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No matter if you are moving, or improving, our newsletter is packed with the best tips, tricks and ideas to help you dwell well.
In light of the new property tax measures and the stamp duty holiday plan the housing market is booming and everyone is looking to secure their dream property before the cut off date. Indeed, properties up to £500,000 will have an extension from the original date of March 31 to June 30th. However, from July 1st the holiday will only apply until the end of September on properties up to £250,000. This means that the maximum saving amount will be much less from July-September than it is currently.
The market has also become a lot more accessible to first time buyers with the new government- guaranteed 95 % mortgage loans available from April on the purchase of properties up to the value of £600,000. There really has never been a better time to get on the property ladder.
So what if you decide to take the plunge? Let’s set the scene.
You’ve viewed a number of properties, identified your dream home and decided to put an offer in. You wait patiently as you negotiate a price before, after what seems like an eternity, the offer is accepted. Yay!
Over the next few weeks, you then go through all the key things you need to do when moving home – the solicitor fees, the conveyancing checks, the mortgage applications, the survey – before, finally, the date of exchange is agreed and your moving date is set.
You initially feel excited by this but, after looking around the house, you suddenly start to feel overwhelmed by how much sorting and packing you need to do. How are you going to find the time, especially while you’re stuck under lockdown restrictions?
Well, that’s exactly what we’re here to help you with.
Join us as we run through some of the most effective ways to ensure your move goes as seamlessly as possible, while highlighting the current government guidance on moving home during the ongoing pandemic.
The first thing you need to think about before you move is what stuff you actually want to take with you.
Say, for instance, you’ve kitted out your current property with furniture and ornaments you won’t have room for in the new place. Ask yourself if it’s worth hanging on to them, or whether it might be a better idea to sell or recycle them before you move instead.
Similarly, take a long, hard look at each item you pack away and work out its worth to you. If you have belongings that you haven’t used for over a year which hold no sentimental value, chuck them.
The last thing you want in your new place is clutter. So, don’t be afraid to be harsh with yourself when you come to sorting – we promise, it’ll make your life a lot easier (and potentially cheaper) when it comes to choosing a removals company.
Cleaning your stuff out prior to your move is good general advice regardless of the pandemic.
But, with there being an increased risk of infection from coming into contact with the virus on various surfaces, you’re going to want to ensure each item or belonging you pack away is kept as clean as possible.
To do this effectively, use anti-bacterial wipes and domestic cleaners – alongside soap and water – to give each of your items a quick wipe down.
Likewise, if you have a dishwasher available, give your pans, plates, mugs and dishes a wash on a high-temperature prior to packing them away. That way, they will be nice and clean for when you move into the new property.
Once your belongings have been packed away into boxes, it can be all too easy to lose track of what went where.
Therefore, to keep on top of things more effectively, make sure you have plenty of pens and packing tape around, labelling each box you pack as you go.
Also, write down a list of all the things you need to do in advance of your house move. From recycling your unwanted goods to buying cardboard boxes in the first place, there are a number of things you can easily overlook without thinking.
So, if in doubt, make sure you write things down and then organise/prioritise all the things you need to do in a structured, manageable way.
Perhaps the most important thing you need to do while moving home during the pandemic is to abide by the UK government’s guidance.
This states that, while removal companies are still able to carry out the work in their usual way, you will have an obligation to ensure your belongings are kept clean and as free of germs as possible.
What's more, you should try and do as much of the packing as possible yourself and, when it comes to the day of the move itself, you should maintain two-metre social distancing from the workers.
Similarly, you should not offer refreshments to any moving men you hire, nor should you restrict access to any hand washing facilities or hand sanitiser.
And, unfortunately, while you may want to desperately see your friends and family as well, you should avoid doing so unless absolutely essential – otherwise, you could increase the risk of infection substantially.
Live well with Moving and Improving