Four weeks before you move
Sort out the house before you leave it.
Organise your mail, banks and utilities. Use a free, online
change of address service, like I Am Moving, to make sure that
everyone who needs to know has your new details. Web sites
like I am moving also offer practical advice for people on the
move.
Get your mail sorted, and help to prevent yourself becoming a
victim of
identity fraud, by using the Royal Mail
redirection service. Available for one, three, six or
twelve months, it takes a minimum of five working days to set up
and can be arranged online at http://www.royalmail.com/.
Contact utility companies, phone, broadband and TV service
providers in advance of your move for advice on transfers, meter
readings etc. Do allow sufficient notice: BT requires at least 14
days warning that an existing phone line is to be closed down and
five days to ensure your new address is equipped with working phone
and broadband. Click here for a
list of providers.
Make advance checks on heating, lighting, alarm system and
cooking and washing facilities to ensure they're connected and in
working order. It's a good idea to have the boiler serviced
by a CORGI engineer too. We recommend British Gas.
Also arrange for someone to disconnect your plumbing if you are not
confident (remember to do your laundry first, house moving can be
dusty).
Contact government agencies that need to know about your move,
for example, the DVLA, the Inland Revenue and the
relevent
Council Tax authority. Inform your insurance company and your
pension company of the change of address. Finally, do not forget to
tell your doctor, optician and your dentist.
Also, take account of any repairs that may need early attention
and make arrangements for them to be dealt with. The survey
report included in your home buyer pack will have information on
any major works needed to the property; for added peace of mind,
particularly if your new home is old, very large, or of an unusual
construction, it's advisable to consider having an additional, more
detailed survey carried out before you commit to buy. Always
choose qualified members of the Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors (RICS), like Farrell Heyworth Surveyors, locally based
professionals who can be commissioned to carry out valuations, home
buyer surveys and full building surveys.
Once you have the survey we recommend the following partners who
can deal with the survey recommendation anywhere within the Farrell
Heyworth region:
Alternatively, you may wish to find a smaller local supplier
at Rated People, UK Business
Directory or at yell.com.