Month: October 2022

The key to moving home!

what-are-the-first-things-i-should-do-when-i-move-into-a-new-home - neales removals, Essex

The First Things I Should Do When I Move Into A New Home?

Moving into your new home can be an exciting time and a chance for a fresh start. Other than all the unpacking and organising of furniture that will keep you busy in the first few days, there are some key things to remember, to help you settle in.  Aside from the obvious, below are just some of our top tips for starting off as you mean to continue…. Finalising Your New Budget Moving into a new area can often mean paying slightly different bills than you’ve been used to. Whether you’re changing suppliers or moving into a bigger home, your costs may change. Once you have submitted up-to-date meter readings for your new utility providers, it’s worth having a look at your monthly budget.  Be sure to take into account changes to your: Council tax Internet/phone All relevant insurances Once you have this part out of the way, you know exactly how much free cash you have for those new home purchases you’ve had your eye on. Change Of Address Notifications Make sure you update your address wherever it’s held on file. Whether this is for identification purposes, with your local surgery or companies you’re a customer with.   Updating your car insurance policy and driving license is very important, as is your telephone and broadband provider Take into account your new location, partly determines the terms of your policy, and you could be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell the DVLA when you change your address.  Other important places to update your address are: Bank Account TV license Electoral roll Pension provider Your Employer Inform your Doctor Credit Card company Tell the Post Office to redirect your mail Preparing Your New Home You’ve just arrived at your new home. Stop right there! Before you start unpacking, you can save time by preparing your new home to live in. There’s no better time to clean than before your belongings are placed throughout the house. Once you’ve fully unpacked, cleaning will be much more challenging and take a lot longer. If you have pets, small children or both, you’ll benefit from installing safety and security measures from the first day. Nothing is more stressful than witnessing an accident that was waiting to happen.  Take these steps to prepare your new home straight away. It will allow you to be more relaxed in what can otherwise be a stressful time for you and your family. ———————– Contact a member of our team now to find out how Neales Removals can relieve the stress of moving home.

The Average Cost Of Moving Home - Essex, Neales Removals

What’s The Average Cost Of Moving Home In 2022?

If you’re joining the tens of thousands of other UK homeowners moving home this year, you’re likely overwhelmed by what a daunting prospect it is. When we think about moving, we’re often guilty of thinking only about the sale and purchase prices, and not all of the additional fees that can quickly add up.  So, how much does it cost to move home in 2022? The answer might surprise you.   What is the cost of moving home these days? The costs of moving home will vary depending on the size of your house, the distance between your old and new property, and the area you live in. So, keep in mind that the figures used in this article serve only as a guide. They are based on buying and selling the average UK property with a sale price of £277,000.  Based on this figure, the average cost of moving home in 2022 comes in at £13,660, nearly 5% of the average house value. Let’s take a closer look at those hidden costs of moving house and how those fees quickly add up.  The Cost of Buying a House The costs of buying a house can land many homeowners in hot water, with a large, often unexpected bill on top of the purchase price. Of course, you can also choose to absorb most of these fees into your mortgage payments if need be.  Stamp Duty £3,850 Conveyancing £2,330 Property Surveyors £500 Valuation Fee £225 Buying Total: £6,905 The Cost of Selling a House The fees and charges involved in the sale of a house are less easy to avoid, as most need to be paid upfront, with no option of spreading the costs. The fees listed below are the minimum you can expect to pay, with other costs such as reports and surveys often added to the list. Estate Agents £3,260 Conveyancing £1,690 EPC (Energy Peformance Certificate) £85 Selling Total: £5,035 General Moving House Costs Thankfully, the costs of physically moving home are some of the lowest, and you can tailor them to your needs. For example, if funds are tight, you could forego the removal company and hire a moving vehicle yourself. However, moving the effort and stress onto your shoulders makes this an option that shouldn’t be taken lightly.  In fact, if you take a quick look at customer reviews, you’ll see that the cost of using a removal company is not just money well spent but is often considered the best investment in the moving process. Removal Company £1,180 Postal Redirection £44 Moving Total: £1,220 The total average cost of moving house in 2022 is £13,160. Are you planning to move in 2022? Or perhaps you’re planning to upgrade or downsize in 2023? Speak to a member of our team to find out how we can take the stress out of moving home. 

Choosing A Removals Company, Essex, Neales Removals

5 Questions To Ask When Choosing A Removals Company

When it comes to moving home, choosing a removal company may seem like just another task on the ever-growing to-do list. But in reality, it’s an incredibly important decision. The right moving company can make moving home a stress-free experience. The wrong company can become a headache that lasts long after the move is over.  To help you find the best moving company in Essex, we’ve put together five questions to ask when creating a shortlist: 1. How long has the company been operating? Any small business relies heavily on word of mouth to succeed. So, the chances are that a moving company that has been in business for a long time is one you can trust. Avoid very new moving companies or those who don’t have any online presence to speak of. 7 See #2 for more on this. 2. Is the company a member of B.A.R?  B.A.R or the British Association of Removers, is the trade association committed to promoting professional excellence for removal companies. They provide a Code of Practice for companies to adhere to and set out guidelines for how to operate. Any reputable removal company will be a B.A.R member. 3. Do they have insurance, and what does it cover? If a removals company doesn’t have adequate insurance, run a mile. Even the most professional movers can encounter problems during the removal or in transit. With insurance in place, your items will be covered, without it, you’re on your own.   4. Does the company have good reviews and customer recommendations? This isn’t a question to ask the removals company as such, but something to ask yourself before deciding who to use. No matter how good a company looks on paper, you should always look for reviews from customers who have used its services. A quick search on Google will often tell you how reliable, trustworthy and professional a moving company is, as rated by their own customers. 7 Take a look at our removals company reviews to see for yourself. 5. What’s included in the cost of the move? There can be a lot of variation in what a removals company cover within their quote. While most companies will explain the basic cost and provide options for add-ons, others aren’t so transparent. Be sure to ask whether packing materials like boxes and bubble wrap are included in your quote. Disassembly and assembly of larger items such as beds often isn’t included but is well worth the extra cost. Ready to learn more? Read some of our most Frequently Asked Questions, or take a look at our customer reviews.   

Removals Company - Moving in Essex, Essex Towns, Neales Removals

The Importance Of Reading Customer Reviews – Choosing A Removals Company

One of the mistakes people make when choosing a removals company for the first time is not doing their due diligence. While, on the surface, it may seem like all removals companies offer the same service at different prices, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Professionalism and customer service are incredibly important in the removals business, but not all companies reflect that in their team. Talk to anyone who’s had a bad experience with a removals company, and you’ll hear how stressful it can be. Not just the job being done to a poor standard, but unhelpful, unfriendly movers who drag their feet. Moving day is stressful enough as it is, without having to deal with grumpy, haphazard removals staff. So, how can you ensure you’re picking the right team for the job? Ask the right questions and do your research. Customer reviews are one of the best ways to get a feel for a company’s reputation. Here are a few reasons they’re so valuable. Information You Can Trust Hearing honest opinions from other customers offers a lot of insight about a removals company. And most review websites have safeguards in place to prevent businesses from adding their own reviews or deleting negative comments. This is incredibly important, as most other information you find online can’t be trusted.  For example, a dishonest removals company can write their own testimonials and publish them on their company website, but this isn’t possible with an independent review company like Trustpilot or Referenceline. Insight Into The Company Reading a combination of good and bad reviews can help you make a balanced decision about a removals company. It can also help you gain insight into their practices and professionalism.  If a customer has a good experience, they may tell one or two people, but if they have a bad experience, they want the world to know. You’ll often find both in a business’s reviews. The odd negative review isn’t necessarily a bad thing – we all have our off days – but the good should far outweigh the bad. And, if you see customers complaining about the same thing time and time again, it shows that the company isn’t addressing its issues.  Look Beyond The Marketing Budget Removals companies can range in size from a one-man band to a national chain. The biggest difference between the two? Their marketing budget. A company that invests heavily in its marketing may be more visible than one that relies on word of mouth, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect the level of service you’ll receive.  Reviews allow you to look beyond the glitzy advertising and see what really matters, the customer experience.  If you’re looking for a removals company in Essex, Hornchurch, Romford or Upminster, Neales Removals is the trusted choice. Read more than 200 real customer reviews and discover what sets us apart from the rest.