Four practical things you must do before moving day

Both physically and emotionally challenging, moving house is said to be one of life’s major stresses, along with divorce, the death of a loved one and redundancy. 

Nevertheless, according to research by HomeOwners Alliance, August is the most popular month to move – and has been for the past 12 years – with more of us choosing to pack our belongings into boxes during the summer months.

Whether this trend is due to families wanting to settle before the new academic year kicks off in September or home movers simply looking to capitalise on the longer days and warmer temperatures, as we approach peak moving season it’s important to prepare thoroughly to help make the transition from former home to new home a smooth one. 

So, how can you make moving house easier?

Below, we have highlighted four practical actions you should take before the big move:

Get your mail redirected

Before you move, make sure you redirect your mail to your new address to ensure you don’t miss any important documentation and to help prevent your personal details falling into the wrongs hands and becoming victims of fraud.

You can redirect your mail for 3, 6 or 12 months, and you need to provide is the names and dates of birth of those who lived at the address and confirmation of your new address. For further information visit the Royal Mail’s website.

Take final meter readings

Remember to take final meter readings for water, gas and electricity, and inform your current supplier of your move (whether you’re intending to stick with them or not). Otherwise you may find yourself billed for someone else’s usage.  

Apply for a parking permit early

If you are moving to a residents-only parking area, it’s a good idea to contact your local authority and apply for a parking permit before you move. If you don’t, you may find yourself with nowhere to go on moving day. 

Update your car details

Don’t be one of the 1.5 million drivers in the UK who have incorrect information on their driving licence, despite it being a legal obligation. Drivers can be fined £1000 for failing to inform the DVLA of an address change. Not only is it a legal requirement, it is also free and easy to do online or by post.

For further information about how to best prepare yourself for your move, visit our 'Time to Move?' hub for lots of handy tips and tricks to get you started.

If you would like to discuss your mortgage options, please contact us or visit your local branch to arrange an appointment. We offer face-to-face, telephone and video advice mortgage appointments for those who cannot make it to a branch. 

YOUR MORTGAGE IS SECURED ON YOUR HOME. THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.