Moving house can be seriously stressful. While you might be excited that you’re moving into the house of your dreams with your family, there’s a lot to remember. Forgetting something or not sorting it out properly could mean a big spanner in the works, especially if you’re moving far away.

Here we have a moving house checklist with some of the most important things to do and remember when moving included. Read on and make sure you don’t forget anything important!

• Collect As Many Boxes As Possible – you’re going to want to collect lots of high-quality boxes that you can use to pack your things. Some stores might give you old boxes that they have in the back, and in some cases, your moving company may even provide you with some. If all else fails, make sure you purchase some!
• Hire A Moving Company – securing your moving date is essential, so make sure you hire a reliable, experienced moving company a few months in advance. Do your research to ensure they have a great track record and that your belongings will be in great hands.
• Pack Up Your Belongings And Double Check Rooms – start early so you can gradually start packing up rooms and things that you don’t use, such as the attic. Before you leave on the day of your move, give the whole house one last look over to ensure you haven’t left anything behind.
• Label Your Boxes – make large labels for your boxes and include everything inside, as well as the room it belongs in. This will help you to find what you’re looking for quickly.
• Enlist Help From Loved Ones – don’t be afraid to ask your loved ones for help with the move, whether that’s as a babysitter or assistant packer.
• Find A Baby/Pet Sitter For The Day – if you have kids/pets, having to take care of them while you get everything sorted on the big day can be a struggle. If it makes sense to do so, find a baby/pet sitter.
• Setup A Postal Redirect – one of the most vital things to do is to setup a postal redirect from the day that you move out of your previous property. This will ensure any post that still gets sent to your old address will still reach you. This can be done easily online via the Post Office Redirection service.
• Inform Your Utility Providers And Other Companies – inform them as soon as you can so your mail can get forwarded to the correct address. Don’t forget to inform your insurance company and make the switch.
• Confirm Your Appointment With The Moving Company – in the weeks leading up to your move, give the movers a call to double check. Give your movers several copies of emergency contact details and directions to your new house, too.
• Find Storage Facilities, If Required – look for reliable storage facilities if you have anything you need to store.
• Leave All Sets of Keys – many people forget about gate keys and even window keys. Leave every set!
• Start Using Up Freezer Foods And Perishables – don’t let any of your food go to waste by using it up as soon as you can.
• Put Important Items and Documents in Sturdy Boxes for Safe Keeping – passports, driving licenses, house deeds, wills, insurance papers, jewellery and cash should all be kept in a safe place.
• Prepare a Moving Day Survival Kit – make sure your kit contains everything you need to get you through the day comfortably, including a portable charger, tea bags, a toothbrush, etc. You may want to pack a separate kit for each family member.

When summertime arrives, you need things to do – and quickly. It’s a great opportunity to spend time as a family, but you also need to keep the kids entertained. Even though they can entertain themselves a lot of the time, it’s a good idea to have some days out planned so you can all have fun together. Residents of Surrey can find some brilliant things to do this summer for some valuable family time. Take a look at these things to do in summer in Surrey for 2018.

Nature and Wildlife Events

If you have children who love exploring nature and wildlife, you can choose from some great events this summer.

Jurassic Discovery at RHS Wisley – July 21st to September 2nd

Running all summer, this even is fantastic for any little dinosaur lovers. The event gives everyone a chance to explore Jurassic plants and insects, and even dinosaur footprints. There are activities every day, including a trail to follow, fossils to look for. Children under 5 (and RHS members) get in free.

Birdworld 50 Days of Summer – July 16th to September 3rd

This series of events running all summer at Birdworld includes a trail around the park, plus lots of daily things to do. There are arts and crafts sessions, feeding sessions and flying displays, animal encounters and Punch and Judy shows too.

Speedy Things

If you’re a family that loves watching things go super fast, try one of these events.

Wings & Wheels at Dunsfold Aerodrome – August 25th-26th

This bank holiday weekend event is your chance to see flying displays from the Red Arrows and more. There are some great vehicles on the ground too, with a 2-hour motoring show, a couple of fun parades – and even a monster truck offering rides.

Brooklands Motorcycle Show – July 1st

If motorcycles are more your thing, head to the Brooklands Museum to admire some of the best specimens. Watch pre-war bikes take on modern machines as they tackle Test Hill.

Fetes and Festivals

Joining in with a fun gathering is always a good way to spend a summer day. Check out these fetes and festivals in Surrey this summer.

Guildford Summer Festival – June 8th to August 12th

Guildford summer festival runs all summer, and there’s plenty to do. From cycle races to theatre and the crafts fair, there’s something for all the family. Just turn up on a day that suits you.

GoFest South, Guildford – July 21st and 22nd

This event at Surrey Sports Park features 50 activities related to sports dance and fitness, and there’s something for absolutely everyone. It’s an inclusive event, so suitable for all the family, regardless of age or ability. Go along to have a go or just to watch.

Mini Monster Fest – August 5th

This miniature music festival for kids is a first for Surrey. But even though it’s a new event, there are some classic things to do. Enjoy the face painting, bouncy castles, raffles, and lots of fun and games.

There’s plenty to do with the family in Surrey this summer. Just pick something that suits you.

Every now and again we will introduce a member of our team and expand on the team profiles we already have. Today, it’s Gerald’s turn.

Name: Gerald Bull

Position: Managing Director

Role: Manager, Surveyor, Fitter, Builder

A builder by trade, Gerald always bought his windows from well-established Cosyhomes. After 28 years, the business was about to close its shutters for good after John – the previous owner – decided to retire. What a loss this would have been to Chessington? Gerald stepped in and took over in 2005 and Cosyhomes has continued to thrive since.

An installer of windows and doors for 35 years, Gerald is an expert in the trade. Customers appreciate his personal and passionate approach, as well as his willingness to find a way – nothing is ever too much trouble!

Gerald enjoys Coastal weekends with his wife (accompanied by a glass of wine or two) – when he can pull himself away from work that is…

At Cosyhomes one of the ways we give our customers vision and help them look at changing their windows or doors is to suggest looking at what their neighbours have done. Their call may have come into us because we have completed an installation for somebody down their street in any case. Most of our work comes through word of mouth, recommendation and people seeing us in action. By seeing what other houses have chosen, gives a good indication of what yours will turn out like. You can also see what to avoid – what doesn’t suit or look good. This is particularly the case when looking at how to split the window or whether to chose lead or Georgian bars. At the same time Cosyhomes has a wealth of knowledge and experience to be able to advise on what will be aesthetically pleasing to your style of house, your size of window. We have been doing this many years and seen every eventuality.

Now, Gerald can even look at a window and measure it without a measuring tape. Not for ordering purposes, of course – that would be amazing, and slightly risky too! He also knows windows and the profile we use inside out. He has a cross section of the window and all the measurements that you could possibly think of stored inside his head. Our customers rave about how helpful he is, and his expertise. But he is only doing his job, albeit with a passion, and doing it to the best of his ability – pretty perfectly we’re reliably informed.

We don’t have a team of sales people on expensive commission. With us you get somebody who has actually fitted a window – thousands of them in fact! And that’s why when we send our surveyor, you get the real deal. Not someone in a posh suit with the gift of the gab offering you ridiculous discounts or blatant gimmicks to sign up now. Our way is to advise on what best suits your house at the same time as tailoring it to your needs and your budget. OK, we’ll admit it – we’re not very good at up-selling. If you don’t need to have those extra casements, we’ll tell you. If it would look better without the expensive lead work, we’ll tell you. If you can get away with changing glass alone, we’ll tell you. Cosyhomes are only interested in doing good honest work; a high quality job at a fair and competitive price.

So if you’re thinking about getting a quote, instead of talking to those sales reps take out the middle-man and deal direct. Get in touch with Cosyhomes and arrange an appointment for Gerald to pop round a take a look. We won’t camp round your house for hours or bombard you with sales calls. It’s in our interest, and yours, to keep things simple and hassle free.

Cosyhomes Windows. Honest. Reliable. Family-run.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.