5 Things To Consider When Moving Across The Country
There are many great reasons to move to another part of the country. Perhaps there are better job opportunities? Perhaps the climate or scenery seems nicer? Or perhaps you need a big change? Whatever your motive may be, it’s important to consider some of the challenges that can come with moving across the country. This post lists 5 important tips to consider as you move.
Decluttering can help you reduce moving costs
The more stuff you have to bring to your new home, the more expensive it will be to transport. This is the case when moving anywhere. But when making multiple journeys across the country, the costs can really add up. Plan to take as little as you can to save money on moving costs. In some cases, it could be cheaper to buy new furniture. At the very least, you should try to make sure that you’re not taking clutter with you – take the time to sell, donate and scrap all that excess stuff that’s gathering dust. You’ll not only save money moving by getting rid of it, but you could even earn some money selling some of it.
Remote viewings can be convenient, but have their limitations
It’s good to work with estate agents who are based locally to where you plan to move. For example, if you’re moving to south London, you should consider working with South London estate agents who will really know the area. To save money travelling across the country for viewings, some people like to do virtual viewings. This involves communicating with an agent via video call as they walk around the property. While such viewings can be cheaper for you, you do need to consider the drawbacks. You’ll be limited to whatever the agent chooses to show you on their phone, and you won’t be able to touch or smell the property. Moving down for a week and booking all your viewings for this week could therefore be advantageous.
Talking to locals beforehand can have many benefits
It’s good to know what locals think of an area before moving there. You can talk to locals in person, or potentially on online forums and sites. You may even be able to make some friends before you move. This can make moving across the country less lonely. What is the best way to meet locals? By talking to people in pubs and cafes, or by joining sites for meeting friends.
Ideally, you should free up a week to settle in
Moving across the country can be a big change. You should give yourself some time to adjust before you start work or kids go to school. Having time to unpack and sort out things like signing up to a local doctor could also be important. If you dive straight into work, you don’t have time to do this.
Don’t forget to notify everyone of your change of address
There are lots of people that need to be notified once you change address. This includes your bank, insurers, energy providers, subscription services and the DVLA (you’ll need a new driving licence). Putting all of this off could lead to all kinds of issues like mail going missing or even fines, so make sure you do it as soon as possible.