The company you eventually choose to move you will want to come out and inspect your home, to work out what they will be moving, and to provide you with a quotation, so you may want to de-clutter before they arrive - they will take an inventory, in some cases, with you and decide what your quotation will be. These companies will also provide you with a complete overview of their insurance - review it carefully so you're sure of what they cover and what you're liable for, should the worst happen.

Stay Organised With a Moving House Checklist

Moving house without a checklist is like going to the store without a grocery list. It can be done but you will end up totally disorganised and without half of the things that you need. A moving house checklist will provide you with the framework to keep you on task during the planning process and it will make the process so much easier.
Below is a list of items to consider if putting together your own moving house checklist or as a reference point of tasks to mark off during your house move.
Major Tasks to Complete

• Find and hire a removalist to assist you in moving.
• Prepare to disconnect the electricity, phone and other utilities.
• Prepare to change your address with a notification service.

Planning for the Move

• Create a list of any items that you need to take with you.
• Perform a backup on your computer's hard drive to ensure that no files are lost during the move.
• Have your medical records on hand to show to your new doctor and dentist. Get these records on any pets that you have as well so that you can give them to your new vet.
• Pack items early that you rarely use (as many as 3 weeks before moving day).
• De-clutter and donate or sell unwanted items.
• Prepare any fixtures or fitting for the move to your house.
• Plan for the financial aspect of your move. You will need cash on hand for moving day and sufficient funds to use for a removalist service.
• Have your car serviced especially if there's a long journey to your new address.
• Arrange storage, if necessary, for items that you will not be taking to your new house right away.
• Make a list of each box and what it will contain. Update it periodically if you add new items that are not listed on your list.
• Plan for any care that your children and pets will need during the move, e.g., food, medication, and adequate entertainment.
• Plan to have the electricity, phone, and gas reconnected in your new house.

One Week Before the Move

• Plan the last night at your old house.
• Collect any spare keys to your house and give them to your agent or the new home owners.
• Make sure that you notify your insurance company and any other necessary people of your new address. Send a notification to friends and family as well.
• Plan to use all of the food that you currently have in the refrigerator.
• Clean and defrost the refrigerator prior to moving day.
• Pack last-minute items before moving day.

Moving House Made Easier for You!

Whether you plan to move locally or interstate the most important thing to do first is "Plan" every detail. If you plan well everything will fall into place. Firstly you need to get rid of everything you do not need; if you pare down you can save precious dollars in your actual removal process. This is probably the hardest and most time consuming part of the process that you will have to deal with.
Give it time. Take the time to look at your old photos, the ancient newspaper cuttings, your great grandmothers recipes, your ex-husbands old baseball bat, and so it goes on. You may well find treasures in your throw outs that you can turn into something profitable at a later stage so do not be too enthusiastic in your throw out. So the basic rules here are to discard, give away and throw away what you no longer want. Then what is left goes with you to your new home. You also need to be well slept, as moving house is an emotional and stressful time well documented as being in the "top ten" stress inducers!
By now you have gone through your goods carefully - and cleared out all your unwanted items. Your next step is to hold a Garage Sale with your discards to make some money from the items that you have decided that you no longer require and then you can put this money towards your relocation. Anything goes Books, Baby Clothes, Baby Equipment, Childrens clothing, CDs & Cassettes, Craft Items, Electronic Equipment, Kitchenware, Magazines, Musical Instruments, Photographic Equipment, Sporting Equipment, Toys, Miscellaneous goods, particularly Vintage goods.
If you decide that, because for example you live on the top floor in a sixteen floor building with a lift which has dodgy habits, a garage sale is not for you then maybe you could opt for selling your unwanted items on eBay. Books have been written which actually specify what sells well on eBay and you never know - just maybe you have some of those items sitting in your loft or at the back of a cupboard that are of worth, and these can contribute greatly towards your relocation expenses. Worth a go anyway. Register with E-bay to get your own website but just make sure that you give it a name that reflects what you are selling; i.e. Janes' moving-house- sale at E-bay.
You have made your decision now what! You need to choose how you are going to move house. If you decide to go the Moving Company way then you need to think about the steps to take. Your choice of company could simply be based on a friends' recommendation. Next prepare a specification that reflects your exact needs or simply hire a do-it-yourself truck and ask friends to help you on the big day. If you go down the path of hiring a removals company; you will now need to supply them with a particular specification of exactly what your requirements are; your current and new addresses; telephone nos; the number of packed boxes you are taking; the amount of furniture you have, whether there are steps, stairs or a weight bearing lift at either end (this has a direct bearing on the weight of your fridge or your piano and the number of men required to move these items, plus the type of trolley and harnesses needed to haul the item up or down), etc before moving.
After assessing your quotation, making your decision then setting the relocation date then one last question needs to be asked; Will the Moving Company need you to have someone at both ends? Probably. However, if you are unable to be on-site at either one of your locations, or to have a trusted family member/friend to represent you then maybe you will have to supply your security codes/keys to the company representative for their access to your new home. You can always change the codes later if you wish!
Packing. Finally the day arrives and you are all packed up and ready to go. But how did you pack? There is a system. Photograph everything. Place all furniture in one obvious place so that the movers can load it on to the truck first. Pack your boxes for shipping with labels applied to each and every box, Inventory each item for the box, and then stack carefully. Write your room name onto the specific label first (so the movers know where to put it at the new place), then a number (i.e.: kitchen-1, bedroom 2, etc.). Beneath the Room Name write a brief description of the contents (pots and pans, recipe books, blankets, linen). So how many boxes do you have to go? Maybe you have a total of 45 boxes. Where are these boxes going? As per discussion in the previous sentence identify each room with its individual number on the outside of the box.
Then mark the number of boxes packed up for each room. OK to explain; you possibly have 8 packed up boxes in the kitchen. So armed and dangerous you take your eye catching coloured pen and head to your kitchen to number the boxes. For example mark the kitchen as room no. 1, then mark the appropriate kitchen boxes for the number of boxes to be relocated to the new kitchen 1 of 8, 2 of 8 etc. Do this for every room. Make sure that the total of all the individual boxes adds up correctly with the sum of the total number of boxes for the entire house. This will help you to identify (if anything should go missing) which room the box was marked to and what number it carried. You can then cross reference your inventory for the boxed items missing. Have a plan for the house you are moving to and mark the rooms off as 1 through the number (i.e. 8) of rooms you have in the new house. Again for example: no.1 for the kitchen in the new house to match up with your kitchen in your old house.
Now you have a clear idea of where everything is going and how many boxes will be going into the same room at the new house. This will obviously help both you and the moving company. Place "FRAGILE" stickers onto the boxes packed with the breakable items; wrap as appropriate all furniture, china, glassware etc in plastic, old rugs, bubble wrap, cardboard, and newspaper. Re. the boxes to be opened first, use identifiable label colors for instant recognition i.e. the bedding and the kettle. Your photos and inventory list can go to your insurance agent. Although if you decide to tap into the marine insurance carried by your removal company, this could mean that your home insurance policy may not be in force at this time.
This is an area of concern that you need to be quite clear about and should seek advice from both the moving company and your home insurance provider; in fact all/any parties concerned in the provision of your insurance. Remember you will be very tired by this stage. So one last thing to do when you pack up your last minute items which are travelling with you; ensure that the traveling needs of your children & your pets are catered for. Also, plan the space in your car to take your food as it is quite normal for the moving company to refuse to carry the contents of your fridge and pantry. Moving companies do not normally take your pot plants either.
Before you leave ensure you have locked up, turned off the electricity and the taps, and advised those who need to know that you no longer reside at this address. Hand over your keys to the appropriate people. Be sure to include your post office (where you can have for a small price your mail re- directed), your phone company, your energy suppliers and your department store accounts etc. on your list. Plan well and you will be surprised how easy it will all be. Happy moving. Please ensure that you do your due diligence as to your legal requirements, and standard of work you require. This article has been written to help smooth your path during a stressful time.

Essential Guide to Moving House

There's so much to think about while you're moving house that you can see why it's rated as the most stressful single life change you can make. Taking time to make it easier for yourself on the day is should really be your main concern with any move.
With this in mind, the first thing you're going to need when moving house is a checklist. Now, you can make one yourself, or just get a comprehensive one from the Internet. These will usually be split by weeks before you move, with a (hopefully) reasonably small list for the big day. Have a look for some moving checklists online.
Then, you're going to need to inform everyone of your change of address before you start moving house. The post office will forward your mail for a short amount of time. Energy companies, banks, and licensing authorities such as the DVLA and local county council should also be on your checklist.
Packing will most likely be your biggest concern. The most important thing here is not to leave it to the last minute. The golden rule is to use smaller boxes for heavier items, with the boxes getting progressively larger as the items get lighter. NEVER make a box heavier than one person can handle. You'll find the on-the-day task of moving house a good deal easier with sturdy packing. Reinforce every box with three strips of packing tape on the bottom and a strip around the sides. This will add strength to your boxes.
If you have pets, there are a number of things you should do to make them feel more at home and reduce the chances of them going astray once you've completed moving house. Getting tags with your new address and phone number (and fitting them a few weeks before moving house) is a useful step. On the day of the move, and for a short time after, try to get them to stay with a friend, as there will be almost endless possibility for them to escape amongst the chaos of moving and unpacking. Once you're fully unpacked, try to make their areas seem as similar as possible. Remember smell is a hugely important sense to cats and dogs particularly.
Finally, ensure you're mentally ready for moving house once the day comes. Leave yourself as little to do on the day of the move as possible, and you might even get time to relax a little once the removal men have cleared out.

Hiring a company to move you

Hiring a company to move you is something that you may want to consider if you've got enough money to do so, and can't afford the time to do it yourself, or its impossible for you to pack and move.

Moving companies offer several great reasons to hire them - with different levels of service. From companies who will show up and move you and your belongings to companies who will pack, clean and move your belongings from place to place.

There are also more and more 'complete' package companies springing up, designed especially professionals - allowing them to move to their job, without the hassle of it all. These companies do it all - from finding a suitable house within your price range and requirements, to packing you and moving you in. Some even unpack at the other end for you.

You'll need to check any company out thoroughly before hiring them - each company should be vetted to your satisfaction, with viable references, if possible. You should also search for any complaints or comments about them online, and see what comes up. These recommendations should also contain information on whether they were prompt, priced fairly, or added additional costs.

You may also want to ask the company themselves for references, and information on when their cheapest and most expensive times are to move. You may find moving midweek to be far more cost effective, as weekends always carry a premium.

The company you eventually choose to move you will want to come out and inspect your home, to work out what they will be moving, and to provide you with a quotation, so you may want to de-clutter before they arrive - they will take an inventory, in some cases, with you and decide what your quotation will be. These companies will also provide you with a complete overview of their insurance - review it carefully so you're sure of what they cover and what you're liable for, should the worst happen.

Five Top Packing Tips

1) Boxes are a staple for moving because they are usually quite regular sized, easy to carry and if taped together correctly, rarely fall apart. Regular sizes are important for maximizing your van space and ensuring you're not wasting areas in your transport that could otherwise be filled. On the flip side, bags can be compressed anywhere! It is possible however for bags to be mistaken for rubbish.

2) Bags are good for items like clothing, and bedding, and when you've ran out of boxes to pack anything. Teddies and soft toys work well in bags - edged objects, or items that are likely to be too heavy to carry in a plastic bag would probably work better in boxes. Bags also work well with linens.

3) Whilst packing, it’s important to maximize space - and pack your biggest objects first, and fill space around them. Books are easiest to pack, odd shaped, awkward items such as ornaments and other items are the worst to pack, and both types should go in boxes, as should dishes and other objects that are considered fragile.

4) Mark all boxes and bags (if you can) carefully - it makes them easier to find things in, and to sort into rooms without having to break them open. This will all help in your new house. Always remember to mark bags you're using for belongings clearly so that they don't get mistaken for rubbish - or buy completely different bags for your rubbish and your belongings.

5) While it may only take you a couple of weeks to pack, it can take eight weeks - or MORE to unpack at the other end - so though you're 'just boxing items up for a couple of days' remember that you may not find it for up to two months, or perhaps more.

Finding a new house

The adventure of moving home generally starts properly when you look for a new house.

Moving home, though stressful can be a very rewarding experience, but its important to keep several things in mind when moving. These can include the welfare and comfort of your children, the support structure you'll have when you move (are you moving nearer your family, further away from your family?), ease of commute to your job, schools and more.

Children usually feel moves the most, as they often find it hard to settle into new environments and like, above all else, security, and safety. If the move is in relation to a family separation, it’s important to include them in the process where at all possible, and ensure their voices are heard when picking a house.
Often you can research amenities, such as local shops, schools, leisure areas and more online, which may ease the burden of investigating all of that personally. Highly rated amenities should make it easier to choose between two areas, but its also important to consider what you're looking for in an area.
Your job too plays a huge part in picking a house - can you easily travel to your place of work, and more importantly, is the area able to offer a similar job, should the worst happen?

You can also balance isolation and city life with what you prefer - if you prefer a quieter pace of life, its better to move to a town, though you may find that houses further out of cities may cost slightly more. But you will obviously find that the houses give you more room, including - possibly - a garden. With all the choices you may have to move houses, the best decision you can make is one that leaves you satisfied, and gives you the closest to your perfect match of needs and wants as you can find.