The process of finding the perfect home can often be an affair filled with hard work, high drama and a supporting cast of specialist advisors. It involves a busy schedule of meetings, research, planning and a whole host of decisions relating to your future lifestyle that are never to be taken lightly.
However, when everything is officially signed and administratively sealed, there is a satisfyingly calm, albeit brief, period where minds can settle and appreciate the journey that one has just been on. It is precisely at this point that attention will turn to the myriad events involved in making the move as friction-free and successful as possible for all concerned.
Establish a Strategy
Being realistic about the entire moving-in timeline should always be your foundation. Creating a leadership team of specialist services and suppliers at the beginning will sharpen any strategy and allow professional judgement to inform every step. This may involve consultation with your estate manager or existing household team to develop a schedule together. At this stage, it is important to also look past the moving day itself to create a settling period for the first 1 to 3 months. It helps to assign responsibilities in key areas like:
Logistics
For third-party movements, such as removal companies.
Specialist Suppliers
Moving fine art items, larger installations and high-value furniture has to be considered with the appropriate service.
Security & Insurance
Ensure that the property is secure and covered as soon as the exchange is complete.
Technology Consultation
Lead times for network access and tech facilities have to be considered for moving day.
Audit for Assurance
Although delegation and teamwork will be essential, wherever possible, it makes sense for you to have a good view of everything. That means a documented asset audit of the items that will be moving with you or delivered at the new property. This allows for a master map of the rooms and spaces in the new home to be created and shared as a view for reference across all parties.
The Week of the Move
The days surrounding the move will undoubtedly be an ongoing buzz of activity. Any challenges or delays must be understood in terms of what impact and consequences they may have for other services. An initial readiness checklist to work with could look like this:
Commissioned Utilities
There must be power and water for all teams to work appropriately
Security Systems & Access
All security has to be satisfactorily tested, and access granted to only those that require it. Remember to remove access as soon as key individuals have completed their tasks.
Deep Cleaning
A deep cleaning of every room and space must be completed, visually documented and signed off before any items are moved.
Priority Status Assigned
Applying your audited master map at this stage will manage the relocation of the highest-value assets as priority. Any bespoke furniture, art or collections such as wine or whisky can be installed first. This is often where climate-controlled environments must be ready to receive them. As a result, the property should first be tested and signed off on accordingly by those responsible.
Smart Home Success
Our homes are increasingly augmented by several applications of smart home technology that are interlinked and centrally controlled. A new property will either mean that an entire new network of systems has been installed and configured as part of a ‘first fix’ or that existing accounts need to be transferred. In both cases, it is paramount that all mobile devices that have access to the accounts are running the latest updates and security patches.
For newer installations, this will also mean allowing any staff or household teams to familiarise themselves with the new technology. They must be aware of the correct escalation process for queries, support and maintenance to follow as part of an induction and orientation to the new surroundings.
Orientation & Onboarding
The household staff and any occasional grounds & maintenance services will be a huge element for the smooth running of your new home. It is therefore vital that they are familiar with the new space and what is expected of them. Working together on protocols for visits, deliveries and guests allows for all eventualities and use cases to be considered for the greatest response. It is incredibly important that this process remains flexible and as a continual work in progress for the first 6 months while your family adapts to the rhythm of your new home.
Create a Soft Landing for the Family
Moving home can be a somewhat turbulent time for families. Such upheaval can be challenging for children in particular, so their involvement and input should always be encouraged. Allowing them to be part of an initial period of living in the new home to find their own rhythm and flow between the house, school and any other existing activities will make them feel valued and create a much softer transition. If possible, hold off on any large entertaining events until an equilibrium has been reached across the whole family.
Fine Tuning
As anybody that has been through a major house move will know, it takes time before a home reveals the way that living can be optimised there. Treating the first three months as an extended research period encourages an investigative state of mind that is tuned towards improvement and maintenance.
If possible, it may be prudent to hold off on any long-term service level agreements for grounds management until your lifestyle activity within the home has been monitored and assessed. Similarly, the integration of other assets, such as vehicles and recreational equipment, with their attendant insurance implications must form part of an ongoing budget and plan that charts their use and movements on the property.
Getting to Know the Neighbourhood
It always helps to establish firm and friendly connections with the surrounding community and have important contacts for security, local authority liaisons and any other pressing location admin. Perhaps more importantly, it also provides an opportunity to get the localised view with neighbourly tips and advice for the area that will benefit you and your family.
A great house move at this level is akin to conducting an orchestra. Bringing in the right instruments at the right time ensures that the right cadence is achieved for a pleasing overall result and that means everybody needs to understand their role in a comprehensive manner.
It will undoubtedly be your responsibility to oversee everything with the widest view and that often comes with several challenges. However, the results for you and your family are always with the effort and resources it demands, and you will soon be waking up to the beautiful sounds of a new home that works entirely to your own beat and rhythms.
