Moving house is a monumental event in anyone’s life. The process involves a multitude of tasks and decisions, from property conveyancing to packing up your belongings and, not to forget, ensuring your cat is safely transported. What often slips under the radar, however, is the criticality of choosing the right day and time to make the move. This choice can significantly impact the overall experience, especially in a bustling city like London, where roads often resemble car parks due to heavy traffic congestion.
The Impact of Traffic on Your Move
Traffic is a substantial factor to consider while planning a move. The UK, especially London, is known for its peak hour traffic, which can extend the time spent on the road considerably.
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Moving a house, by its very nature, requires the transportation of several items, often in a large vehicle. In heavy traffic conditions, this can become a frustrating and time-consuming affair. Moreover, traffic can lead to delays that disrupt the carefully planned schedule of the moving day, causing unnecessary stress and inconveniences.
It’s not just about the time either. Delays can also inflate the cost of your move due to extra hours of vehicle hire or additional charges from your moving company. Thus, to ensure a smooth and cost-effective move, it’s crucial to understand the best day and time to traverse the roads.
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Best Days to Move
When it comes to choosing the ideal day to move house, weekdays, particularly midweek, are often recommended.
On weekdays, most people are at work, and children are at school, resulting in less overall traffic. Additionally, moving companies tend to be less busy during these times, offering you a better chance of securing their services.
However, mid-week moving does come with its own set of challenges. It might require taking time off work, and if you have school-going children, this could mean logistical adjustments to ensure they don’t miss out on their education.
So, while the weekends might seem tempting due to the availability of helping hands and no work or school commitments, it’s worth considering that this is when most people choose to make their move, resulting in a significant increase in traffic and potential delays.
Best Time of the Day to Move
As for the optimal time of day to move, early morning is generally considered the best.
The roads are a lot quieter early in the day, as many people are still in bed or just starting their day. This calm before the storm of rush hour provides a perfect window for you to comfortably navigate the streets of London with your moving vehicle.
In addition, starting early provides ample time to deal with any unforeseen issues that might arise during the move. It also gives you enough time to unpack and settle into your new house before the day ends.
However, remember that you’re not the only one on the road. Early morning joggers, cyclists and people on their way to work can still be present, so caution is necessary. Also, ensure that your move doesn’t violate any local noise ordinances.
The Influence of Conveyancing Completion on Moving Day
Another essential factor influencing the choice of day and time to move is the conveyancing completion date. This is the day when the final legalities are taken care of, and the keys to your new home are handed over.
Typically, completion happens on a weekday, which aligns well with the mid-week moving recommendation. However, it is crucial to coordinate with your conveyancer to ensure that the completion does not coincide with the actual moving day. This will provide a buffer for any last-minute legal hiccups and prevent them from throwing a wrench in your moving plans.
Moving Considerations for Specific Situations
While adhering to these general guidelines can steer you clear of unnecessary traffic woes, remember that every moving situation is unique.
For instance, if you’re moving with a pet, like a cat, you might want to consider their comfort and routine as well. Cats are creatures of habit, and moving home can be a stressful experience for them. Hence, choosing a quieter day and time for the move can help them adjust better to the new environment.
Moreover, consider the specific traffic patterns of your locality. If you live in an area known for unusual traffic surges at certain times, it would be best to avoid those while planning your move.
Ultimately, the decision about when to move house will depend upon your personal circumstances, preferences, and constraints. By considering the factors discussed above and tailoring them to fit your situation, you can ensure a smoother, more efficient and less stressful moving experience. After all, moving house is not just about shifting your belongings from one place to another. It’s about transitioning to a new chapter of your life, and every effort to make it less stressful is worth it.
Avoiding the Congestion Charge when Moving House
London, unlike any other city in the UK, has an additional factor to consider when planning your move – the congestion charge. The congestion charge applies to most vehicles entering the city centre during weekdays between 07:00 and 18:00. The charge is designed to reduce traffic in the city centre, and it can add a significant cost to your moving day if not planned accordingly.
So, if you live within the congestion charge zone and you’re planning on hiring a moving vehicle or if your removal company will be driving a large vehicle into the zone during chargeable hours, this is a cost you need to factor into your moving budget. However, there are a few ways to avoid or reduce the impact of the congestion charge on your move.
First, you could consider scheduling your move for the early morning or late evening outside the chargeable hours. But remember, this will mean navigating the city’s streets in the darker hours, and your move may potentially violate local noise ordinances.
Secondly, some vehicles are exempt from the congestion charge or qualify for a discount. These include vehicles with nine or more seats, recovery vehicles, and some types of commercial vehicles used by removal companies. Ensure to check with your conveyancing solicitor or the removal company whether the vehicle used falls under these categories.
Finally, if your moving day falls on a weekday and avoiding the chargeable hours isn’t feasible, another option could be to delay or advance your move to a weekend. The congestion charge doesn’t apply on weekends, Christmas Day, or between Christmas and New Year.
Estate Agent, Conveyancing Solicitor and Your Move
When buying a house, especially for a first-time buyer, the guide to buying can be overwhelming. The conveyancing process, which involves the legal transfer of home ownership from the seller to the buyer, is intricate and time-consuming. It starts when your offer on a house is accepted and ends when you receive the keys, usually on the completion day.
Your estate agent and conveyancing solicitor play crucial roles during this period. The estate agent is responsible for marketing the property, negotiating the deal, and liaising between the buyer, seller, and their respective solicitors. On the other hand, the conveyancing solicitor handles the legal aspect of the move. They perform tasks such as conducting a house survey, drawing up contracts, dealing with Land Registry, and transferring the funds to pay for your property.
Given their pivotal roles, it’s essential to maintain open and regular communication with your estate agent and conveyancing solicitor throughout the moving process. When choosing a moving date, your conveyancing solicitor will likely advise you to avoid Fridays, weekends, and bank holidays since banks and solicitors’ offices might be closed, which could delay the transaction.
On the moving day, your estate agent will usually hand over the keys once they receive confirmation from the seller’s solicitor that they’ve received all the funds. This typically happens around noon but can be earlier or later depending on how smoothly the process goes. Therefore, it’s advisable to schedule your move in the afternoon to avoid any inconvenience.
Conclusion
Moving house is an exciting yet challenging task. The best day and time to move house in the UK to avoid traffic depend on several factors, such as your personal circumstances, specific local traffic patterns, and whether or not you’re within the London congestion charge zone. Planning your move around off-peak hours, considering the conveyancing completion day, maintaining open communication with your estate agent and conveyancing solicitor, and understanding the congestion charge can help make your move stress-free. Despite the task’s daunting nature, remember that moving is more than just a physical process; it’s the first step towards starting a new chapter of your life in a new home.
