Are you moving house in 2023?
Moving can be a really stressful time – especially at the moment with an energy crisis and mortgage rate fluctuations! Here are our tips for making your upcoming move as stress-free and relaxed as possible.
If you started thinking about selling up or buying your first home in the second half of 2022 there’s a good chance you are nearing exchange and completion. The average conveyancing timescale is currently around 4 months – so it feels like a long, drawn-out process. Christmas holidays might have caused a delay with your move and after months of uncertainty in a changing housing market and mortgage interest rate increases you may be feeling the strain of moving.
You are NOT alone!
It is often said that moving house is one of the most if not THE most stressful life event the average person goes through. There are also other factors that contribute to anxiety around a move – but here are some of the most common reasons people in your position may feel the pressure.
- Loss of control
It can feel scary to put such a big life change into the hands of strangers. Mortgage advisors, estate agents and solicitors will be working hard to help get your move over the line – but waiting weeks in between calls and not having that ‘control’ can make for some sleepless nights. - Lots of decision making
Moving house requires a lot of decisions to be made. From the area you are choosing to live to which moving company to use; there can feel like a lot of pressure to make the right choices. For example, choosing a less-than-efficient removals firm could have major consequences on your belongings and finances. - It’s a big change
Our brains are hardwired to resist change, when faced with a big change our brains go into what is commonly known as ‘fight or flight mode’. This is effectively an acute stress response. The bigger the changes involved in moving house, the more intense your stress response is likely to be. Moving to a new home across the country, for example, can be significantly more stressful than moving up the road because you’re also dealing with a new area and new people etc…
Your handy house move checklist
Here are some helpful tips to reduce your stress levels and enable your move to run as smoothly as possible.
It’s time to declutter!
There is also no point in paying to move items you no longer want so it’s a great time to be ruthless. Hire a skip, donate it to charity or sell it on eBay – but anything you don’t want with you at your new house should be removed now.
Research your removal company
When choosing a removal company, it’s so important to check their reviews! Check out one (or both) of the top review sites and read about previous customer experiences. Trustpilot and Google are both great places to read testimonials. Check out the company’s social media pages and their website and ask if they provide a free survey and quote for potential clients.
Set aside a box of items you’ll need on moving day
Phone chargers, tea, coffee, kettle, toilet rolls, and important house documents are just some of the items you can include in your box. Having these items to hand can save a lot of stress on the day of the move.
Arrange someone to look after Children / Pets
To keep stress levels at bay, it could be a good move to keep pets and small children out of the way on the day you move house. Ask friends and family if they would mind helping by looking after them – this saves you worrying about their whereabouts on moving day!
For a copy of our FREE moving checklist, you can visit our Instagram Page @leicestermovers
If you are moving soon and would like a quotation for your move, please contact us on 0116 43000 47 and our friendly team is here to help you. Why not get a quote today?
