Moving house help please?

[BibiThree]

I'm hoping to move house in under 4 weeks, I've only ever moved once before and that was from home to my first house, so didn't have a great deal to do.

The things I need to pick your brains on are:
*When should I start telling utility companies etc of the move?
*How do I make sure I cover everyone?
*Do I leave SAEs at my current house for any stray post?
*Should I hire a removal van or just a van and move myself?

Thanks

[scurryfunge]

You can tell the companies anytime if you know your date.
I run through by direct debits from my bank statements to make sure I don't miss anything.
Have your post redirected.
The removal van question depends on how much stuff you have and whether you have any helpers!

[mistlethrush]

a) you can tell them now, but you'll have to let them know final readings when you leave
b) make a list from your DDs that go out of your bank
c) pay for post to be redirected - doesn't rely on the new occupants
b) depends how much stuff you have. We definitely needed a firm with a 3 bed semi that we'd been in for 10 years. Some packing firms sell boxes and wrapping.

[BibiThree]

Thanks both. I've got a 3 bed semi and have been here 10 years so probably too much to move myself. I have DH and my brother to help, but do things go much more smoothly with a removal firm?

[scurryfunge]

Definately easier with removal company but obviously more expensive. We have used companies where you just give them the keys and they do everything including packing. Bliss! If you are going to pack yourself but use a removal firm, just make sure everything is labelled to death.

[mistlethrush]

If they do the packing, they come round before and 'survey' to see if they need to come the day before (must also depend on length of journey too) then they arrive early on the day and start whisking things off very efficiently - and not packing somethings - eg a chest of drawers was simply carried down stairs into the van with all its contents (quite how I don't know as its massive!) - they follow their own packing order so that they get it all on the van - then unpack the far end (including putting everything back in your kitchen cupboards for you). I was ill last time we moved and couldn't have done it any other way.

[BibiThree]

Mistlethrush: The full removal package sounds VERY tempting ... do you mind if I ask roughly how much that costs?

[financialwizard]

My husband is potentially going to be away when we move this time for work, and I have decided that getting removals in is a neccesity.

[scurryfunge]

It was around six grand the last time we did it but it was a relocation so the company paid.

[Notyetthere]

Check this thread out, it has lots of advise on moving.

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2218071&page=11

[Notyetthere]

Sorry wrong link. Here is the right one
forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?p=36196317%23post36196317

[Back2Two]

Look at men with a van options too. Not "proper" removal companies but people who do removals.

I've just moved. We did our own packing (ugh. Goes on And on and on...)
Two men with one van and two trips ( not a big distance move).
They had to wait a bit in between filling the van first time and ulnpacking it at new house because we were waiting for the keys for a little while.

Anyhow, it took 5 hours (3 bed terraced house) and cost £240. Everything put where we wanted it.

[Back2Two]

Packing does seriously take much,much much longer than you imagine. And then longer than that.

You need lots of time. Do you have a partner?


Re-directing costs £45 for a full year. So worth it.

Check what the new house uses for utility supplies and decide if you want them or someone else. Some things take time....for eg. We wanted BT for broadband/phone but by the time we contacted them we'd have had a four week wait so we went with Virgin (already supplying the new house) and waited 12 hours.

[WhatMakesYouSay]

We moved out of a three bed semi with garage earlier this year, and the move & full packing cost £400.
Took 2 guys one day to pack everything bar the beds, and then the following day they moved everything, and reassembled bunk beds & wardrobe at this end (I had paid an extra £50 for that, so basic pack & move would have been £350).

We did only move a short distance though, so they used a smaller van & did two trips. I think the cost would have been a bit higher had it been a greater distance.

[goldnikcname]

We are moving soon, there is a website that helps with remembering who you need to tell and when
www.iammoving.com/
it is free to register and seems good, not used to properly yet obviously!
I had 4 removal quotes (they came round, looked in loft, garage etc), for a 3 bed the quotes range from £600 to £950 including VAT. Only one of these included not paying waiting time cost and free boxes the week before you move, no packing unfortunately!

[goldnikcname]

Link worked, first time yay!!

[BibiThree]

Wow, thanks all!

[me23]

whatmakesyousay that is an amazing price for removals and packing, which company did you use? Are they based in London by any chance? (moving soon, sorry for hijack!)