Moving house at Christmas

Book well in advance

Once you've got your move date fixed, get your removal booked as far in advance as possible. Like many businesses, removals firms may well have a reduced staff over the holiday season, meaning that they can be booked up early.

Snow joke

A white Christmas is always great - except if you are moving house at the time. Check the weather forecasts and plan ahead by keeping warm clothes to hand, gritting paths and taking extra care of pets and plants. If the weather is really bad, keep a shovel handy to clear away any snow.

Contact your utilities suppliers

Make sure you inform your new gas, electricity and water providers that you're moving house, otherwise there might be no fairy lights on the tree and turkey roasting in the oven!

Send out your new address in good time  

Make sure all your family and friends have your new address well in advance, leave a set of sticky address labels for the new residents to use or set up a postal redirection, so that you still get your cards!

Pack a Christmas box  

When packing your belongings, you should always label each box. At Christmas, take care to pack and label a separate Christmas box, with children's Christmas stockings, decorations and your best china for Christmas Lunch.

Get there early

Dark closes in early in winter so try to arrive at your new house early before the light fades. It may be worth keeping a good torch to hand just in case. Also, the earlier you arrive, the less chance there is of the roads and paths being icy and the sooner you can get the heating on.

Food glorious food

With all the things that need to be done when moving house, it is easy to forget that you will need to eat in the evening. Whereas many shops are open late throughout the rest of the year, they may shorten their opening hours over Christmas. It is easy to be caught out, so make sure you plan ahead or ask your estate agent to recommend a good takeaway.

Raising the curtains

Wherever you live, the sight of a removal van and cardboard boxes outside your new home will attract attention, especially in winter when lights are left on and it is easy to see in to your home, meaning curtains are a simple but effective security aid.

Check your new fire place  

If you have a chimney make sure that the chimney has been properly swept. The information might be in your surveyor's report, but if in doubt, get it checked first. You need to have a properly maintained chimney both to light a fire, and so Santa Claus can get through!

If you're thinking of moving house this Christmas, take a look at our UK home removals and international moving services.