Do you find moving days stressful? You'd be crazy not to. It's a task that nobody looks forward to, but it's also a necessary evil to finally live in your dream home (or to get away from your current home!)

In the guide below, you will find tips from our local Eastbourne team, aiming to help make your moving day easy and stress-free.

Step 1: Before The Move…

A famous man once said, "preparation is everything". The man's name? No clue, but someone has definitely said that before.

Contact A Local Company

Jokes aside, the first and most important step in the moving process is contacting a local company (and making sure you do it far enough in advance - a lot of companies are booked up for weeks or even months).

Pro tip: DO NOT go for the company that has the quickest lead time, this is an instant red flag. Beware of the following tactics that mediocre companies may use to lour you in, even if they have no track-record or customer base:

- we can offer you a discount if you go ahead with the move next week.

- someone cancelled last minute and we can fit you in this weekend.

- if you sign today, you'll get it for half price.

Don't get me wrong, people DO cancel last minute and discounted fees aren't necessarily a red flag, but you can often tell when someone is using this as an excuse just to get you to pay them.

Good companies will have a strong online presence, dozens of reviews on multiple platforms, and great customer service when you call them.

Example: if you submit an online form and don't hear back for 3 days, why would you trust them with your personal belongings if they can't even stay on top of their admin work?

Arrange Parking Permits

It's important that you arrange parking permits with Eastbourne Borough Council for the removal vans to park outside your property and ensure a smooth process.

Start Packing

It's never too early to start packing non-essential items, it makes life easier when the big day finally arrives. Anything you don't intend to use before the move can be packed away as soon as the moving company is booked in (yes, even that drawer of clothes that you said you'd use all the time but haven't touched in years).

Notify Utility Companies

If we got £1 for every time someone FORGOT to do this, we'd be millionaires.

It takes 20 minutes tops to call your utility companies and notify them about your move. This means you will save money on extra fees post-move, and also extra stress - when you're trying to set up your new utility companies, the last thing you want is to have the old ones chasing you!

Step 2: The Day Before… (famous last words)

Pack Up Essentials

Keep a small bag or suitcase with your toiletries, kettle, snacks, chargers, work kit, and anything else you might today, tonight, or in the morning. This just makes life easier and saves you ripping through dozens of boxes to find what you need after a stressful day.

Defrost and Clean Your Fridge/Freezer

Another job nobody wants to do, and unfortunately, it needs to be done last minute. Once you've had your last meal that night, get right on to defrosting your fridge/freezer. The best way is to completely unplug both appliances (if separate), remove everything inside, and then lay towels on the floor + in the compartments to pick up any water.

Dismantle Large Furniture

A lot of companies will include this in their cost, but if you didn't select that option, it's best to get it done before they arrive. You'll definitely avoid some chaos by making sure this is already done.

Check in With Your Removals Company

Just to be safe, it's good to call the moving company that you've selected for the task - check if there is anything they need from you or ask any questions that you might have about the move.

Step 3: It's Time For The Move!

Keep Your Essentials Safe

It's a good idea to keep your ID, contracts, and keys in a safe place, like your car or bag. Just in case you need these throughout the day. Sounds obvious, but it's not uncommon for someone to go rummaging through a buried suitcase for their ID when they need it on the day.

Block Out Parking Spaces

Reserve 1-2 (ask your removal company) spaces as close to the property as possible. This will make everything quicker and easier for you and the removals team.

More Labels = Less Regrets

Anything fragile should be carefully labelled so that the team can be extra careful when handling it.

This includes:

- items that will smash easily

- items that shouldn't have weight on them

- items that may leak or explode

- technology (computers, monitors, consoles, etc.)

Final Goodbyes

Before you the team arrives, do a final sweep of the loft, garage, shed, and any storage areas. You wouldn't want to leave anything behind, especially if you're moving a long way away!

Throughout The Move

Short Checklist

- try to make yourself available to guide the team to new property

- pets and children: we all love them, but they can be especially excited or grumpy during a move, it's best to make sure they're safe and out of the way

- as items are loaded on/off the van, tick them off a pre-made list

Arriving at Your New Property In/Outside of Eastbourne

Smooth & Seamless

Make your life and the team's job easier by showing them where you would like different boxes/items. You'll be happy you did when it comes to unpacking.

Check For Damage

Although not intentional, damage can happen during transit. It's best to check all fragile items for damage so that you can mention it to your mover there and then - this keeps everything clear for both parties.

Testing and Unpacking

Now that you're finally in, you can test the utilities to make sure everything is up and running. You can also unpack all essentials from the small or suitcase that you already prepared.

Extra Tips

To make the day even smoother, please be aware of the following scenarios:

- Be mindful of the traffic situation: seafront areas like Eastbourne can get very congested during peak hours. It's great to do the actual transit between 10am-1pm

- Weather conditions: coastal weather, as we know, can be unpredictable. Try to protect boxes from rain or moisture.

- The neighbourhood: it's good to inform neighbours at both properties that you're having a moving and that access may be blocked during the loading/unloading.