8 Checks You Forget To Make When Moving House

Moving house is said to be one of the most stressful activities you can go through.

Throughout the process we often find ourselves out of our comfort zones in discussions with mortgage advisors, bank managers, home buyers, utility companies, and of course removal companies.

That’s why we’re trying to make the process a bit easier and a bit clearer. We’ve already put together a few top tips for moving house, like coping with the stress of moving home and the forgotten paper trail that comes with making a move.

Today, though, we’re going to focus on the tips and checks that often fly under your radar in the chaos of house hunting.

Sunrise, Sunset

It’s easy to fall in love with any property on a quiet, sunny day. Before you put in an offer, make sure you check out your house at different times of the day to ensure everything is as rosy as it seems. Look for changes in traffic during peak times or any nearby pubs or schools that might make the area noisy later in the day.

Safety First

One thing people rarely check before they move to a new area is the safety and crime levels. This information is actually much easier to find out than you might think. There are plenty of free online resources you can check, including police.uk and CheckMyStreet – which also gives you other useful info like average rental prices and transport links. You can also take a look at local newspapers to see what’s going on.

Meet the Neighbours

Bad neighbours can ruin a new move. Of course you can hardly knock on every neighbouring door of every house you view. However you can take a walk around the surrounding area to see what the neighbourhood is like. Lots of areas now have dedicated Facebook groups too, so check those out for insider information.

Futureproofing

While everything might seem fine at your viewing, it’s a good idea to do a little research to anticipate any future issues that might crop up with the house or the area. Check for any reports of flooding, research tree types to make sure your light won’t be blocked by any unexpected blooms, and check local development applications to make sure that wonderful new view isn’t about to be filled up by some lovely new flats…

Our Survey Says

Never skip your house survey. Important structural faults can often be covered temporarily so you’ll want to be sure there’s nothing about your new house that’s going to cost a fortune further down the line. As well as a regular survey, it’s worth getting a specialist drain survey to check for things like blockages, cracks, and tree roots.

Fast or Furious?

There’s nothing more infuriating than moving into your dream home only to find that it’s a black spot for mobile signal and the internet speeds are atrocious. Before you move, check out speeds first. You can do this via CheckMyStreet too and it’s worthwhile information to have, especially if you want to work or run a business from your new home.

Be Efficient

Don’t forget to ask about the EPC rating of the property. An Energy Performance Certificate will give you a clear insight into the running costs of the building as well as alerting you to any potential efficiency problems that might be costly to fix.

Last but not least, here’s a quick final checklist of the small things a lot of people miss when viewing a property:

  • Mold – Don’t just have a cursory look at the bathroom, check windows and seals, look for condensation, and check inside fitted cupboards.
  • Shower pressure – Run the taps to make sure the pressure is okay.
  • Working sockets – If the property is empty, check or ask to make sure all the phone and power sockets are working.
  • Hidden flaws – Look for dark patches behind paint, or fresh paint that might be covering damp or stains. Be wary of air fresheners or scented candles that might be an attempt to hide odours. Check any rugs or mats aren’t hiding stains or damage to flooring.

Knowing what to look for in a property could help save you a fortune and some nasty surprises. Once you’ve made all these checks and you’re certain you’ve found your new home, don’t forget to check out our removals service for expert help on moving day. Contact us today for a quote or more information.