Moving day stress is unavoidable. You need to plan everything from collecting all your belongings to hiring a removals company. All your excitement of shifting into a new house suddenly goes away as you look at the stacked boxes and mark on the calendar that brings your moving day closer.
If you’re reading this, you must have searched for a few house moving tips from the websites of several house removals in London. Somehow you’re still here, as all ten different lists say the exact same thing and nothing actually helped you.
There is something you won’t be able to find in the most house moving guides, but we are going to cover everything in detail. London moves aren’t similar to moves in other locations.
Small streets, less parking, and little space can make moving tricky. These tips make your moving day easier.
- Sort at Least Six Weeks Before Moving Day
If you plan in advance, you won’t have to rush things at the last moment. Six weeks are enough to sort, donate, and pack without missing anything during the move.
- Ask for 3 Quotes from house removals in London
Pricing of a similar relocation from various removal companies in London may be different by several hundred pounds. By requesting moving quotes from several removals, you’re not stuck overpaying because you only asked one.
Don’t forget to mention the specific services you require for your move: furniture dismantling, transporting and packing services.
- Know London House Moves Cost
This is where a lot of house removal guides go quiet. A London removal cost sits between £735 and £1,306. It depends on the size of your home and how easily a van can arrive close to your door.
On the other hand, moves in busier areas like East London are a little bit higher – £770 to £830. Less populated outer boroughs may be available for under £510. You can get an idea before asking for removal quotes. It means you’ll be able to spot an overpriced quote right away.
- Book Your Removal Company in London Early
Most of the moving happens during the weekends or month-ends; that’s why the removals get booked up fast. If your moving day is near the end of the month, try to lock in your removal company at least three to four weeks ahead.
- Apply for Parking Suspension
This is often a missed step during most of the London moves. If your street has restricted parking, you need to notify the council at least five working days in advance so they can reserve a bay for the moving van.
If you miss this step, your movers might park far away, and then they have to carry boxes a longer distance.
- Check Doorways, Stairs, and Lifts
Old London is full of narrow staircases or tight hallways. For this reason, you need to measure your doorways and any lift dimensions in advance. It will avoid getting your sofa stuck halfway up the stairs.
- Declutter As You Pack
Decluttering is one of the most important key factors that simplifies a house move. Try to declutter your whole house, and you’ll end up being exhausted.
You can avoid unnecessary stress and burnout by sorting room by room while packing. These tasks go hand in hand with packing.
If you haven’t used anything for the past 8-10 months, it’s time to say goodbye to that item, or you can simply donate it. You never know who might be in greater need of the item that is useless for you.
- Use the Right Box
Make sure you use the right size of boxes for every item. Small boxes are good for books as they’re heavy. While pillows and duvets should be placed in big boxes because they’re light. If you mix this up, your movers or you’ll end up carrying the boxes that are too heavy or half empty.
- Leave Clothes in the Drawers
If your dresser is strong enough to carry the clothes, don’t empty it. You can wrap the whole unit for the house move in London. It’s one of the simplest ways to prepare for moving house without adding unnecessary work.
- Label Every Box by Room and Contents
The old way of writing “kitchen” on 10 boxes doesn’t work anymore. Be specific and write clearly what the box contains. You need to mention properly “kitchen, plates and mugs” or “toys and games”.
When you finally move to your new house, you might be tired and hungry; then you’ll be grateful for these house moving tips from Helpful Movers.
- Pack an Essentials Bag
Keep the essential items like chargers, medication, snacks, toiletries, and a change of clothes with you. Don’t bury them in the van because it might cause you unnecessary frustration on moving day. You may need these items the second you arrive.
- Keep Documents and Valuables With You
Your passports, tenancy papers, and jewellery should never go in the moving van. Always keep them in a bag you carry yourself so they’re easier to access.
- Check for ULEZ and Congestion Charge
Most moving guides don’t talk about this London-specific cost. You will have to pay extra charges if your move involves crossing into the congestion zone or a non-compliant vehicle enters the ULEZ area. Confirm with your removal company whether this is included.
- Make separate plans for kids and pets.
Moving day might be quite busy and hectic. If there are children and pets in your family, you can arrange for them to stay with family or a friend for the day so you can focus on what matters.
They get easily overwhelmed by activity and noise. This will help them stay calm and safe during the moving process.
- Do a final check before you hand over the keys.
Before you finally leave the house, make sure there is nothing left in the place. Properly check every cupboard, corner, behind every door, and the loft or shed.
When the last box is transported, it’s easier to forget items like an extra pair of shoes or a first aid box, etc.
“In a UK survey of 2,002 adults, 54% claimed that they forgot at least one important moving task. This includes taking meter readings, missing documents, or notifying utility companies.”
Why You Need Proper Planning for London House Moves
You don’t need multiple guides on how to prepare for moving house in London or anywhere else. However, London house moves can be a bit complicated.
You can’t apply general house moving tips from random online resources. You will find “start early” and “label your boxes” in almost every house moving tip online, but that won’t work here.
Only a trusted moving and packing company, or someone with frequent moving experience, can guide you on this. Tighter streets, permit rules, and higher demand for removals in London are the reasons why you need proper planning for a house move in this location.
Final Thoughts
To have a stress-free move in London, focus on three key points: start early, understand your actual costs, and plan for local challenges like parking permits and congestion charges.
Sort out your moving quote and boxes properly, and you’ll reduce 70% of the moving day stress.
Need professional removals in London for a house move? Helpful Movers is here to help you – from packing your belongings in the old home to transporting and dismantling the items at your new location.
