Thinking of Moving to a Different Town? Here's What We've Learned
We've helped thousands of families relocate over the years
Right, so you're considering a move to somewhere completely new. Been there, done that – and after helping thousands of families relocate over the years, we've picked up a thing or two about what actually matters when you're starting fresh somewhere else.
Actually Visit the Place (Properly)
This sounds dead obvious, but you'd be amazed how many people buy a house after one quick viewing on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Come back on a wet Wednesday evening when the kids are getting out of school and the commuters are heading home. That's when you'll see what the place is really like.
Walk around the shops, sit in a café, see if people seem friendly or if everyone's got their heads down avoiding eye contact.
You can tell a lot about a community just by spending an hour in the local Waitrose.
Check the Commute (The Real One)
Google Maps is a liar.
Well, not exactly, but it doesn't account for that level crossing that adds ten minutes to your journey twice a day, or the roadworks that have been going on for eighteen months with no end in sight.
Do the journey yourself at rush hour.
Do it again when it's raining.
If you're relying on trains, check what happens when there's a signal failure – some lines cope better than others, trust me.
The Boring Stuff That Actually Matters
Council tax varies massively between areas. We've seen people move five miles down the road and their council tax goes up by £800 a year.
Worth checking before you fall in love with that dream house.
Same goes for parking. Some places you can park anywhere for free, with no time restraints, others have permits only to park outside your own front door.
Schools (If You Need Them)
Catchment areas are mental. You can be living literally across the road from a school and still not get in because someone else lives three metres closer.
The admissions criteria change every year too, so don't assume anything.
If you've got kids, visit the schools properly. League tables don't tell you if the head teacher's leaving or if half the staff are supply teachers.
Talk to other parents at the school gates – they'll give you the real story.
Making Friends (Harder Than It Sounds)
Moving somewhere new when you're older is tough. You don't just bump into people like you did at school or university.
Look for things you're actually interested in – if you hate football, don't join the local team thinking you'll learn to love it.
Community Facebook groups are brilliant for getting the lowdown on local stuff, but they can also be full of people complaining about dog mess and arguing about parking.
Take it all with a pinch of salt.
The Money Side
Different areas cost different amounts for everything.
We moved one family from a small town to a city suburb and they were shocked that their weekly shop went up by £20.
Petrol prices, gym memberships, even getting your hair cut – it all adds up.
Trust Your Instincts
Sometimes a place just doesn't feel right, even if it ticks all the boxes on paper.
Maybe it's too quiet and you're used to a bit of hustle and bustle.
Maybe everyone's a bit too perfect and you feel like you're in a horror film. Listen to that feeling
Timing Matters
School holidays are chaos for moving. Everyone wants to move then, so you'll pay more and have less choice of dates.
Plus, if you're trying to get work done on your new house, good luck finding a plumber in August.
Ask the Right Questions
When you're viewing houses, ask about the neighbours.
Not in a nosy way, but you want to know if next door has three teenagers who practice drums, or if the house opposite runs a car repair business from their driveway.
Ask about flooding, parking problems, noise from nearby roads or whether they are under a flight path.
Estate agents have to tell you the truth if you ask directly.
Local Knowledge Counts
Every area has its quirks. Maybe the local tip is only open three days out of the week; or maybe there's a massive supermarket being built just down the road, which will cause traffic chaos for the next couple of years.
Maybe the local bus service got cancelled last month and nobody's updated the timetables yet.
The Reality Check
Look, moving somewhere new is always a bit of a gamble.
You can do all the research in the world and still find out that your new neighbour has a rooster or that the local teenagers use your front garden as a shortcut to school.
But that's life, isn't it?
Most places have good points and bad points.
The trick is finding somewhere where the good bits outweigh the annoying bits, and where you can see yourself being happy for the next few years.
Getting Help
A decent removal company will know the local area inside out. We've been to pretty much every street in Billericay and beyond at some point, so we can usually give you the heads up about things like narrow roads, parking restrictions, or the best time to avoid the school run traffic.
The main thing is not to rush into anything. Take your time, ask lots of questions, and remember – if it doesn't work out, you can always move again. We'll still be here to help!
