Rocket Removals and Storage

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Moving Tips

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Moving Tips - How to Pack for Moving House

Pack early. The time it will take you to pack all your items depends mainly on their number. So, for a large house, two months should be enough if you pack one box a day. For smaller homes, one month should be just fine. Of course, this is not an exact number, but you should get the idea.

Start with rooms you least need. It makes sense to pack the items you don’t use on a daily basis first. Seasonal items you’re currently not using such as garden tools, coats and Christmas lights are perfect examples.

Pack one room at a time. This is one of the most important packing tips which, for some reason, is often neglected. Doing this will help you stay organised and will later tell the removal company which box goes where.

Declutter. Have a car-boot sale or give your old unwanted items to charity. There is also eBay, so you have many options. If you have friends helping you with your move, ask them whether they need anything you’re planning to sell. After all, you’re not paying them and they should get something for all their troubles.

Do not exceed the weight limit for a box. You might get a back injury or one of the boxes might not be able to withstand the weight. Pack light items in large boxes and heavy items in small boxes. This packing tip alone will save you a great deal of pain… literally.

Label your boxes. Write the contents on each box with a marker. Write on the sides of the boxes and not on top, as this will make it easier to recognise them when they are stacked. It’s also advisable to use a different colour for every room. Ask your children, if you have any, to help you. Kids love drawing and colouring, so what better way to reduce the stress of moving? This is just one method of helping your kids cope with the move.

Put heavier boxes on the bottom. Packing tips like this one might be common sense, but they are still important to mention. By putting your heavy boxes underneath the lighter boxes, you ensure no breakable items will get crushed during the move. Boxes full of books and furniture parts are great examples of what should be loaded first.

Dispose of hazardous materials. Just a good piece of information, as a professional removal company will not transport hazardous materials.

Prepare a box of essentials. One of the most important moving tips you will ever come across. Start packing it early, so it can be half way full by the time the moving day comes. Leave room so you could later add last minute items. Put this box last in the moving van, so you can later have easy access to it when you’re done relocating. Examples of what your box of essentials should contain: snacks, canned or boxed food; can opener; eating utensils; pans and pots; towels and dishcloth; toiletries; baby supplies; pet food (if you have a pet); instruction manuals for all your electric appliances remote controls; first aid kit; tool box.

Moving Tips - Moving Check List

Reduce the contents of your freezer.

Contact carpet fitters, if required.

Arrange for your mains services to be disconnected.

Remember that cooking appliances must be disconnected professionally.

Cancel all rental agreements, newspapers, magazines, etc.

Notify your doctor, dentist, hospital, vet, etc.

Notify your bank, building society, credit card and insurance companies.

Notify your telephone, mobile and internet service providers.

Notify TV licence, passport office and DVLA (drving licence).

Moving Tips - On your Moving Day

If the removal vehicle needs to park on the road, reserve a big space using bollards or large empty boxes. The nearer the van the quicker and easier the move saving you money if you have booked an hourly rate!

Consider dismantling any flat pack furniture if possible. It doesn’t travel very well and will be easier to remove from your existing place and into your new home.

Ensure that all furniture cupboards and drawers are empty and if you have any locks on items, keep the key in a safe place!

Think about whether you need to clean any carpets in your old property if it is rented. Soiled carpets are a major reason for landlords retaining bond or deposit money.

If you have any items that are very precious to you, wrap them really well and point them out to the head of your removal team. He/she will take extra special care with these items. Try and pack flat screen TVs into their original boxes to protect from damage.

Take pets and young children to a friend's or relative’s house. Moving furniture can be a dangerous task, especially if there are animals or toddlers under your feet.

Last, but not least, keep tea and juice making facilities available at each end. Moving can be very thirsty work!

Moving Tips - Young Children and Pets

Summer is a favorite time of year for many people - especially kids. For school-aged children, summer means no school, holiday at Gran's, and more time outside to play with friends!

However, if your family is planning to move to a new home this summer - as many homebuyers do - instead you could be experiencing the stress of moving, and this kind of tension can easily be picked up by children and pets. With a few simple tips and planning ahead, it’s possible to make moving this summer as quick and pain-free as possible so your family can get back to enjoying all summer has to offer!

Before Moving Day

From toddlers to teenagers, children of all ages should know as soon as possible that they’ll be moving into a new home. This gives them time to understand the moving process, say goodbye to neighbourhood friends, and adjust to the upcoming change. To make things easier, let them help with packing their rooms, and the planning aesthetics for their new bedrooms or playrooms. Let them help pick out paint colours, decorations, or even new furniture. The more involved children can be, the more they’ll enjoy the process!

For pets, try your best to prepare them for travel - whether by car or train. Taking practice car rides to allow time to adapt to being in a confined space can help. If you’re traveling by train, talk with your vet about the best ways to help ease anxiety for your pet. Also, be sure to find a new vet near your new home before you move. In case there are any emergencies when you arrive, you’ll know exactly where to go!

Moving Day

No matter how much you’ve planned and organized, the stress of moving day can be overwhelming. Kids and pets are hypersensitive to stress, so you’ll want to make moving day as stress-free as possible.

For small children, arrange a babysitter for moving day if you can. Keep their minds occupied with a fun activity like going to their favorite park or to see a movie to keep their minds off of the chaos back at home. If you can’t arrange for a babysitter, you can assign them tasks to help out with small things throughout the day. By including them in the process, they’ll feel like a part of a team!

For pets, arrange for a sitter or short stay at a pet boarding/daycare. Pets can be hypersensitive to movers in the house, loud noises, and people going in and out of doors all day. This environment is a recipe for disaster for pets! If you can’t arrange for a sitter, take your dog out for some healthy exercise before the moving starts and during the process place them in a crate or safe space with food and water so they can relax and avoid getting in the way and potentially being injured.

Settling In

The first few days after a move can be complicated for everyone. Living out of boxes and getting used to a new home can be difficult for kids, pets, and even adults.

For kids, make exploring your new village, town or city an exciting adventure! Look for new parks, shopping, and recreation areas for your kids to become aquatinted with. If you’ve relocated to another locality or county, it’s great to encourage your child to meet new friends if they’re of school age. Find local meet up groups online that help connect children and parents to establish new connections.

For pets, exercise should be a daily routine for the first few weeks. Burning energy helps pets feel relaxed and at ease in the midst of the adjustment period. Also, having a crate or ‘safe space’ for a pet helps create a cosy, quiet environment that makes them feel ‘at home’ in a new territory. When you relocate a pet into a new area, you should talk to your vet about a microchip. It’s not unusual for a pet to feel disoriented in a new home and run away! Having a microchip could help settle fears about potentially losing your family pet in a new neighbourhood.

Moving with kids and pets can be tricky to navigate. However, with careful planning you can help make a move across town or across the country and easy and smooth transition for everyone in the family, even your fur babies!

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HOME MOVING SURVEYS

Our estimators are happy to visit you at your home, at your convenience; please contact our office to make a booking.

If you prefer a remote video survey, either for medical reasons or simply for convenience, we can can do that.