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UK house prices predicted to decrease in 2024, according to analysts and lenders, while the cost of renting will continue to rise. The government's official forecasters has said property prices were most likely to drop by nearly 5%. Pricing will be crucial if you’re selling a home in 2024 Agreed sales are now 10% lower than they were at this time in the ‘normal market of 2019’. Throughout 2023, there were price reductions of 39% of properties compared to 29% in 2022 and 34% in 2019. The average time it takes to find a buyer has gone up from approximately 45 days in 2022 to approximately 66 days currently, however, if competitive on price they have been able to find someone quicker. It is recommended to work with your estate agent to not start too high. If you start with a competitive price, you shouldn't have to reduce it further down the line. Mortgage Rates Since July 2023, mortgage rates have fallen regularly. This has provided more stability and certainty about the type of mortgage offer they are likely to receive as well as the cost of it. The average 2-year fixed rate is currently at 5.48% and the average 5-year fixed rate is at 5.07% (as of 12th December 2023). The current market is much calmer now compared to recent events albeit still high. It may now be a better time for houses to return to the market after being pushed back during 2023. According to BBC News - The UK's biggest building society, the Nationwide, said the housing market was likely to be subdued next year. "If the economy remains sluggish and mortgage rates moderate only gradually, as we expect, house prices are likely to record another small decline or remain broadly flat over the course of 2024," said Robert Gardner, Nationwide's chief economist. More specifically, he forecast UK house prices would remain unchanged or fall by up to 2% on average in 2024. The government's official forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), said at the time of the Autumn Statement in November that it expected house prices to drop by 4.7% in 2024. The Halifax, part of Lloyds Banking Group - the country's biggest mortgage lender, has forecast a fall of between 2% and 4%, but highlighted the same reasons. "With the combination of cost of living pressures and interest rate levels that are still much higher than even two years ago, we will likely see continued mild downward pressure on house prices," said director, Kim Kinnaird.

Moving Checklist Here is a checklist of things to think about and do when moving house: Confirm the date of your move. Firstly, you will need to get your moving date officially confirmed by your conveyancer and the house sellers. If you are renting, you may be able to spread moving in and moving out over a few days. If you do it like this, you can clean and get any work done before moving in. If you’re at the end of a chain, you may be waiting a while for the other transactions to go through. You should find out where you are in the chain and plan accordingly. Give notice to your Landlord (if renting). If you are in a rental property, you will need to let your landlord know the exact day you will be moving out. Hopefully, this will line up with your end of lease to avoid multiple payments. Contact Utility Suppliers. Let all of your suppliers know you’re planning to move out. Electricity, gas, phone and broadband suppliers will all need to know when you're leaving the property. It is highly likely you will be moving your phone and broadband across to your new home. This can take several weeks so ensure to do this with as much notice as possible. Take a final meter reading in your property and pass this onto the right suppliers. Taking pictures might help as it will include a timestamp to prove the exact reading. Have a clear out. This is the best time to have a sort through your clothes and belongings to decide what is worth keeping and what could be sold or donated. This will save time, effort and money reducing it down before you move. Make a list of where everything is. Ask the sellers of your new property to tell you where the following are: Stopcock Instructions for appliances Gas and electricity meters Thermostat Fusebox If you are selling, write up a list of where the important things are in your home and leave it for the people moving in. Pack everything and label boxes. This should be easier now if you have had a clear out! When packing everything up, label all of the boxes with the room and contents to make it much easier when unpacking. Pay your bills. Settle up final bills and council tax on your current property. Contact the following people to inform them of your new address: Tell your friends and family Your workplace Bank, Insurance and Pension Council and Electoral Roll TV Licensing Doctors and Dentist DVLA National Insurance It may be useful to sign up for the post redirection service, this requires at least 5 days notice to set up. *TIP- Don’t forget to remove your old address from online retailers* Grab your essentials. You’ll need your essentials for your first night in your new home. We recommend to make up a box or two with the following to hand: Kettle, Mugs, Tea, Coffee, Sugar etc. Cleaning products Chargers Toilet roll, Kitchen roll Bedding Make sure to have all important documents to hand, such as mortgage paperwork and ID. Move into your new home! Do a deep clean before you unpack everything. This is the easiest time to clean the carpets and scrub the tiles. Unpack one room at a time, we recommend starting with the kitchen. Check utilities are up and running. Make sure you have the keys for every door and window. Find out what days the bins are collected. For our full, downloadable check list, please click here .

Here are some tips for moving house to ensure a seamless removal process. Booking in advance. It is important to book your removal company in advance to avoid any disappointment. The best way to choose a removal company that suits you is to search for local companies, look on their websites and read their reviews. Declutter before packing. If you have lots of clothes or belongings that you no longer wear or use, why not consider donating them to make your packing easier. This would save time and money. Why pay extra for things you plan to get rid of after moving? You could save yourself even more time and stress if you choose our packing service. ‘Survival Kit / Essentials Box’. On removal day, we will load everything that is packed into the van. We always recommend you pack a bag of essentials for you and your family to get you through moving day and your first night in your new home. Packing Supplies. Packing materials are the most important part of your move. Make sure to have high quality boxes and make sure you have enough of them. Please see our contact us if you would like information about our box packs. If you are interested in purchasing your materials directly from us. If you choose our Packing Service, we will bring all the materials required on the day. Materials required include: Boxes Labels Tape Paper Bubble Wrap Pens Tips for unpacking. When your items arrive at your new home, make sure to do a walkthrough with your removal team. We like to ensure your items are put in the correct place however, we also do a walkthrough at the end should you have changed your mind. Before unpacking your boxes, you will want to clean all of the areas such as worktops and cupboards. Start by unpacking your essential boxes first. If you plan to have an evening meal in your new home on the first night, begin to unpack your kettle, mugs, teabags/coffee, cups, plates, cutlery and anything else you may need for your meal. Beds are also important to set up first. Make sure to locate your bedding, toothbrushes, toothpaste and clothes for the night from your essentials box. Once you have unpacked your essential items, begin to undertake one room at a time. If the boxes have been labeled correctly, they should all be in the right room to make this easier for you.

A good option to take when moving your pets is to take them to a friend/family member to take care of during your house move. This way, your pets won’t get in the way. This tends to be a better option than putting them in a cage as they will be less stressed and worried and they will also be able to go to the toilet when needed. Make sure that they have plenty of food and water throughout the day. DO leave packing your pet’s things until the very end. The presence of familiar toys and blankets will comfort your pet. Do not wash their bedding until a couple of weeks after the move so that there is something familiar-smelling in the new house. DO make sure your pet’s ID tag or microchip details are up to date and include details of your new home address. In the instance your pet decides to take a walk around your new neighbourhood, it is important that they can be identified, should they get lost or try and return to your previous home. DO give them plenty of reassurance and attention, both during and immediately after the move. DON’T feed them just before putting them into the car as they are more likely to get car sick. Like humans, pets can also suffer from travel sickness, so if you’re likely to be in a car for a long time, opening a window or two would make it a bit easier for your pet. DON’T let your pet loose in your new garden without checking it is secure first. Make sure to check all perimeter fencing and walls, looking out for gaps or broken paneling. When you do let your pets out to explore your new garden, go outside with them until they’re more confident in their new surroundings. DON’T assume your pet will immediately adjust to your new home. Pets are creatures of comfort and sometimes they can take a little while to settle; allow them time to relax and become familiar with their new surroundings. Try not to leave your pet on their own for too long until they are fully settled as this can cause anxiety. DON’T be mad at them if they chew things or aren’t house trained within the first few days. Change takes time to adjust to and dogs in particular can become very anxious and stressed from moving. Monitor your pet’s behaviour and make sure they are in an area with limited furniture to begin with. DON’T avert from your usual walking and feeding routine if you can help it. Sticking to your pet’s daily routine before moving and then continuing it once you have moved will make the transition a lot more manageable and will make your pets feel more at ease. Talk to your previous neighbours about your move in case your pet visits, as it is not uncommon for your cats to return to their old home, especially if you’re only moving a short distance away. When you arrive at your new home, find somewhere quiet that’s out of the way where pets can sit comfortably while you move in. Make it comfortable and help them feel at home with their familiar things.

Making sure you’ve chosen the right company for your house move can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be! When looking online, you’ll be inundated with removals companies that all offer different services and it can be difficult to know which company to pick. There are some key questions you can ask the removal companies such as; What is included in my quote? Make sure you ask for a detailed invoice so you know what is and isn’t included in your quote. This way you know that there will be no hidden fees either. Is dismantling included? Are there additional fees if there are delays on the removal day with keys being released? Are there any items you won’t take? Excessively heavy items Flammable goods, such as gas bottles High value items that may require additional insurance cover Your removals company should have a full list of exclusions in their terms and conditions that may invalidate your insurance cover. When do I need to pay? Different providers have differing payment terms. Some companies require a deposit to secure your booking with the remaining balance due on completion. Others may require full payment prior to the removal taking place. It is important to have a clear understanding about how and when you need to pay for the removal company’s service. *Additional Tip* Whilst you’re rightfully busy planning your house move. Remember there have been a number of removals taking place in your area and the area you are moving to. This means, you can learn from other peoples moving day and experiences. When you have narrowed down your preferred removal companies, take some time to read their reviews online for example, Google, Facebook, Removal Reviews etc. In some cases, you will see it’s not best choosing to move with the cheapest removal company.

How to prepare your fridge freezer for moving day: Refrigerators are expensive, you should always know how to prepare them properly and safely. Your first step would be to unplug your refrigerator and clean it. To do so, you will need to take all of the contents from inside your fridge out and pack them into a cool box to maintain your content’s freshness or put them in a bin. The best way to clean the surfaces inside is by using a mixture of water and baking soda. Use a microfiber cloth to scrub every inch. Once you have fully cleaned your fridge, you should then attempt to melt and ice to prevent any water leaks whilst moving. If your refrigerator has glass shelves, take them out and wrap them in bubble wrap or anything to protect them as they are more than likely to move whilst in transit if they are still in the fridge. Once your refrigerator has been defrosted, you should then unplug it from the main power supply and roll up the plug cable and tape it to the back of the fridge a few hours before your remover's scheduled time to be at your property. Water filters and ice makers: If your refrigerator has any kind of filter, it should be disconnected, if you don’t know how to, the information will be available in the manufacturer's manual. American Fridge Freezer: With an American fridge freezer, we often require that the doors have been removed. This reduces weight, as most of the weight is in the doors. Also, it will then be a lot easier to get through the new property as it will be a lot thinner and not as wide. Rest time: Once your refrigerator is in your new property and in the correct place and position you would like to keep it, you would need to let the gases settle which means that you should not plug it in for around 4-6 hours. Once it has settled for a while, then you’re ready to plug it back in and put your contents back inside.

How to prepare your washing machine for removal without getting in a spin! How to drain and disconnect your washing machine Lay an old towel on the floor to catch any excess water and have a bucket handy to drain the water supply hoses. Disconnect the power supply and unplug the machine Turn off the water supply valves Disconnect the water supply hoses and drain the excess water in to your bucket Ensure the rubber washers in the water supply hoses don’t get lost. We recommend sealing a plastic bag over the connect to prevent this Place the hoses in to the drum of the washing machine using old towels to protect them Leave the water drain hose in the machine but empty any excess water before moving - tape or secure this hose upright on the back of the machine How to prepare the washing machine for your house move Leave the door open for 24 hours to allow the drum to dry before your move Clean the machine inside out. It’s important to pay extra attention to the rubber seals which often collect excess water Install your washer drum locks which are usually found on the back of the washing machine. These will help protect the drum during transport. If they’ve been misplaced, you can usually purchase them from the manufacturer.

Are you thinking about putting your items into storage when you move house? We often find that our customers require temporary and long term storage for their belongings when moving house or carrying out renovations. Below are some of our top tips for storing your and items you’re strictly unable to store. What items can’t go into storage: Plants Food - this includes pet food Hazardous liquids and materials such as petrol/diesel which may be in your lawn mower Drugs/Explosives/Firearms How to prepare your items for storage: Create an inventory of the items you’re planning to store. This will help you when you can’t find something at home and wonder where it may have gone! Label your boxes clearly so you can easily find what you’re looking for if you wish to gain access to your items Protect your items. In the event that your storage unit isn’t temperature controlled, you want to ensure your belongings are protected from all elements such as ust, mildew and sometimes even mould. Pay particular attention to your washing machine, fridge freezer etc by making sure they’re clean and dry before storing them Seal your boxes tightly, you may want to wrap your electronic items in a plastic bag Dismantle larger items such as beds, dining tables and wardrobes. This will help you save space in the storage unit as well as protecting them from wear and tear. To be on the safe side, we recommend that you find alternative arrangements for items of sentimental value, high value or jewelry items. Purchase insurance. You’ll often find that storage companies will have a couple of options for you If you need help finding a storage unit near you or your new home, you can call us on 01752 946732.