Moving In and Around Bicester: Tips for an Easy Move!
Whether you’re moving for work, pleasure, or a general change of scenery — there aren’t many better places to start over than Bicester. The charming town is only an hour from Birmingham and London, has tonnes of historical significance and strikes the perfect balance between convenience and countryside tranquillity.
But before you complete the move to your idyllic new home, there are a few serious matters to contend with — the most crucial being: How will you transport all your belongings?
As a professional removal company with years of experience assisting families move homes within the U.K. and Europe, Gentlevan Removals is in a prime position to help answer this question. Follow this timeline to ensure your move to Bicester goes smoothly.
Three Months Before
Big moves don’t happen overnight. In fact, the planning stage should begin around three months before your estimated move date.
Cancel Utilities/Subscriptions
The first course of action is to start notifying and canceling any pending utility services. This includes gas, electricity, water, internet, or any other subscription-based service linked to your home. This gives you enough time to settle all your bills.
Give Sufficient Notice
If you’re renting your current home, it’s a good time to hand in your notice to your landlord — even if your contract doesn’t necessarily require you to. This will ease the paperwork process and spare you the stress of having to settle your dues days before the big move.
Research Bicester
Use this time to learn everything you can about your new home. It’s worth looking up the neighbourhood you’re staying in, the supermarkets in the vicinity and how easy it is to access water, WiFi and so forth. If you’re curious about the average cost of living in Bicester, here are some prominent figures:
- Average rent: £1,329 per month
- Average home price (terraced properties): £319,292
- Meal for two (mid-range): £59
- Average cost of utilities (electricity, water, garbage): £281
These numbers could, of course, differ depending on which part of Bicester you move to, so it’s always worth doing your own research.
Two Months Before
About 60 days before the move, planning starts to get more complicated. By this point, you should have a broad overview of how the move will play out, but now it’s time to dive into the details.
Declutter, Sort and Organise
Moving homes presents an excellent opportunity to pare down your belongings. Start by sorting through all your items — clothes, furniture, books, kitchen supplies, toiletries, etc. Once you’ve categorised all your belongings, borrow from the principles of minimalism and ask yourself: “Do I need this anymore?”
If you don’t, consider donating or selling those items. Remember, removal companies charge by volume, so the less you move, the less you pack, carry and pay for.
Budget Your Travel
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that moving homes can throw up a few unexpected expenses. But those who make more detailed budgets always end up paying less. Consider some of these non-negotiable costs:
- Hiring a removal company
- Transportation for you and your family
- Cleaning services (for your new and old home)
- Packing and wrapping services
- Moving insurance costs
This, of course, is not an exhaustive list, which is why it’s so important that you take your time and account for any potential costs.
Choose a Move Date
One factor that could influence your total cost is your choice of move date. Removal companies charge by availability and the prices during peak times — such as weekends and holidays — could be higher than you initially planned for. Finalising a date two months in advance gives you the flexibility to get the best possible rate — as well as plan around any imminent work or family commitments.
Book a Removal Company
Selecting the right removal company is a tricky process. Most homeowners forget to read up more about the various services offered by the movers and end up taking on a lot of the stress on their shoulders.
Instead, look for an experienced and reliable company that’s familiar with Bicester. At Gentlevan Removals, for instance, we are known for:
- Professional movers who undergo strict security and trustworthiness checks
- Tailored moving plans to ensure all your belongings reach safely and efficiently
- Multiple services to find the most cost-effective solution for you
- Skilled handling of delicate furniture/special materials to safeguard your items
- Packing, wrapping and reassembly services at your new home
- Years of experience helping fellow Britons start a new life in Bicester
And so much more.
One Month Before
Now that we’re getting to the final few days, it’s time to start closing the loops. By this point, you should have hopefully finalised a date, paid all bills and ensured that your new home was ready for your arrival — because now it’s time to:
Start Packing
Packing is one of those tasks that always takes longer than you think — but there’s a method to this madness too. To ensure a smooth packing process, start with non-essential items — books, posters, any clothes you don’t immediately need, etc.
Once those are out of the way, move on to more delicate items that require specialised wrapping services. Items that are irregularly shaped or very bulky may need expertise to pack neatly — and could benefit from the assistance of a professional company.
Once both heavy and delicate items are accounted for, you can move on to kitchen or bathroom supplies that are used less frequently. Finally, the last items you should pack are your essentials. Toiletries, underwear, chargers — anything you use on a daily basis.
Label All Boxes
There’s nothing more frustrating than arriving at your new home and having to open ten boxes before you get to the can opener. By labelling each box clearly as soon as it is packed, you’re saving yourself a great deal of annoyance later. If this sounds like too much of a headache, opt for a full-packing service to help relieve the pressure.
Buy Insurance
If you’re instead worried about packing and moving your delicate belongings, buying moving insurance may not be such a bad idea. Your removal company should be able to help you assess your options and find a plan that covers all your valuables. This process should be set in motion at least a month in advance to give you enough time to understand coverage details and the terms of your policy.
The Last Week
The last seven days before your move date should be devoted to final checks. Don’t leave any packing, sorting, or labelling for the end because it’s very likely to end in chaos. Instead, use the last seven days to coordinate with the moving company, make any special requests and draft a final task list. This could include points like:
- Double-checking that all boxes are packed and clearly labelled
- Make sure you have all the documents you need for the move ready
- Cleaning your old home to ensure it’s in good condition for the next occupants
- Confirming travel arrangements
- Contacting the removal company to confirm the details of the move
Day of the Move
On the day of the move, all your hard work over the last few months should have started to pay off. But that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear yet. Remember to:
- Stay organised: Keep all essential documents and personal items (keys, ID, paperwork) in one safe spot
- Direct the movers: When the removal company arrives, give them a walk-through and explain where each box should go
- Arrive in Bicester early: Reach your new home before the removal company so you can inspect that your packages have arrived safely and in order
Always Stay on Schedule with Gentlevan Removals
Moving to Bicester can be a rich and rewarding experience — so avoid starting your new life on the back foot. Instead, work with a reliable and experienced company like Gentlevan Removals to make sure your move goes smoothly and that you’re left with more time to say goodbye to your old life and hello to the new.
Request a quote here when you’re ready to get started.