Moving home can be an extremely stressful time and one of the most difficult parts of this is deciding exactly what you leave behind and what you will be buying new.
Large and bulky items such as washing machines and tumble driers may be one of the first things you choose to leave behind. After all, even if you prefer not to go to the expense of buying a new one you can always look up secondhand models at ebay.co.uk
Ultimately, the question of exactly what to take and leave is a personal decision, so there is no definitive answer to this question, but below are some pointers to bear in mind.
The Primelocation Blog offers some good advice for what you can consider leaving behind. Obviously this includes the keys and, to make life easier for any new owners, it’s worth labelling any that you have for things like the garden shed, garage and any other locks or places that require them.
On the same thread, it is a good idea to leave behind any manuals for appliances in an easy-to-find place as this also makes things a lot easier for any new people moving in. These are all things that are too commonly overlooked, meaning that new owners turn up at a house without knowing how to switch on or unlock things.
In a way, although having to move requires a lot of effort, it can be seen as a blessing in disguise as it offers an opportunity to have a massive spring clean and trim the clutter that you have been holding on to without realising! A Telegraph article looks into the psychology behind moving from an old family home and how upsetting it can be on one hand to get rid of cherished possessions – but on the other it can be cathartic. Another feel-good idea is to put on a car boot or garage sale or take unwanted items to a charity shop.
When it comes to fixtures and fittings, it is wise to clarify with both the potential new owners of your house and those of the house you are moving to exactly what both parties expect to be left. If possible, make sure an inventory is in place so there is no misunderstanding. If none is in place, according to the Our Property website, it is naturally assumed that all fixtures will remain in place.
When it comes to determining exactly what constitutes a fixture or fitting, an easy way of thinking about it is anything that is bolted to the floors or walls or anything that is hung by a nail or hook. Another thing to be aware of is that the ‘norms’ for this do tend to change for different countries. In Germany, for instance, it is not uncommon for rental properties to be absent of any fixtures or furniture when moving in as opposed to in the UK. This is something that people moving abroad will want to watch out for and it is advised to do your research before moving.
Moving out and moving on by Karen
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drstarbuck/2977014684/
Attribution-NonCommercial License
