Who do you need to inform when you move house? This is a fair question when you transfer from one home to the other. With so many emotions and tasks – from moving your life from one place to the next, disposing of all cluttered items and working back and forth with your estate agents Stockport to ensure a smooth process

– it certainly can be hectic.

With a long list of tasks to sort through, organise and delegate, it can be easy to forget the little things that can become a big problem later. One of the most important tasks is ensuring you have notified the right people and organisations about the change of address.

Most of the time it can result in an entirely separate list of tasks for you, but the team at Joules aims to make that a little bit easier by providing a little checklist below of who you should prioritise about your exciting new move.

The First Five

Your family will likely be the first to know about your move, but you should also include your extended family and friends in this bracket. You can save a lot of time by sending a quick email and letting friends know through a social media post. Some people go a little bit further and send out change-of-address cards.

You will have to class your employer as a priority in the move so that records are updated with your new address to send crucial documents, such as payslips and P60s. You will also have to notify HMRC for your tax records, which can be done via your Government Gateway account. If you receive benefits, pensions or allowances, the DWP will need to know your address change straight-away.

You must inform your local council to ensure you are registered for council tax at your new address. Be sure to update that electoral roll detail so you can continue voting. Be sure to inform your children’s schools and childcare providers so that they have up-to-date information in case of emergencies.

Providers

Next on your checklist would be your gas, electricity and water suppliers. You should have your final meter readings ready and arrange for any transfers to be setup at your new address.

Along with these providers, you must inform all phone, mobile, broadband and TV providers, even if you are terminating their services. All banks, building societies and credit card providers will need to send your statements and other correspondence to your new address, helping to protect against any identity theft if your mail continues to your old address.

Gather up all of your car, home, contents, life, medical and pet insurance providers and make sure each one of them is aware of your new address. That is crucial as your premiums may change depending on your new home’s location and property type. One that many forget to change addresses with is their local GP, dentist, vet (and pet microchip provider) or optician. If you are moving to a new area, you may have to switch to a more local professional, and the transfer of records can be done without any fuss when you have one.

The Additionals

Most of these may seem like common sense and would fall into an easy list to remember, but more are generally forgotten until after the move.

The DVLA for your driving licence and vehicle registration often gets forgotten, along with subscriptions and memberships, online shopping accounts, solicitors and accountants, breakdown and loan providers and the passport office. These are the main types of previous occupant mail that gets handed over to a landlord by a new tenant.

Moving home can be stressful, but keeping this little guide on who to notify will help the process be much smoother when settling into your new home. Contact our helpful team at Joules Estate Agents Stockport today for buying property advice and advice on renting a property.

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We have seen a rental market boom in 2023, with enquiries trebling the numbers of 2019 and competition fierce for the remainder of the year ahead. Whilst it is not a closed door for those wanting to secure a rental property in 2023, we advise that interested renters get a little savvy and act to improve those chances.

Being quicker than others seeking to secure rental property is vital, and the best way to do that is to prepare some stages in advance. In times like this where the rental market is a hotly sought requirement, getting ahead means working with an estate agent Stockport and being prepared to strike whilst the iron is hot.

References and Paperwork Prep

Having everything required to send an application at short notice means you can be ahead of the crowd when applying for new listings. The early bird may catch the worm, but the prepared renter can just as easily get the property.

Paperwork typically encompasses a reference from an employer, a previous landlord and potentially your bank – giving plenty of notion as to who you are, how you treat the rental property and, most importantly, the ability to afford the rent.

Other items would be a valid government-issued passport and driving licence for photo identification and a utility bill from your current address. If you don’t have any of these, you should start contacting them now and inform them of your rental property search and need for their references. All individual tenants will need this documentation, and if you are moving in with a partner, ensure that they also have the same documentation ready.

Be Open

It is never a guarantee that your preferred property will be the one accepted for you. With demand at so high a level, all listings will likely have many applications put forward for them.

When exploring the rental market, be open to expanding your search area and consider rental options that would have commuting expectations. The more properties you show interest towards, the higher your chances of hearing back from them. Do not make the common mistake of becoming too attached to any single property that is hot on the market.

Take time to set up alerts for new listings and increase your chances of being the first person to enquire about a fresh rental property.

Demonstrate Interest

Landlords and estate agents want sensible tenants who pay rent on time and do not cause issues. Being open and eager to impress helps to build a good relationship and keeps you constantly in mind with both parties.

Be punctual. First impressions always matter, so getting off on the right foot helps when the final decisions are being made – or when they have fresh property about to make its way to market.

If you wish for more advice on the rental market boom, renting a house, or information on how to sell a house or buy property in Stockport, contact the team at Joules estate agents Stockport today.

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Future home seller – Come on down! If you are fresh to the property market and looking at how to sell a house, you have eyes on getting the right price as the goal. As estate agents Stockport will tell you, getting the right price is the ultimate reward in your selling journey, and advertising your property at that right price helps you attract the right buyers like moths to a flame.

Let’s talk about why getting the right price matters when advertising to those looking to buy property in Stockport.

Bring On Genuine Buyers

Selling your property at the right price brings out genuine buyers who want your home. When you do some research and work with your estate agent, the eyes of potential buyers focus on a hot deal. If you price too low to gain quick interest, you may have people with no genuine interest taking up prime viewing time.

Also, if you go crazy with your price, you alienate some genuine buyers who will head to the next available property that fits their price range. More people will meet your right price than above or below it, so work smartly on finding that price and take agent advice.

The Time is Money

There is always a ticking clock on the property. If your home sits on the marketplace longer than needed, you may have to adjust the price as the market fluctuates.

Active homebuyers notice when a house is on the market for long periods, and a certain stigma may develop as to why you cannot sell it during a hot market. Accurate pricing will speed up the entire process, attracting the required attention and enquiries and allowing for the right amount of showings. That saves a lot of lost time and does much more to put that SOLD sign outside your door.

Perceived Value

Do you ever wonder why some properties get a lot of attention whilst others get passed over? That all comes down to perceived value

When a property holds the right pricing, it subliminally screams that it is a fantastic deal that deserves people’s attention. Everyone loves a bargain, and if the price is right, the queues can line up around the block to be the first wave of potential buyers through the door.

Wouldn’t you love to be in the middle of a bidding war for your property? Nothing is more satisfying than a group of interested buyers constantly outbidding each other for your property. The way to achieve that is by setting the right pricing from the beginning, allowing those comfortable buyers to feel they can raise the stakes on their bids to bag your home bargain.

Now you understand how the magic comes with setting the right pricing with estate agents Stockport. Contact the team at Joules estate agents to guide you through the pricing game and prepare to showcase your home as the ultimate sale on the market.

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The rental market is doing incredible in 2023 and looks set to continue for the rest of the year. If you are looking at the rental market as a short-term option, you may have restrictions on what you can do with the property during your lease.

Knocking down walls to extend a room will come with plenty of resistance from your landlord, or a new kitchen installed or drilling holes into a wall could be problematic. However, that does not mean that it can’t be made to feel like it is your home.

There are many ways to personalise a rented property to make it feel like a home. Let’s consider some.

Understanding the Boundaries

Before you plan a large-scale decoration mission, it is best to consult with your landlord on what changes you want to implement and what you are permitted to do with their property.

Even as little a task as repainting a wall may not be something a landlord wants, as many want the property to be in the state of lease to you. Naturally, they may not want to repaint the property when you leave. If you decide on painting your new home, use neutral colours that will be easy to paint over. You don’t want any colours that will give your landlord a headache later.

Surround Yourself With You

It may sound obvious – but surrounding yourself with a personal touch in a rented property makes a big difference. There is no point in living with 80% of your stuff in a box ready for when you buy property in Stockport.

Placing your family photos, gifts from friends and items that make it feel like your property turns the empty spaces into something that is yours alone. That should pertain to every room – from the kitchen to the bathroom.

Get Creative

If you cannot paint your walls, why not improvise and decorate your walls with something that doesn’t leave a permanent effect?

These can be novelty wall decals that bring colour and warmth to your new property and provide no damage when removed. Homeowners love decals, like tree and mosaic patterns, that stick to the wall and leave no mark or residue. These are ideal for rental properties to provide your personality over the existing design and not ruffling your landlord’s feathers.

When seeking advice on renting a house, the best question is how much you can make your house. When talking with estate agents in Stockport, be sure to ask critical questions about the landlord’s expectations of the tenants and the allowances for alterations to the property.

Contact the team at Joules independent estate agents Stockport for buying property advice and advice on renting a house in the area.

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