How to prepare for a house move

Moving house can be exciting, but it can also be stressful. So, to make sure your moving experience is a smooth as possible, here are a few things you can do in advance to ensure you are super prepared. Get cracking with these simple steps and before you know it you will be in your new home popping those champagne corks!

Sort out your finances

Before you do anything else (and that includes scouring Rightmove for your dream home!) decide how much you can afford to spend. Arranging a ‘mortgage in principle’ with a lender sorts out how much you can borrow and will put you a step ahead with estate agents and vendors – as they will know you are serious about buying and are financially able to proceed.

When working out your finances don’t forget to calculate stamp duty, estate agent and solicitor fees and of course removal costs. More about each of these below….

Choose an estate agent

Get at least three valuations from different agents and ask what their fees are, as they do vary. Also check the length of contract, the details of how they will market your property and how they will feedback to you after viewings. Estate agents can also provide tips on how to make your home more appealing so it’s worth asking their advice.

Once your house is on the market, keep in touch with your agent to find out what interest they have had, when viewings are and what people do and don’t like about your house. There might be small changes that you could implement that could make a big difference. It will also help you gauge whether your house in being marketed at the right price.

Get an Energy Performance Certificate

You must, by law, provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when selling your home. Your estate agent will need this to market your house.

An EPC contains:

• information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs
• recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money.

An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years.

The cost of your EPC can depend on several factors and assessor’s fees can vary so it is worth comparing quotes. Your estate agent can also arrange an EPC for you, but they may charge you a small fee to do this.

Appoint a solicitor

Finding a good conveyancing solicitor is important. Ask friends for recommendations or check out reviews. You need to compare costs but also check how responsive and helpful they are to your enquiry. You will need to supply your solicitor’s details once you have found a property to buy – and also to your buyers once you have accepted an offer. Once the sale/purchase in underway you can help things progress quickly by doing the following things:

• Respond in a timely manner – respond to solicitor’s emails and phone calls as quickly as possible and return paperwork promptly.
• Keep in touch with your solicitor – don’t be afraid to ask questions, follow up actions and ask for updates to keep things moving. You don’t want a buyer pulling out because momentum has been lost.

Find a reputable removal company

Again, ask around for recommendations. Not all removal firms are the same. Membership of The British Association of Removers (BAR) ensures the company meets specific industry standards. Ask about insurance, late key procedures, packing materials and dismantling/reassembling of furniture. A reputable company will have clear procedures and guidelines in place and will be happy to discuss all these things with you.

If you need storage between moves or afterwards (for example, when downsizing or moving to rental) it might be worth considering a company that offers removals along with different types of storage, so that they can manage everything at once.

Once you have chosen your removal company the most important thing you can do is keep in touch about your completion date – getting a slot on the day you want can be a juggle, so communication is key.

Oh, and if you are packing yourself, start early. It takes MUCH longer than you think!

So, by being super organised and getting a few steps ahead you really can make the moving process a lot easier. Good luck and happy house hunting!

If you would like information about moving house, self storage or shredding services contact Yeates. We are a family run firm offering removals and storage in Clevedon, Portishead, Nailsea, Weston-super-Mare and surrounding areas. For a friendly chat about anything related to your removal or storage needs call 01934 900525/01275 872251 or email info@yeates.co.uk Alternatively visit www.yeates.co.uk