Is Moving Home Around Christmas Crackers?

Are you a Christmas muppet or a bright star for wanting to be in your new home before Christmas?

Christmas is usually a pretty hectic time for most families, but there are plenty of good reasons to be in your new home before the celebrations begin and the old year ends.

And one of the major advantages of moving home during the winter is that you are likely to save on the total cost of hiring a removal company as it is generally cheaper to move at this time of year.

If you do plan on moving home in the holiday season you will need to be super organised and leave nothing to chance.

Remember that many companies will close over the Christmas break so whilst it is a great time to move home, there may also be limited availability with your preferred removal company, so book early.

Friends and family are likely to be super busy this time of year too so may be unlikely to offer to help you move home. Coupled with busy roads and icy road conditions, hiring a professional removal company is likely to be your safest bet.

So here is our step-by-step plan to moving home around Christmas time to ensure a happy holiday in your new home.

Christmas is a Time of Giving

The first step in your super-organised home move, and to save you some money on your moving costs, is to declutter your home.

Not only is this going to save on packing and transportation costs, but will save you time too.

And here’s a Christmas Bonus – why not give a piece of furniture or an item that someone you know would love to have, as a Christmas gift? If the item won’t fit into your new home or you no longer have a good use for it, then get rid of it.

Making a floor plan for your new home will help you decide which furniture to get rid of.

Christmas is a time of giving so why not donate all your unwanted household goods to a local worthy cause? Often charities will collect donated items for free saving you time and money.

Running down your larder or freezer before moving day will save on moving costs, and your removal company will not transport perishable goods anyway, so if you have any food left over why not donate it to a local food bank?

And of course, many people will be looking to buy Christmas gifts so it will be easier to sell all your unwanted household items.

You may also like to read: How to Declutter for a Home Move. Decluttering is one of the most important pre-moving tasks. In this guide, we share all you need to know about decluttering for your home move.

Moving At Advent Calendar and Planner

With the advent of moving day fast approaching you will need a step-by-step weekly planner for your home move. This calendar will show you when, and what tasks, need to be completed for a successful home move.

Keep to the order the planner is in and you will be ready for moving day without any last-minute rushing around.

Must have: Week-By-Week Home Moving Planner A calendar of what to do and when to ensure a stress-free home move.

It is a good idea to organise your change of address well in advance too, especially as the postal service will be so busy right now. We have created a change of address checklist for you to make things easier.

Download for free: Change of Address Checklist. A comprehensive list of organisations to notify about your change of address.

Your Christmas Wish List for Choosing a Good Removal Company

Choosing the right removal company is vital when moving home. You ideally want an affordable but reputable company with the right skills and experience.

In the first instance, you should get at least 4 quotes from removal companies so that you can compare not only prices but the services they offer, such as packing materials or crating.

Next, you should thoroughly research those removal firms to ensure that they offer the best service and are a reputable business.

If you have precious items such as a piano, which requires specialist moving equipment, be sure that the company has the necessary skills to move your item safely.

Use a reliable review website to check out not only the ratings but also how those companies respond to any issues that have arisen during other home moves.

Time spent ensuring the removal firm is legitimate and trustworthy will prevent any potential for a moving day scam, such as inflating charges on the day.

Only consider hiring a removal company who provides a free survey of the items you want to move, this can be an in-home survey or, as is becoming more common, a video survey.

This is essential for the moving company to be able to provide you with an accurate quote and to make a moving day plan.

Once you have decided upon your preferred removal company, book them as soon as you can.

You may also like to read: A Step-by-Step Guide to Picking a Good Removal Company. In this essential guide, we show you step-by-step how to choose a good removal company.

Moving in a Winter Wonderland

Of course, the UK weather can be unpredictable but especially so during the winter. This is not usually a show-stopper for your home move but can produce some problems.

You will want to protect your flooring from mud and water. Although most removal companies will provide their own floor protection, you may want to lay some flattened card or plastic sheeting.

Main roads are unlikely to be impassable if there is snow, but your lane or driveway may pose a problem. If possible ensure your path and driveway is clear of snow or fallen leaves which can cause accidents.

If the forecast is for rain or snow you may want to shrink-wrap or cover the moving boxes in good-quality bin liners to stop the boxes from getting wet.

One piece of advice, make sure you stock up on light bulbs and keep a torch handy. It gets dark early so the last thing you need is to find that you have lights that don’t work in your new home.

Pack a moving day essentials box. This will have all the things that you need to keep close at hand including medication, valuables, food, drink, and important paperwork. It is also a good idea to keep a broom and shovel handy if snow is forecast just in case you need to clear the paths to your new home.

Have your car serviced before you move, especially if you intend to travel a long distance, and pack appropriate spare clothing and an emergency car kit.

You may also like to read: Tips for Moving In Bad Weather. Come rain or snow the tips in this guide will ensure a safe home move.

How the Dickens Can You Save Time when Moving Home at Christmas

As previously mentioned decluttering your home is the number one time and cost saver, but here are some more home moving cost-saving tips.

Having the removal company pack your household goods will save you a huge amount of time and stress, as packing is considered the worst part of any home move.

Hanging clothes can be transported on the hangers, just slip a dustbin bag over the top and you are good to go.

Leave things in their drawers, you can shrink-wrap them and then slide them back into the unit. It will save packing time and costs.

Use suitcases, rubbish bags, and holdalls to pack things into, this will save not only time constructing moving boxes but the cost of packing materials.

Consider using plastic tote boxes rather than traditional cardboard boxes.

You will not then spend time making up boxes, and after the move, there will be no piles of cardboard boxes to get rid of. They can often work out cheaper too as you will only hire them for the time you need them. They will be delivered and collected directly to your address too.

Order your Christmas groceries online and have them delivered to your new home. This will save you hours at the supermarket when you could be unpacking and setting up your new home.

Do the same with any gifts you have to buy for Christmas. Just remember that if you normally use one-click shopping, that you have saved your new address in the settings.

Prepare meals in advance of moving day. Plan on using up all your store cupboard supplies so that the kitchen can be packed and ready to go. Then on moving day eve, you will only have at most one box of cutlery and crockery to pack, or consider using disposable plates and cutlery which can just be thrown away.

Photograph connections to electronic equipment so that when it comes to reconnecting them it will be easier and quicker. Do the same for any furniture that you dismantle. It may take a little longer when packing but will save you time and stress when reassembling them in your new home.

You may also like to read: Are Professional Packers Worth the Cost? In this guide, we explain what professional packers do, how much on average they cost, and why hiring them will be the best money you spend during your home move.

Reasons to Move Before Christmas Your Christmas Bonus

Many businesses close around the Christmas holidays so you will have more time to prepare for your move, and unpack, rather than using up your leave allowance or having to take unpaid leave.

You should consider putting your pets in boarding kennels whilst you move home as it is safer and less stressful for them. This time of year the kennels will be less busy and possibly cheaper than the peak summer months.

The winter months are not so busy for the entire home moving industry so there is less chance of a delay with the transfer of funds or getting the keys to your new home.

Often this is a risk during the busier times of the year which can add significant costs to your moving bill as removal companies will charge you for any delays.

Christmas is when people are generally more friendly so it will be a great time to meet your new neighbours. Equally many people spend Christmas on their own, so if you are planning a housewarming party, it will be a great time to make new friends and even make their Christmas.

Moving into a new home before Christmas will give you an incentive to get all those boxes unpacked and the house in order, often boxes left unpacked in the first few weeks remain that way for months.

And of course, you will be in your new home for the start of the New Year and all the good things the year ahead may bring your way.

So, all in all, it can make a great deal of sense to move at Christmas time. Just plan it well and hire the best removal company you can find.

Be sure to visit our home moving blog which is packed with guides to make every aspect of your home move easier, cheaper, and safer.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Removal Reviews.