Affordable Living

Though rental rates are on the rise in Manchester, they are nothing compared to the steep prices dominant in London and the south west. The cost of living is also more manageable in the north of England. In 2016 it was reported that compared to London, rent in Manchester was 50% cheaper than London  and the cost of living was a further 30% cheaper. The same report looked at other comparisons between Manchester and London, finding that a monthly travel pass was 40% cheaper, gym membership was 57% less and tube of toothpaste was 42% cheaper. Though wages aren’t as high in the capital, residents can get far more for their money, making it a tempting location for people fed up of sky high prices.  

Urban Renaissance

A huge scheme of investment has seen Manchester transformed in recent decades. Once derelict warehouses now host luxurious loft style apartments. Disused industrial land is being turned into prestigious arts venues. The once avoidable Salford Quays has had an impressive makeover, both physically and its reputation. The £1 billion St John’s development will also have a massive impact, providing new homes, jobs and opportunities for potential residents.  The UK’s Northern Powerhouse strategy has seen an impressive volume of investment poured into Manchester and other northern cities, helping to address the historic north south divide in England.

Job Opportunities

As mentioned before, the city centre job growth in Manchester is one of the main factors in it’s increasing attractiveness to potential residents. With a job market that’s grown 84% in a just over a decade, opportunities are available that were unimaginable in the old ‘grim up north’ days of Manchester’s past. From marketing, to digital services to television production, new sectors have been booming in Manchester, offering great quality jobs to residents.

The Manchester Lifestyle

From niche record stores to gourmet burgers, from walking through the historical waterways to shopping in high-end designer stores, Manchester has it all. This eclectic city culture has been a huge draw to students, who have come to study along with over 85,000 fellow scholars every year. Manchester has an impressive collection of universities, colleges and other specialised higher education institutions, from the historic to the ultra-modern. With world class research, links to the cities thriving industries and a student retention rate of over 50%, students are moving to Manchester to study and stay.

Investment Opportunities

These new residents, who are moving to Manchester in their droves, will of course need somewhere to live. The majority of these seem to be looking for rental accommodation. Due to the job quality available in Manchester, many of these people will be looking for a high standard of accommodation too. Luxury apartments like those at Hollywood and West Point by RW Invest are perfect for this. Demand for rental property in Manchester is at an all-time high, providing buy to let investors with unique opportunities for return on investment.

Make Preparations in Advance

Doing things at the last minute can often make your moving costs skyrocket. Proper planning can save you a pretty penny. It can help to research the local shops that are known for the most economical moving supplies around. It can help to book necessary accommodations beforehand, too. Moving processes often call for temporary stays in hotels and motels. If you take care of everything well before your moving day, you won’t have to cover steep, last-minute expenses. Delaying things doesn’t pay, as far as relocation goes.

Look for Freebies

Moving supplies can often be pretty pricey. Paying for sturdy boxes can cost a fortune. Bubble wrap and tape costs can add up pretty quickly, too. If you want to minimize moving expenses as much as possible, you should try to get freebies. Visit grocery stores in your community to ask about old boxes they can give to you. Ask neighbors and friends if they have any unnecessary old boxes lying around as well. Free boxes can cut your relocation costs dramatically.

Hire a Professional Moving Company

Hiring professional movers can spare you many inconveniences. If you’re searching for local moving businesses that are affordable, you have to shop around. Some companies, like Walsh Moving & Storage, know that you should compare quotes from companies that catch your interest. Ask about any companies that may be offering special discounts or deals, too. You could just save yourself a nice sum of money.

Make a Detailed List

So many things go into moving. It can be easy to forget them all. If you want to avoid the shocks of last-minute costly moving “surprises,” you should write out a detailed list. This list should include any expenses that may come your way. It should even include basic tasks you need to manage. You don’t want to forget to change your address with the post office, after all.

Moving doesn’t have to bankrupt you. If you plan well, you can enjoy a relocation that’s economical, budget-friendly and convenient. It’s critical to keep your composure. The more overwhelmed you get, the harder it will be for you to think clearly.

Get Rid of It

Packing is simple when you throw away or donate anything you no longer need. If you haven’t used it or even opened the box in more than a year, bid farewell to that item. Sentimental items such as old artwork the kids drew can be scanned, saved to a computer, and even turned into a lovely coffee table book. There’s no need to keep the clutter. Get rid of it, minimize the number of boxes you must pack, and make moving less stressful.

Label It

Pack everything in labeled boxes. To make it easier, put everything in a box and label it by room. Kitchen, Living, Office, Master, Bathroom, Laundry, and so on so you know where to put those boxes. As soon as they’re in your dream home, put them into the room noted on the label and begin unpacking.

Unpack Right Away

It’s entirely possible, and people do it all the time. Imagine moving into your home first thing on a Saturday morning and waking up Sunday to a house that’s completely unpacked. It makes for a very long day Saturday, but it’s something many people do all the time. It’s as easy as packing clothes on their hangers in trash bags. Hang them up in their respective closets immediately, rip or cut the bags off, and those closets are unpacked.

Hang photos and art work, arrange your furniture, and unpack your kitchen items right away. You pared down your items significantly when packing, so it shouldn’t take more than a day. Get motivated, and you can wake up on your first morning in your new home without any boxes to unpack or items to do. You simply enjoy a cup of coffee and the knowledge you no longer have the stress of moving in your life.

Moving is only as stressful as you make it. Get organized, get motivated, and create a plan. It’s easier, it’s more enjoyable, and it’s going to help you keep your life on track.

Get Organized

Getting organized for a big move is essential, whether you are downsizing or looking to upgrade to a larger house for you and your family. Organize each room in your current home individually, ridding clutter and throwing away or donating unused clothing, furniture and household decor. Make sure all of your boxes are properly labeled. This way you can keep track of where certain items are when it comes time to unpack in your new home.

Create an Inventory List

Create an inventory list of the most important items in each room or space you are packing. Having inventory lists for boxes and rooms individually is the quickest method to begin unpacking and remaining organized even once you have moved and are beginning to settle in. This will help you keep track of what items you have or don’t have during your move. It will also help you track any items that might get lost or misplaced during the move. Knowing what you have and where it is during your move will allow you to move more smoothly and give you peace of mind.

Buying Moving Boxes and Supplies Ahead of Time

It is also advisable to invest in moving boxes and supplies prior to the actual preparation of your move. Investing in moving boxes and supplies from a company like Boxes 4 U ahead of time allows you the ability to calculate your needs while ensuring you have enough storage material to ensure you are capable of moving without leaving items and possessions behind.

Mark Packed Boxes

Once you begin packing boxes from within your home it is advisable to use permanent marker to make notes on each box accordingly. Marking boxes with inventory and which room they belong in saves time once you arrive to your new home and you are ready to begin unpacking and settling in.

Work With a Professional Moving Company

Consider working with a professional moving company as an option to expedite the process of moving from one home to another. Hiring a professional team of movers guarantees the protection of your furniture and household items while relieving some of the stress involved in moving to a new location altogether, allowing you more time to focus on organizing and unpacking in your final destination.

Learning how to pack and prepare for a move ahead of time allows you to ultimately save on investments and moving services when you are ready for the big move. Any time you are thinking of moving, getting organized and preparing long before the move is a way to quickly get into your new house without hassles and stress.

1. Professional Inventory

When you hire a professional moving company, you can expect them to list each and every item that they have packed. Each box will be labeled with its contents clearly listed, and each box will be marked off as it is loaded onto the truck and again as it is unloaded and placed carefully in your new home. You will be able to ask that each box be labeled in a way that allows your movers to place the correct box in the room of your choosing at your new location. This will also help make the mover liable if any items are lost or damaged during transit to your new home. Often times, the moving company will provide you with some kind of monetary reimbursement for any items lost or damaged during the move as well. 

2. Correct Packing

Not only will your professional moving company pack each box correctly with careful boxing that doesn’t allow for breakage, but you can also have comfort in knowing the movers are knowledgeable about moving your larger items. No more worries about the legs being knocked off your kitchen table or sofa, your large screen television being scratched or broken or your mirrors being shattered. Most companies will guarantee the prompt and safe arrival of your belongings.

3. No Chiropractor Bills

According to webmd.com, many people are injured when they try to move items such as heavy exercise equipment and furniture either by themselves or with not enough people to help move them adequately. Your professional moving company will provide you with enough movers that they will be able to work together to move anything needed in the proper manner. Your movers will come with the knowledge of how to move things properly and with hand trucks to get those heavy boxes on the truck.

Whether it’s your first time moving or you hop around every six months, it’s almost always stressful because you are generally starting over in a new area with a new job or school and a need for new friends. You will have enough on your mind without breaking your back moving heavy furniture and watching well-meaning friends destroy your stuff. Let a professional moving company take care of you, and you can enjoy some much needed peace of mind and the time you need to deal with other matters, but make sure you do some quick research to find the best moving company for your needs.

My name is Lizzie Weakley and I am a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. I went to college at The Ohio State University where I studied communications. I enjoy the outdoors and long walks in the park with my 3-year-old husky Snowball.

Lizzie found the information for this article from Top Movers Online. If you are looking to move, prepare by doing some quick research that can help you find the best moving companies for your needs.

Packaging services

If you don’t want to deal with the wearisome packing yourself, the packaging services are always an option. You can hire professionals just to pack your stuff before moving or only to unpack them in your new home. There is also third option which many companies offer and that is a whole package, including packing and unpacking. You can also require for only several of your things to be packed or for all of them, the decision is yours. But better make that decision fast because the moving itself will take a lot of your time, too.

Moving companies

Another good option is to hire movers. Unfortunately, there are already so many moving companies operating that finding just the right one might take a while. You should select carefully because exist a lot of frauds and you don’t want to end up overpaying or without your stuff. The best strategy in this moment is to get organized and do a quick research. Ask some of your friends or relatives if they know of a reliable company working near you, look on the Internet and in the newspapers. The best company should be experienced and have a lot of references which you could use to contact and ask questions about the quality of work of the agency. When you pick out an agency you like you can meet with the employees to discuss your moving. In most cases the price depends on the distance or on the amount of your things but for all of this you can ask your moving company yourself.

Truck renting

A moving truck is another good option and will probably cost you less than the moving company. Before reserving the vehicle, however, you have to determine the distance to your new place, the amount of your luggage and the time you will use the truck. That will help you select easier the size of the truck you will need and consequently choose faster the right company for you. Make a comparison between the various prices of the agencies and then contact the one that seems perfect to you. Do not hesitate to ask questions about everything that interests you, after all you have to be sure who you are hiring.  

The professional cleaning companies

This type of agencies like HireHouseCleaner Greenwich offer a lot of useful cleaning services and one of them is the end of tenancy cleaning. This type of procedure could be ideal for you as a great way to put an end of your moving. After your stuff have been packed and removed from your real estate property the cleaners from the company will come and sanitize the rooms. These types of services are very affordable and will save you the time of cleaning yourself.

As you can see the crisis of the moving can be easily avoided with a little help from the professionals. They will be with you every step of the way to your new home and at the end, the cost of the whole process will be nothing in comparison to the nerves and stress you could have experienced if you were on your own. Of course everything is optional, you can hire professional help for only one job or for all of them, you design yourself the final cost of your moving.

Look For Water Shut-Off and Main Circuit Breaker

Being aware with where everything in your home is will help you in the event of an emergency in the future. You should look and see where your main circuit breaker and water shut-off is, in the event that you ever need to utilize either of them. You can also check and see if any circuits are running or if any water is leaking, both issues which could cost you money if you don’t attend to them immediately.

Change The Locks

Changing the locks to your new home is a necessary measure that you should take. Experts suggest that even if the old homeowners gave you all of the keys, you can never be too safe. You also don’t know who they may have given keys to, which could put you and your family in danger. Because of that, take the time to get the locks changed and it’ll be worth it for your safety and comfort.

Pest-Proof The Home

Whether or not you live in an area that is known for pests, take the time to spray pesticide around the outside of your home. You can also consider contacting a pest removal company, who can do a comprehensive look into any issues that you may have in your home. Part of a home inspection may or may not take a look for pests, so this may be something that you were not prepare for when you first moved in.

Change Your Information From Previous Home

Finally, be sure that you fill out the necessary paperwork to change all of your personal information from your old home to your new one. That includes your mailing address, any subscriptions you have, and also your drivers license and insurance information. It’s never a good idea to let mail get sent to your old home, as you don’t know who could be getting a hold of it.

Clean Around The Home

Before moving any possessions into your new home make sure you clean around the home. Starting with the kitchen use heavy-duty cleaner to clean the appliances, then use more mild cleaner to clean the cabinets and counters. To clean the sink use a chlorine-free bleach, let it sock for a while, then rinse. After cleaning the kitchen, start cleaning the walls with liquid stick cleaners. Don’t forget to also wipe down the baseboards, switch plates, and door frames. Lastly clean the floors. Make sure you get the carpets steamed and mild soap to clean hard wood floors.

After moving into your new home, consider the four things mentioned here that you should have done before you finalize settling in.

Does this sound familiar? Has your home turned into a wasteland of furniture, paperwork, odds and ends and too many things? Here are the best tips for downsizing your home (and life):

Do You Need That?

Make sure everything you’re keeping is truly something you can’t live without. Does it have a worthy space in your home or office? Is it useful, like your toaster, blender, or the most comfortable couch? Perhaps it’s the sentimental thing you can’t part with like a mug Tiffany made or your great grandmother’s handmade afghan. If it does not fit these categories, you should think about parting with it.

Get a Feel for the Size of Your New Home by Comparing Rooms of Similar Dimension

If your soon-to-be living room is smaller, then you might not be able to squeeze in those three couches, end table and large entertainment center like you thought. Plan ahead and think about which furniture will work best in which room. All the extras that won’t fit should be sold or donated. If you can’t quite bear to part with something just yet, consider renting a storage unit from someone like Uncle Bobs storage units. Most places have various sizes to meet your needs.

De-Clutter

When downsizing, you should de-cluttering your home. It won’t get done in a day, so this is something you will want to do a few times a week. Pick a room where you want to start and use the ‘three box’ method: keep, toss, store. Your ‘keep’ box should be filled with items you intend to keep and can be packed in preparation for the move. For everything in the ‘toss box,’ just dump it. Anything in your ‘store’ box could be placed in storage or garage for time being. If you end up storing valuable items in the garage or shed, you may want to look into some kind of outdoor security camera. There are buying guides all over the internet where you can look for one that fits your budget.

Limit the Space

This rule has worked for me and everyone I’ve told. Only keep the books that fit on the bookshelf. Only keep yarn that fits in the bins. Only keep the greeting cards that fit in the box you designate. This works especially well for clothes. If you’re like me you have way too many clothes. Only keep the clothes that fit inside your closet and drawers and that you wear frequently. Everything else can be donated or thrown away.