When you’ve decided to move home, it can seem to take ages for anything to actually happen. It can take a while to get the house ready to go on the market, then it can take quite a few viewings to find the person who sees your house as their new home. But once that offer is made and accepted – hurray! Things can finally get moving… (excuse the pun).

Except they don’t. Somehow it just seems to drag on and on even more! Solicitors, surveys, mortgage brokers – everything needs to happen and things don’t seem to be progressing at the speed you want. So, what can you do to try and hurry things along?

Firstly, bear in mind this is one of the main reasons you are paying your estate agent commission. Obviously they’ve helped secure the sale, but this is when you need them to be fighting your corner to get the sale through to the finishing line as smoothly and efficiently as possible. A good estate agent is worth their weight in gold.

Hopefully before you even accepted the offer, you were confident the buyers were in a financial situation to be able to complete the sale – either as cash buyers or with a suitable mortgage offer in place. Mortgage offers can take several weeks, so you don’t want to be delayed by someone who hasn’t yet got it – even if they assure you it will be no problem, there’s no guarantee.

As soon as you receive them, complete your property information forms, with all the details of the property and the fixtures and fittings you might be leaving. The sooner these are with the solicitors, the quicker things can progress and any questions can be addressed. Make sure you get any paperwork organised and ready to send – if you’ve had building work done you’ll need building regs and planning. Include things like warranties and gas installation certificates too.

A lot of time can be wasted waiting for documents to arrive in the post – and there’s always the risk they don’t. Where possible ask to be emailed paperwork so you can print it out yourself to complete it if needed, which may save a few days here and there.

Try and agree a loose timescale for how and when you’d like to exchange and complete. It helps if everyone – professionals included – are working towards the same date, even if circumstances mean things need to change along the way. Remember that a completion date must be set by the time you exchange contracts.

Make sure you keep in touch with everyone in the process as necessary. Be easy to contact and check in as needed to ensure things are on track. It’s fine to make sure you’re keeping on top of what’s happening, and if everyone is in agreement, you can always cc everyone in the process in on relevant emails. If possible, a friendly, open process also means things can be dealt with directly rather than having to go through one person to speak to another person.

Finally, it’s definitely worth getting your removal firm organised as early in the process as possible. Even if dates aren’t finalised, you should get in touch with your preferred provider and get them to come and assess your requirements so they can provide an estimate. Popular dates – especially Fridays in the Summer – get booked up far in advance, so don’t be tempted to leave it until you have exchanged or you may not be able to get a removal team when you need it. Here at Holdsworths we’re obviously dealing with people in this situation day-in and day-out so we know how the process works. We’re always happy to have a chat through things and explain how best to proceed.

And hopefully, you’ll be raising a glass of champagne to toast your new home before you know it!

If you’re in the process of moving home you’ve probably spent weeks now thinking of every detail from every angle. Which estate agent and solicitor to choose, how to market your home, where you might want to move to and hopefully you’ve given some thought to a reliable removal firm (we know a good one we could recommend….)

 

However, what you might not have given much thought to in the whole removal process is storage. But with almost 100 years’ experience in the removals industry, we can tell you that storage can be a huge helping hand when you’re looking to move.

 

Firstly – self storage can be an absolute blessing when it comes to getting your home ready to market. You’ll have heard it all a million times but decluttering and creating a ‘blank canvas’ is important when helping potential buyers to see the best in your home. But of course, we all accumulate ‘stuff’ all the time – and the fact your house is bursting at the seams and you need more space is probably one of the reasons you’re moving! Consider temporarily moving excess furniture and belongings to a self storage centre – not just for the photos, but for when you’re conducting viewings too. The beauty of self storage is you can gain access whenever you need it – so you don’t need to worry about being apart from things for too long. Although you may come to love the more minimalist look!

 

If you have work to do in your home – perhaps some decorating or DIY to get things looking ship shape – moving things out to a storage unit can be much easier than trying to constantly redistribute a whole room around your house.

 

But storage can also come into its own for the move itself. Often move dates can’t tie in for one reason or another. Perhaps the chain is out of sync, and the people buying your home need to be in on a certain day which those you’re buying from can’t meet. If it’s going to mean staying with friends or family for a couple of weeks, or a short spell in a hotel, we can look after your belongings in the meantime. We pack up your property as usual, loading items straight into containers on the removal truck. The containers are sealed and taken to our secure storage depot. They remain there untouched until you are ready for them to be redelivered to your new address.

 

Perhaps you’re downsizing your property and you can’t decide what will fit in your new home, in terms of space and style. Using self storage means you can move some of your items there, even ahead of move day, and then slowly sort through once you’re in your new pad.

 

So, if you’re planning a move this year, why not think about how storage could help you? Our friendly team are always on hand to answer any questions, so why not get in touch…

 

There’s no denying, pets become part of the family. Fur-babies of all shapes and sizes (along with feathered and scaled kinds) can wrap us round their little fingers. Or paws/claws/fins/feet may be more apt.

 

If a house move is on the cards, however, it can be tricky to explain to your pet exactly what’s happening and to reassure them it will all be fine. The fact they can often sense something is going on can add to the stress for them. So, what can you do to make a move as smooth as possible for your four/two/eight-legged friend?

 

• Leave the familiar until last – it can be tempting to go into a packing frenzy a week or two before the move. But leave your pet’s belongings until move day itself so they have their familiar items around them. Don’t wash any toys or blankets after you move, so the scent remains the same while they settle into their new home.
• Get help on move day – it’s best, if possible, to have your pet out of the way on moving day. Ask a friend or family member if they can have them – or if needs be, try a kennels or pet care facility. Not only will all the movement and people be stressful for them, but the last thing you want is your pet escaping and going missing just as you’re about to leave the house forever. It also means their usual routine can be stuck to as much as possible, which is hard when you’re trying to juggle a house move.
• Safe space – if they absolutely have to be with you on move day, set aside a room in both the old and the new house which they are kept in. Communicate with everyone involved, including the removals firm, that the door is not to opened by anyone other than yourself – make sure they have their usual water and food and a comfy place to rest and consider the best way to manage visits to the toilet. Keep checking on them to make sure they’re ok and to give reassurance.
• Are they up to date? – if appropriate to the type of pet, make sure they’re microchipped and if they wear a collar, that it has contact details on. If the worst happens and they go missing at the new or old property, these will be vital in reuniting you.
• Keep them safe and secure en route – if you are physically moving your pet with you, they will need to go in your vehicle, rather than a removal van. Make sure they are secured – cages and baskets should be strapped in so they wouldn’t go flying in the event of an accident. Bear in mind some animals can get car sick on long journeys, so avoid over feeding them, and you may want to choose a route with less bumps and turns.
• Gentle exploring – if you’re letting your pet explore, make sure you take it slowly. It’s a good idea to keep cats inside for a week or so to get used to their surroundings – consider spray or plug-in pheromones which can reduce levels of stress in our feline friends (there’s also canine varieties available). For dogs, if allowing them in the garden, make sure it’s properly secure and they can’t escape. Keep them on a lead when out for walks until they adjust to their new local area.
• Give them time – it may take a while for your pet to settle in their new home, so give them plenty of reassurance and attention – or if they prefer, give them peace and quiet to adjust. Try not to get cross if they misbehave, have accidents or act strangely – hopefully it will be a short term reaction to the change.

 

If you’re planning a move and would like to chat to our Leeds removals team about how best to manage that with your pets, why not get in touch?

If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, you want it to look its very best for the photos. Pictures are the first thing a potential buyer will see – and the more viewers you can tempt through the door, the more likely you are to get the sale you want.

 

So, if you’re giving your home a makeover ready for its close up, here are some top tips for making sure the photos do your beloved house justice:

 

1. Get a professional in to take the photos. If the estate agent insists they will take them themselves, say you want to check the quality before they’re used. Your home is likely your most valuable asset – you want it to look amazing!
2. Clutter is the enemy. Cluttered rooms automatically look smaller and your stuff everywhere makes it harder for someone to see how they could make the property their own. Consider hiring some self storage and have a good clear out. You don’t need to get rid of everything, so there’s no need to be sentimental – we’ll keep it safe and sound, while your home dazzles potential new owners.
3. Empty rooms don’t work. Don’t overdo it on the house decluttering – furniture helps people to see the dimensions of the room and allows them to imagine the room being used.
4. Keep it neutral. You may like bright colours or bold patterns, but they’re always divisive! Make sure things are as neutral as possible, so give things a lick of paint – it doesn’t have to be magnolia but something uncontroversial!
5. Get your Mrs Hinch Follow the Instagram star’s lead and make sure the house is spotless.
6. Stage the look. Think of everything as you look around – is it giving the impression of a happy, healthy home? make sure your dining table is set for dinner rather than piled high with homework. Have kitchen work surfaces as clear as possible – hide things in cupboards for the photos if needs be (but consider self storage for the longer term while viewings take place)! Put toys away and switch off TVs. Move everything off bathroom surfaces – go for the hotel bathroom look!
7. First impressions count. People want their home to look attractive from the outside – so it’s vital your photos show your house looking its best. Make sure rubbish and bins are hidden away, lawns are neat and trimmed, pathways are weeded and paintwork and doors have been freshened up.
8. Book in the good weather. Of course, we jest. We live in the UK so the weather at most times of the year is anyone’s guess. But obviously exterior photos tend to look better against a blue sky, and natural light will help rooms look bright and airy. Bear in mind times of the day when the light might be starting to fade and consider when the sun hits certain rooms in your home.

 

Follow those steps and you’ll have sold your home in no time at all. And, when you’re ready for a removal firm, give us a shout!

Spring cleaning, fresh starts – this time of year is all about taking a look at things and making sure they work for you, as well as at opportunities for growth and new beginnings.

 

Maybe that means a house move is on the cards – or perhaps it’s your business which feels like it’s outgrown its current premises. Here at Holdsworths we can help with every type of removal – we understand it can seem daunting, but with almost 100 years of experience, we’ve seen and dealt with every situation, and safely moved thousands of people into their new place.

 

If you’re considering an office move, what do you need to consider?

 

1. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to plan the move. Find a removals company you trust at least three months in advance. A good removals company will give you a project manager to oversee the move, giving you one point of contact to liaise with and ask questions of.
2. Make sure your removals company is a member of the BAR (British Association of Removers). This gives you peace of mind that they adhere to a strict code of conduct and will provide a high level of service.
3. Use the time ahead of the move to begin the great office declutter. There will be things which are no longer needed – and it’s pointless taking them with you. It may feel difficult to make the time, but it will need to happen so get everyone to block out a couple of hours in their diary one day and all roll your sleeves up!
4. If you’re getting rid of office furniture or IT equipment, it’s important you remember any legal and environmental responsibilities. IT equipment will need to be properly disposed of to ensure confidential data is not accessible. For other items consider a staff sale or charitable donations.
5. While decluttering you’re bound to find confidential documentation which either needs disposing of or keeping securely. If you want to dispose of it, we can offer a shredding service, which is quick and easy and saves you huge amounts of time and worry. We can also help with document storage if required (or long or short term storage of other items). Research how long documentation needs to be kept, from a tax perspective but also GDPR. You can hold on to things too long!
6. As a removals company we would offer advise on processes to ensure the move is as straightforward as possible – for example sequential packing of files and stock, proper labelling systems and room planners. All these things will make it significantly easier at the new premises to get you up and running in as short a time as possible.
7. Everyone worries about the moving of IT and we can offer advice on how best to move equipment, ensuring everything is properly labelled and packaged and transported with the utmost care. We can then make sure that IT is the priority at the new premises, so your IT experts can get you reconnected and working asap.

 

So, if this Spring sees a new start for your business, give us a call. We’ll get you from A to B and back up and running before you can say “now where did we pack that kettle?”.

Merry Christmas from Holdsworth’s Removals

From all at Holdsworth’s Removals of Leeds, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The new year will lead Holdsworth’s into its 99th year operating across Yorkshire. Established as a removals company in Leeds in 1920, we are proud to still be offering a first class, professional removals service going into 2019.

If you are interested in a removal in 2019 then please get in touch, but please also bear in mind that our office closes on Friday 21st December and will reopen on Wednesday 3rd January where we will be ready to help with your removal.

We hope you enjoy the festive period.

This week officially brought the end of British Summer Time. This results in dark mornings as the evenings begin to grow dark towards the shortest day of the year, also known as the Winter Solstice, on the 21^st December. Winter can often be a bleak period of inactivity. But there is plenty of opportunity of how to spend the shorter days and darker evenings. Here are some hints from Holdsworth’s.

Moving Home

The peak period for the removals industry is the summer time as movers try to fit their removal into the long sunny days and school holidays. But inevitably, house moves continue into the winter and the removals industry continues. The winter is a fantastic time to either research your dream house move and look into a brand new area that you might desire. Or if you have an immediate removal on the cards, there is also more of a likelihood of finding the removal company that you seek.

Private Documents

In the modern era, identity theft can be achieved using the smallest amount of personal information. If you work from home or have filed away confidential information, it is easy for this to become a daunting mountain of paper. But rather than throwing these in the bin and leaving your confidential waste open for somebody to pick up, consider a paper shredding company to securely destroy your documents.

This not only protects your confidential waste but helps recycle the paper as many paper shredding companies recycle their waste.

Declutter

The shorter days and longer nights certainly mean that we spend more time indoors during the winter months. This provides an opportunity to have a clear-out to declutter your home. Whether it’s before Christmas when you inevitably accumulate even more stuff, or tackle it in January after the accumulation of more stuff has happened.

Having a clear-out and decluttering is often a bit of a daunting task. Whether it’s the loft, the garage or you simply have left it a little bit too long, it takes a bit of ruthlessness and organisation. But if there are items, collections or memories that you cannot be so ruthless about, container storage and self-storage options can help you achieve you decluttering goal while keeping your belongings safe and secure. When it comes to the organisation, simply set out boxes for keeps, the tip and for storage and get stuck in!

Many of us have been there. You put an offer in on a house, you accept an offer on yours, things are going great. The chain is complete, everyone’s keen to get moving, and then……nothing. Everything seems to stop.

You can’t pinpoint any problem in particular. It just seems to have hit a brick wall, and everyone is chasing everyone else with no real movement.

According to a study by Your Move, the main reason why the average UK property transactions runs weeks over is due to the property lawyer being out of the office. Holidays and sick days, combined with a system which doesn’t have a solution for if that one individual isn’t about, apparently affects one in four homebuyers. Of course, no one is saying conveyancers don’t deserve their days off (or shouldn’t rest at home when ill) but it does seem strange that such occurrences aren’t expected.

Apparently almost a third of buyers experience an average delay of six and a half weeks, because the person dealing with their purchase/sale was out of the office.

Once you’ve decided you want to move, you really want to move. We get that. And you want to be able to plan. It can be frustrating when delays happen, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get the ball rolling on your big move while all the rest of it goes on behind the scenes.

The first thing you need to do is choose a removals company – and we hope Holdsworths is on the list! Whether you’re moving in Leeds, in Yorkshire, halfway across the country, or to the other side of the world, we have almost 100 years of experience getting people safely settled into their new home. We’re used to dealing with the unexpected! We’re also BAR registered, which gives you peace of mind about the quality of service we deliver.

We will send one of our expert estimators along to visit you at home to discuss your move and get a better idea of how much you need to transport – whether we need one of the big HGVs (or two!) or transit vehicles for small moves. We can also discuss any difficulties you may have concerns about – whether that’s tight access to a new property which might be a squeeze for a lorry, parking permits, a grand piano or a prized collection of antique Chinese teapots. We’ll work with you to make sure there’s nothing to worry about.

Once you have your quote and are happy to proceed, we can get you booked in – as soon as you have a move date confirmed we can get that in the diary. We know move dates sometimes change, and things can often be last minute – we’ll always try hard to work with you to navigate it all. We also recommend you take out a cancellation and postponement waiver – just in case someone up the chain causes an issue when you least expect it!

Don’t forget we also offer packing services – taking the stress out of packaging up all your worldly belongings. We can guarantee our guys will be much faster at it than you will – they’ve got years of experience behind them! They’ll also make sure all your items are safe and sound for the journey ahead.

If you want to pack yourself, it’s never too early to get some cardboard boxes, tape and bubble wrap to start packing up those things you don’t need day to day. We can help provide these, so just ask your removals consultant for more information.

So, hopefully your home removal won’t be too delayed – but if it is, it’s extra time to get organised ahead of move day. And it won’t be long before you’re settled in your new home, with your belongings safely around you, and your feet up on all the empty boxes!

A home removal can be a tough time for anyone. But for a family with children there is another level to think about and that is the effect that moving home can have on your children. But for all the worries regarding a house move, it is also an extremely exciting time in your life and that can be transferred to your children. So here are some helpful hints on making a removal an exciting time, rather than worrying time, for your kids.

Before The Move

The best thing to do when you first know about your removal is to sit down with your children and inform them of exactly what is going to happen. If you are positive about the move then that will resonate with your children as well and will focus them on the adventure of the move
rather than the worry. A great way of developing that is by researching and familiarising your children with where you are moving to. Look for attractions or local amenities such as cinemas, sweet shops or parks that are near your new home and visit them so that you kids can associate with the move and the new area. This should reassure your kids and keep them positive about moving somewhere new

Packing & Decluttering

A daunting task but if you haven’t signed up for a packing service from your removal company then there are great ways to make this an exciting task for your kids. First things first are to get them involved. Give them the responsibility of labelling the boxes and let them decorate them as they see fit. This takes what might be a boring task for you or your partner and making it a fun one for you children and yourself. Let them also have the freedom to pack their own “My Stuff” box but ensure that they definitely pack what they need – it’s worth remembering that a removal is great time to declutter. For larger items in the home it might be worth arranging for a babysitter or relative to take care of the kids to ensure that they’re out of the way.

As it moves closer to the removal day, buy a special bag for each of your kids for them to carry anything especially important to them, either a toy or book, so that it is close to them leading up to and on the move day. Equally, pack a box of essentials for the day of the move so that all the stuff you need on the first day/night in your new home are to hand.

On Move Day

On the move day, make sure that you keep in touch with your removal company so that you are assured at what they’re doing and can focus on the children. Getting the kids involved with the removal crew can be a great way to make the day exciting for them. Using gimmicks such as badges can be a great way of doing this. If you are staying with relatives or in temporary accommodation then fit this in as part of the adventure and plan your first night so you can all get settled early.

Settling In

Carry out your first night plan so that your kids have an exciting and fun night in your new home. Make it an adventure by getting them to unpack a special box to themselves or by hiding things around the house so they can explore. But make sure that you make your kids’ bedroom as homely as possible so that they can sleep easy on their first night.

A new online tool, as reported in the Yorkshire Post, allows house buyers and sellers analyse buyer demand by post code. PropCast, the first of its kind in the UK, shows the market in terms of temperature with a scale from hot to cold showing how hard or easy it is to make a sale of a property.

Analysis of the Yorkshire shows expected heated areas around the Leeds, Sheffield, Harrogate and York areas. There were cold areas in the Bradford area, Hull, Doncaster and surprisingly areas of York also.

 

Yorkshire Hot Spots	Yorkshire Cold Spots
S10 – Sheffield: Ranmoor, Fulwood & Crookes	BD1 – Bradford: City centre
S7 – Sheffield: Nether Edge, Abbeydale	HU1 – Hull: City centre
S8 – Sheffield: Beauchief, Norton, Woodseats	BD9 – Bradford: Frizinghall, Heaton
LS4 – Leeds: Burley & Kirkstall Hill	BD7 – Bradford: Great Horton
S20 – Sheffield: Mosborough	BD21 – Keighley
YO24 – York: Acomb & Dringhouses	YO62 – Helmsley, Ampleforth, Kirkbymooreside
S74 – Hoyland near Barnsley	HU2 – Hull: Centre & Wincolmlee
S11 – Sheffield: Sharrow, Brincliffe & Whirlow	DN1 – Doncaster: City centre
S6 – Sheffield: Hillsborough	YO51 – Boroughbridge area
YO31 – Heworth & Huntington	BD3 – Bradford: Thornbury & Laisterdyke

 

It is thought that the PropCast information will be able to inject some realism and clarity into the property market. The idea is to show the balance of power in each area. In cold areas the buyer holds the upper hand because there is an excess of availability on the market whereas in the hot areas, the seller holds the cards. Therefore sellers in the cold areas may have to rely on selling tactics such as presenting the home in the best condition possible and also providing a competitive price. In hot spot areas, sellers need to be ready to act fast as soon as their property hits the market by obtaining pre-approved mortgages while moving quick with good offers and being prepared to negotiate at short notice.

PropCast information can be found on TheAdvisory website. TheAdvisory is the UK’s oldest independent advice and support resource for property investors. Users can obtain historic trends and displays when inputting a postcode.