Planning your moving day

Estate agent Kelvin Francis in Cardiff, Wales has put together top tips to help ensure the day goes smoothly with a handy ‘change of address check-list’

Normally, there are two weeks’ notice between exchange of contracts and the completion date but this can vary, dependent on circumstances, so always check with your solicitor.

Planning your move is essential to a smooth moving day, so here are some tips.

• At least four weeks before the intended move date, obtain three quotes from removal companies who have insurance for furniture in transit, ideally using personal recommendations. Ensure the removal companies are members of either the British Association of Removers (BAR) or the National Guild of Removers and Storers (NGRS). Make sure your furniture will fit into the next property and colour code boxes for each individual room. Do a floor plan for the removers of where your furniture will go in the new home.

• Obtain a cancellation policy in case the date for moving is changed at the last minute.

• Removal companies’ quotes depend on a number of things including what day you move, distance covered, the size of the load, value, risk and amount of furniture, who packs/unpacks and the ease of access to your property, are all taken into account so try to have all of this information ready to give to the company.

• Use this change of address checklist (link below) to enable you to keep track of who you have informed, when, how (email, phone etc) and contact name. Keep it handy.