Moving Checklist

Even in organised households moving can be chaotic. It’s not just arranging the physical removal, but having to deal with utility providers, estate or letting agents and a host of other things. So find time to put together a moving checklist to help things go as smoothly as possible.

Here are a few tips to get you going:

Tip 1 Dump unnecessary possessions
Many people move home taking the same boxes and crates loft-to-loft and garage-to-garage, each time. Don’t kid yourself that it’s insulation; it is going to cost you money to move it. So start on the loft early (and garages and cupboards), overcome nostalgia and start sifting through stuff that you’re never going to use or wear again.
Turn the best of it into money by taking it to a boot fair or selling it on eBay. If you don’t have time for this, be generous and donate it to a local charity shop in Cheam. Most items that are not fit for reselling can be recycled locally at either the Epsom Community or Kimpton Park Way Recycling Centres. You can find where these are on our Cheam Links page.

Tip 2 Plan your packaging
You can hire plastic crates from us or you may choose to purchase your own storage boxes, tape and bubble wrap. If you are working to a tight budget you may opt to collect boxes that are being thrown out at the local supermarket, although this is increasingly difficult as so many are recycled nowadays.

Tip 3 Mark every box
Use marker pens and take your time to mark up each box, firstly with the room it is going to be going into, e.g. Bathroom, Kitchen, Bedroom 1, Bedroom 2, etc. and secondly with the key items that are in the box, e.g. books, crockery, DVD’s. There is nothing more frustrating than ‘losing’ a box in your new home and having to rifle through boxes that you would have otherwise not opened.

Rule 4 Reserve Parking
If you have residents parking where you live now, and/or where you are moving too, you may need to speak to the local council and ask them if it is possible to suspend one or more parking bays to allow access for the removal vans. You should do this at least 10-days in advance if you live in Cheam. You can find out how to do this via our Cheam Links page.