Moving next week (into storage) - what do I need to think about?

[OUB1974]

We are finally moving next Friday and it seems to have come around quickly! I'm just trying to think of things that I need to do before then to prepare.

I have a huge list of companies to contact and change my address with. We need to clean the oven and defrost the freezer (day before? It is a frost free one). W e need to arrange to drop the keys with the estate agents and take meter readings.

Anything else I need to think of? We are putting our possessions into storage and moving in with family.

Have you set up mail forwarding with the Post Office?

Think very carefully about the stuff you need to keep with you or make sure that it is easily accessible if you need to get it from storage. When we put our possessions into storage, we kept our important paperwork with us, it was much easier having it to hand if necessary.

How long is your storage? Try to make it accessible for things you may need in Spring. The removal team will pile it in unless you direct them.

just to check it is climate controlled storage, not a container in a field!

storage insurance!

post redirect, set up TODAY if you have exchanged. Needs to be for at least six months. Every instiution will send a letter to both addresses so you need to catch those too.

if going into storage, freezer needs to be clean, bone dry and with the door slightly open. Wedge in some bits of solid polystyrene foam and tape in place.

addresses to change for day of move: council tax, car registration, car insurance. Take meter readings as near to departure as possible and then contact suppliers (plus water) to close off accounts. Same with council to close the account, you'll need to give the forwarding address. Cancel house insurance after completion. After the move, get busy on all the other addresses. Good time to think about what you really need as you'll be doing it all again...

Do driving licences shortly after, one at a time. MUST be online, send any paper to DVLA and you'll never see it again.

storage costs a fortune so keep the stay as short as you can. And think really hard about what you are keeping.

good luck!