Moving day is always a big event and can be very stressful for the unprepared.
With over 90 years of moving family homes, F Smith & Son can offer these tips to help reduce that stress and make moving day a more positive experience.
1. The Essentials Box
Keep a box for important items that you will need on the day. These items can vary but will usually include a phone charger, prescription medication, documents pertaining to the move, meter readings and bills with reference numbers for utility providers. It is also standard practice to keep the kettle, cups and tea making facilities at the ready.
This “Essentials Box” is the last item to be loaded onto the van and the first to be taken in to your new home.
2. Pets
A wandering cat or dog, no matter how friendly, can become a serious hazard to people who are moving heavy furniture or even carrying large boxes.
By keeping pets out of the way, you can reduce the risk of an accident that may cause damage to property, people or your pet. Arrange for a friend, family member, or pet sitter to look after them for the day if possible.
3. Children
Young children do not always understand why their home is being emptied and can become distressed or unsettled on moving day. If possible, arrange for children to stay with grandparents or friends during the busiest part of the move. If that is not possible, have a bag of activities, snacks, and familiar comfort items ready to keep them occupied.
4. Labels
Mark each packed box with either the room of origin or the destination room, (i.e. bedroom 1, dining room, etc.).
If F Smith & Son are doing the packing for you, all your boxes will be labelled with the room of origin. When we deliver, we will place each box in the appropriate room, so having a label on each bedroom door will ensure that the boxes go to the right place.
5. Ready to Load
In most cases, there is a deadline to vacate your old property and allow the new owners to take possession. If the loading is delayed, this can generate a lot of pressure to meet the deadline, which creates a lot of stress.
When you receive the quote for your move, it is based on the assumption that the removals crew will be able to start loading as soon as they arrive. That means everything should be packed and ready to load. The exceptions are those items that the crew will protect on the day, such as large items of furniture, sofas, armchairs, etc.
6. Know Your Completion Time
If you are in a chain, completion can happen at any point during the working day — not always at 9am. Find out from your solicitor when completion is expected and pass this to your removals company. There is little point in the crew arriving at your new property two hours before you have the keys.
Building in a realistic buffer between loading at the old property and arrival at the new one reduces the pressure significantly, particularly if your chain has multiple parties.
7. Read the Meters
Take gas and electricity meter readings at your old property before you leave, and at your new property as soon as you arrive. Photograph them for your records and pass the readings to your energy supplier the same day. This protects you from being billed for energy used by the previous occupant and ensures your final bill at the old address is accurate.
8. Confirm Your Booking the Day Before
Call or email your removals company the afternoon before moving day to confirm the start time, the address, and any access or parking arrangements. A five-minute call the day before prevents the kind of miscommunications that cause real stress on moving day itself.
9. The Right Mover
Of course, we are going to say F Smith & Son is the right mover, but let’s assume you are still undecided.
As a minimum, look for an experienced company with insurance, trained staff, and the consumer protection measures provided by membership of the British Association of Removers (BAR). BAR members are required to hold a deposit protection scheme, complaints procedure, and independent dispute resolution — protection you do not get with unregulated operators. F Smith & Son is all of the above and more.
For more moving day advice, visit the F Smith & Son Advice Hub.