Top Tips For Moving Home At Christmas

December is a busy month and coupled with moving home, it can easily feel like a logistical nightmare. If you have booked in your house move near Christmas, you are probably wondering how you can make it as simple as possible for yourself and your family. Here’s our top tips to make sure both your Christmas and removals go to plan.

Plan ahead for the move and C-day.

Sounds obvious but planning is what will get you through the festive season, while also allowing yourself to enjoy it too. But be realistic, don’t expect that everything will be It’s A Wonderful Life perfect on Christmas day, just make sure you have the basics in hand. A good place to start is to get your removals and packing company booked up first and work from there, if you set the date early it will allow you plenty of time to sort the rest. Professional packers will help relieve some of that pressure as packing can be massively time consuming.

That includes the food.

For most, the main Christmas event is the food, but it’s understandable that fridge might not be as well stocked as usual. Check opening times of your new local shops (although the closer to Christmas you get, the longer the queues and less options). You could break with tradition and have a Christmas take away instead, an increasing number of restaurants offer a Christmas Day service and it’s another thing not to have to worry about this year. Or book a food shop to arrive the day after your move, ensuring you have everything you need for the big dinner, along with key home and kitchen essentials (soap, toilet roll, etc). And don’t forget the Brussel sprouts!

Be prepared for bad weather.

Weather is unpredictable especially around this time of year and you don’t want to be caught out. Snow and ice are just some of the possibilities that can make moving heavy items dangerous. Make sure you have plenty of salt and a shovel to hand if the weather does get icy. You’ll also need warm, durable clothing accessible too, so bear this in mind when packing. A simple solution is to have a bad weather box ready, just in case.
And if you’re moving to a house with a log fire, wood burner or oil powered heating, make sure you are stocked up, removal boxes don’t burn for long!

Don’t forget furry family members.

No, we don’t mean Uncle Keith, and although it’s one more thing to squeeze into an already busy festive schedule, make sure pets don’t get overlooked when there’s so much going on. Moving home can be a stressful time for animals too. Strange new surroundings, smells, people, loud noises, car travel… Set time aside for your furred or feathered friends during your Christmas removals to get them bedded in and ensure they still get the exercise they require. If you can throw in a new toy and occasional distraction, even better!

You can read more tips on Moving With Pets here.

Keep some simple decorations handy.

The last thing on your mind is probably decking the halls but after you’ve taken care of the essentials, you’ll still want to feel a little bit of Christmas cheer. In fact, having a slightly ‘less is more’ rustic/minimalist approach to Christmas decorations can make it feel even more unique and special. Pack a box of the Xmas must haves, a mini tree (or inflatable one), a few baubles here and there, eco-friendly tinsel or hangings, just enough to make one room the hub of your festivities. You don’t need your home dressed from head-to-toe to make it feel Christmassy, some simple touches and festive lights will work wonders!

Make sure your new house is secure.

Security can be a big issue especially at Christmas time, and with so many distractions and expensive items sat under the tree it can make you an easy target for criminals. Make sure you keep your home secure and your valuables out of site. A basic tip for your new home is to get your curtains up early, making it harder for anyone to see in, a simple deterrent.

Don’t pack the presents!

That might sound counter-intuitive, but if you can, arrange to leave gifts and presents with a friend or family member. This is especially important when moving with children (in particular if they know it’s the big guy that brings the presents down the new chimney, not Mum, Dad and the removal men). Not placing them in the van will keep presents away from any bumps, stop them being spotted stop them being seen (Santa myth busting disaster!), stop them getting mislaid (even worse!) and help keep the magic of Christmas alive. Just remember to go and get them before Mr Claus is due to drop by.

Take time to relax and enjoy it.

No, those pictures aren’t going to hang themselves, but the walls will still be there after Boxing Day. You’ve had a busy time, it’s your Christmas too and you deserve a well-earned break to enjoy the time with the rest of your household. There’s no denying that moving can be a bit stressful, tempers can get frayed, words may be said, sometimes loudly, so take time to reconnect, remember why you put yourselves through it in the first place and we hope you enjoy this magical first Christmas in your new home. So from all the Armishaws’ team, we wish you a successful move and a very merry Christmas wherever you’re moving to.

And if the worst comes to the worst…

Descend on family members instead!