How long does it take to move house in the UK?

For most of us, moving house is a very exciting time, albeit a stressful one. Whether you’re upping sticks and relocating to a totally different part of the country, or simply moving to a bigger and better house just a few streets away, the actual moving process can be exhausting both physically and mentally.

So how long does it actually take? That depends on a lot of things – namely how many people there are in your household, how much stuff you collectively own and where you’re moving it to.

There are, however, ways to make the whole process easier and faster, which we’ll outline here.

How you can make the moving process less stressful

Very much like packing for a holiday, you don’t want to leave it till the last minute before you start packing your belongings away. Even if you think you don’t have that many possessions, you’ll think otherwise when you’re working against the clock.

It’s best to start packing things away bit by bit in the lead-up to the big day.

Supplies for head-start packing

First, get yourself stocked up on the following:

• Strong cardboard boxes designed specifically for removals
• Bubblewrap
• Parcel tape (maybe even some ‘FRAGILE’ tape)
• Good household scissors

You can find all of these things at places like Wilko, stationery shops and, of course, Amazon or eBay. 

Things to pack in advance

Then, once you’re equipped, start spending 30-60 minutes each day (depending on how much stuff you have) wrapping and packing items that you won’t need to use until you’ve moved into the new place. Think the following:

• Excess plates, bowls, cutlery, mugs, drinking-glasses, etc.
• Books, DVDs, CDs and other media
• Clothes and footwear (especially things that don’t apply to the current weather/season!)

Furniture and other essential items (like entertainment devices and kitchen appliances) can and should wait until moving day – otherwise you’ll be living a pretty spartan existence for the last few days or weeks in your old house.

How you can speed the home-moving process up

The journey from your old house to your new house will unfortunately take as long as it takes – there’s no way to safely speed that up.

Work methodically if your DIY’ing it

Many people who are moving locally choose to rent a van and make a few trips. You can hire a regular Transit-type van or opt for a ‘Luton’ van – the latter being the largest type that you can rent with a regular UK driver’s licence. In any case, you’ll need to be strategic about the order in which you do things, because you’ll probably have to make more than one trip.

It might be wise to dedicate the first journey to moving just your furniture and other large items (such as fridges, washing machines, etc.), so that you can put them roughly in place before you bring over all your other bits and bobs. If you are lucky enough to fit everything in the van in one go, make sure your furniture goes in last.

Hire professional movers

By far the easiest and least stressful way to move is by paying pros to come and do it for you. Not only do they do all of the heavy lifting and all of the maneuvering around tight spaces, but they also have the expertise to pack your belongings securely and safely.

Twilley Removals is a professional removals company in London, with more than 100 years of proud history, and a certified member of the British Association of Removers (BAR). So, if you’re going to hire a moving firm, make sure you go with a reputable option.

Note: This is a collaborative post