London – the big smoke. A place buzzing with love, life, and laughter. The place that all the students want to move to. A city that offers so many opportunities to those that are looking for a fresh start in one of the best and most vibrant cities in the world. If you’re lucky enough to be planning to make London your home, there is one big thing that’s probably taking up all your time right now. It’s moving. How do you pack up your life and relocate to this sprawling city? What do you pack? How can you get all your belongings from A to B in a city that’s known for its heavy traffic? Let us help you with this quick guide to moving to London.
Efficient Planning is Key
When it comes to moving house/ relocating, there are so many steps to the whole process, so the best way to a successful move is efficient planning. Things you need to plan for when moving house, especially in London, include preparing a checklist tailored to life in this city, considering and researching which of the many London Boroughs would fit your lifestyle. What is your ideal commute and budget going to look like? When do you plan to arrive at your new place? Are you going to take everything with you or do you plan to put some things in storage? Every element of the move needs to be thought out.
Choose the Right Time to Move
You don’t want to move your entire life over to London only to be caught up in traffic and busy tourist or holiday seasons. London’s peak traffic times are 7am until 9am in the mornings and between 4:30pm and 7pm in the evenings. Traffic is much less chaotic on a Sunday so perhaps that would be the best day to make the journey with the majority of your belongings? Van hire in London is a great way to move a lot of things at once and trust us when we say you don’t want to be doing multiple car trips to your new place, even if it’s on a Sunday when there’s less traffic. A full van will make the most of each trip you have to take and you can always rope in your friends and family for some extra support on the day. London’s peak tourist season is from June to September, so you’d be better off moving in the winter if you have the choice.
Explore Property Options
When it comes to the property search, shortlisting online property platforms and saving the contact details of various London estate agents will save you time and stress. If you are paying somebody’s rent on a property, it is vital to understand your property rights as well as any notice periods your landlord may impose.
Change of Address Notices
Your mail services will be affected when you move – and you don’t want to miss out on important newsletters and notices, so changing your address for all services will redirect the mail to your new home. You must also notify your council and register for council tax at your new address.
Think About Essential Services
If you are moving with little ones, you must not forget to sort GP registrations and school places out for them before you move. The area you choose might be fully dependant on the school that’s closest for your kids so this should be your top priority. Finally, in terms of planning and preparing for a move with kids, you must research the crime and safety rates for your new prospective area. Your safety is paramount when moving anywhere, especially London.