Moving house can be a really exciting time, but it can also bring a lot of stress if you’re not organised. We often get asked how moving house works, especially from first time buyers. So we’ve answered your most commonly asked questions around moving house. Ease the stress and have a read of what to expect when moving.
 

What are house moving costs?

It’s important you have enough saved to cover all costs when moving house. There are some payments to be made beforehand, such as:

• Deposit
• Valuation fee
• Stamp duty
• Surveyor’s fees
• Legal fees
• Solicitors fees
• Electronic transfer fee
• Insurance
• Removal costs
• Furniture

To find out more detail about the buying costs, click here.
 

Is moving house stressful?

You may have heard myths surrounding moving house about how stressful it can be. After all, you are changing your routine, perhaps moving away from friends and family or maybe you’re just feeling unprepared for the move. Everyone will have their own personal experience and whether it’s deemed ‘stressful’ or not is down to the individual.
 
There are a number of ways to limit your moving stress which is where we come in. Take a look at our top tips for moving smoothy!
 
Organisation is key – Giving yourself plenty of time to get organised beforehand can really help take the stress out of the move. Decluttering, then boxing up your belongings so they’re ready to go means you can concentrate on the important stuff on moving day.
 
Essentials – Make sure you’ve got some every day essentials ready to hand for when you’ve moved. Items such as your phone charger, any medication, important documents, toiletries and essential food items means you won’t have to unbox everything as soon as you move to find essential items.
 
Use a removals firm – Hiring a removals team can make moving a lot less stressful and means you don’t have to move all your belongings from your old house to your new one. If you can, it’s a good idea to book this in advance so you don’t have to organise it last minute.
 
Get help – If you can, ask your friends and family to lend a helping hand on moving day. It’s a tough job moving everything yourself so recruiting more people to help will take some of the stress away.
 
Remember ‘why’ you’re moving – You may be moving into your first ever home, or upsizing to a larger home. It’s important to bare this in mind when things get stressful. It can easily be forgotten about, but the end result will always be worth it!
 
For more tips on how to take the stress out of moving, keep an eye out on our blog for more posts coming soon!
 

Can moving house affect your credit score?

One of the most commonly asked questions is ‘will moving house affect my credit rating?’
 
You need to have a permanent address in order to get credit. So how long you’ve lived at one address can affect your credit score. If you regularly move house, this could have a damaging affect to your credit rating, however if you’re moving for the first time or not very often, it shouldn’t affect it too much.
 
Credit reference agencies use your address to confirm your identity and to match all your credit information to you. This is why it’s important to update your new address everywhere (including your bank) so your credit score is matched up correctly.
 

How does moving house work?

By choosing Space Homes to purchase your new home, you can rest in the knowledge that no matter where you are on the property ladder, our team are here to help every step of the way. So whether you’re a first time buyer or up-sizing to a bigger family home, we can help you find your space.
 
We know how daunting the process can seem at first, so we’ve mapped out a simplified step by step guide to buying your new build home. 
 

Who do I need to inform I’m moving house?

Once you’ve reserved your space, it’ll be easy to get carried away with all the exciting stuff like choosing your furniture. However, with a change of address comes the task of telling people you’ve moved.
 
There will probably be more people and businesses you need to tell than you think. Everything from your utilities like water, gas and electricity to your bank/building society.
 
For a full list of who to tell, click here. Or download the ultimate ‘who to tell’ checklist!
 
Download checklist

When moving house, what do I pack first? 

It’s a good idea to pack up your belongings before move in day. You’ll have plenty to do on the big day, so if everything is packed up already, it’ll make for a smoother move in day.
 
What to pack first is entirely up to you, but many people start with the heavier items and then move onto lighter items last.

You may need a helping hand when it comes to heavier belongings such as beds and sofas. You may want to leave this to your removals company or if you're doing the move yourself, ask friends and family to help you.
 
If you’re wondering what to store all your belongings in, we’d recommend cardboard boxes. They’re an easy way to pack in lots of your stuff, plus, they’re cheap! 

Also, if you opt to pack everything in cardboard boxes, make sure you buy a marker pen too. That way, you can label all your boxes so you don’t forget where everything is when you start to unpack in your new home.
 

When moving house, what do I do about gas and electric? 

If you're moving out for the first time and need to set up a new gas and electric supply, this could be a great opportunity to get a good deal. Call around different gas and electric providers to find the best deal, or use a comparison website such as comparethemarket.com to find the best deal for you.

If you’re changing your address, you need to inform your gas and electric supplier. Give them a call to inform them and let them know what your new address will be. Aim to do this around 2 weeks before you move, then it'll give them enough time to set up your new account.

On the day you move, take your meter readings so you're not charged for anyone elses energy use after you've moved.
 

When moving house, what do I do about council tax?

If you’re moving out for the first time and need to sign up to start paying council tax, you can do so on the Government website. Click here to register.
 
When moving house, you’ll need to inform the Local Authority of where you’re moving from and where you’re moving to around a month in advance of your move. How much council tax you’re charged could change depending on your new location and the value of your new home.
 
You can usually find a ‘change my address’ section on your Local Authority’s website and you can update your new details online. Don’t forget, you’ll need to do this for each adult living in your home.
 

Will moving house affect my car insurance?

Believe it or not, car insurance should be on your checklist of who to inform once you’ve changed your address. In fact, if you change your name, address or occupation, your insurer and the DVLA need to know about it.
 
If you don’t update your details with your car insurer, your cover may not be liable should you come to need it, or you could even face a fine.
 
If you’re moving to an area with heavier traffic or more frequent accidents, your car insurance rates may rise, so it’s important to keep your car insurer in the know if you change your personal details.