So you’re thinking of moving house – the For Sale sign has just gone up – you probably have a fair few months to get organised, right?
Well according to new research from Rightmove, the average house in England and Wales is currently taking just 57 days to sell – the quickest time since 2010, when they first started monitoring the market for that information.
The research also showed house prices have so far increased every month this year and currently the average property is valued at £310,000. Unusually, London is the only place in the UK where house prices actually fell in June – which could in part be due to uncertainty around the possible Brexit. The North West saw the biggest month-on-month increase.
So what does that mean if you’re planning putting your home on the market? It would suggest now might be a good time to do so – but perhaps don’t assume it will take a long time to sell! If you’re lucky enough to secure a seller quickly, it’s never too early to start talking to a removal firm. Even without a completion date to work towards, there is plenty to be getting on with.
Firstly, a removal firm will come along to your home to survey how much you have to move. So now is the time for honesty – not trying to hide the contents of a jam-packed loft! You can ask if they provide a packing service (if you wish to use one – we’d always recommend it as it really minimises the stress levels for you in the run up to the big day!). If you want to pack yourself, can they help supply boxes? It’s also worth asking if the firm has secure storage facilities in case you need them – bear in mind moving dates in the chain don’t always tie up quite as you’d like them to.
Once they have a better idea of what you need, the removal company should be able to provide a full, written quote. It’s always best to get a fixed price rather than a cost per hour, which can be hard to budget for. Then it’s just a case of waiting to find out the dates and booking in when you can.
Always make sure you choose a removal firm which is a member of BAR (British Association of Removers), and they should also have British Standard BSEN:12522 for home moving and storage. Double check what they offer in terms of insurance. Also listen to your gut feel – do you trust these people with all your worldly possessions? Do they have a physical office and a landline, not just operate via a mobile number? Do they take credit cards rather than just asking for cash?
To get a quote for your home removal, why not give us a call on
0113 2623000