The process of moving into a new flat

EvilDreams

EvilDreams

EvilDreams

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6 Jul 2008
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OK, basically I will be getting the hell out of my parent's home for the first time in my life. We are just going to sign the lease today. However, I have never done this before and I have no clue how to go about moving from somewhere to somewhere else. The flat is furnished but I will need to take all my stuff there. So, how does the process go? Do you just go "live" there from the moment you get the keys and move your stuff in gradually? Do you set a day when you will just move everything in from a couple of vanloads and start living there after that? (I am not keen on that one as I don't like the idea of paying rent to not live somewhere) Or do you move your stuff in over a few days, and when it's all there you start "living" there?

This thread just goes to show how sheltered I am, lol. TIA for any advice.
 
If the flat is furnished and you already have your own furniture to move in, you might want to consider putting the landlords furniture you dont need into storage. they can charge you ridiculous fees if anything gets damaged.

With regards to moving in you probably want to just get it all over with, get a few mates with cars to help bring all your stuff over and just spend the day unpacking. Open beer, drink beer, welcome to your new home :)
 
If you've been living with your parents, chances are you haven't accrued an overabundance of stuff. If your parents are willing to help you move, you should be able to get everything important packed into their car. Just move in as soon as the rental contract starts (usually the same day as you sign).
 
I have my own car, and so does my brother who I am moving in with. His car is a hatchback so I suppose that can take chairs etc. So I suppose big things like desks, etc. can go later (if I can wangle a few things like that) in a van? Is it the norm to spend a few days in a new place in a sort of deprived limbo state, with only takeaways, no internet, no sky etc? I suppose it would be. I just have no clue about this stuff :)
 
EvilDreams said:
I have my own car, and so does my brother who I am moving in with. His car is a hatchback so I suppose that can take chairs etc. So I suppose big things like desks, etc. can go later (if I can wangle a few things like that) in a van? Is it the norm to spend a few days in a new place in a sort of deprived limbo state, with only takeaways, no internet, no sky etc? I suppose it would be. I just have no clue about this stuff :)
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Well i spent my fist few months in my house with no proper TV or interweb, mine was a new build though and i had to get phone lines and an ariel installed etc. Your flat should already have a phone line set up but you may have to call BT and activate it. I would also check with your landlord about whether you are allowed to get sky installed or not, some wont allow it.
 
I think there is a dish and wiring already in, so that shouldn't be a problem. Don't know about broadband though, surely the landlord wouldn't mind as it's just a switch at the exchange these days, isn't it? And a fancy plug for your phone? My broadband here at my parents got put in by a BT engineer back in 2001 but these days it's DIY afaik.
 
Pretty normal, yeah. I moved into my place 3 weeks ago and I still haven't set up my TV. Internet was already there, but if you don't have that, you'll have to wait weeks for an ISP to get off their arses and send you a router and enable your phone lines for broadband.

Why in God's name would you want to take chairs and a desk to a fully furnished flat?
 
SlyReaper said:
Why in God's name would you want to take chairs and a desk to a fully furnished flat?
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For my computer....I have a crappy chair I found in a skip some ten years ago from some office, spotless, nice and comfortable, I can't imagine using any other chair. There is a study in the flat with a computer desk but it's tiny, I want to take my big computer desk that I can fit loads of crap on. The furniture situation in the flat isn't great but it's a big place for the price so I went for it.
 
Hehe. My place doesn't have a desk either. I use two bedside tables to put my big computer on (22 inch screen, and the tower on the floor behind it), and sit on the edge of the bed. It's not ideal but I don't have a car with which to transport a desk or chair even if I bought one.
 
SlyReaper said:
Hehe. My place doesn't have a desk either. I use two bedside tables to put my big computer on (22 inch screen, and the tower on the floor behind it), and sit on the edge of the bed. It's not ideal but I don't have a car with which to transport a desk or chair even if I bought one.
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If it were me, I'd buy a flatpacked desk, and then call a taxi to take me/it home? Just an idea.
 
You can move in at whatever speed you want, there's no "norm" so to speak.

Once you know your moving date, get your broadband and stuff ordered ahead as it can take up to a couple of weeks for it to be set up. This way, it may all be ready for when you move in, or very soon afterwards.

Get yourself signed up for www.moveme.com , it gives you reminders of things you need to and when :)

Oh and yes, definitely get contents insurance. The landlord will already have the building/flat insured. Check out www.moneysupermarket.com to get some quotes and make sure you start it from the very day that you move in.
 
I spent my first night in my first student flat sleeping on a hard wooden chair wrapped in a towel. The only other items in the flat were a PS2, a telly and a kettle.

The second day, my flatmate spent about an hour filling the bath with hot water from the kettle until he realised the circuit breaker for the shower had popped out, hence it not working.

Ahh...student days :)
 
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