House moving things...

[chrisvenus]

Well, I've realised given I get new house keys on Monday that now is probably a good time to start worrying about such things as getting phone and internet and utilities and stuff sorted...

My plan is to go with Sky for all manner of things (ie phone, tv and internet) but I believe I first need to sort out my phone line.

I then need to worry about utilities. Despite having been in charge of paying them before I'm not sure about the whole different providers and such like to work out what is cheapest and so on... Anybody got any advice on such matters?

And is there anything else along these lines I should be thinking of before moving in? Insurance should be sorted (I was lazy and let my mortgage broker sort that out) and I can't think of much else...

then I need to actually move my stuff. Largely its all small and packed in boxes but I do have a large bookcase (about 7 feet tall) and a chest of drawers and of course my double bed that need moving. Anybody have either a van or a very large car that they think might cope (I doubt most cars can but I'm happy to stand corrected). I think most probably I'll need to rent a van and such like.

also I need curtains. I'm not sure how curtains work. Where do you buy curtains from? I'm all confused. I also need to check but I think the curtain rails at least were left behind...

Furniture and other such stuff can come later (and I know where to buy that kind of stuff). For a small time I suspect anybody staying in my spare room will be on an inflatible mattress.

Comments

[beingjdc.livejournal.com]

http://www.energyhelpline.com/

Search, switch, save, get cashback.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Working out cheapest utilities: try Energy Helpline (or some similar site - there are several I think).

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Heh - I iz too slow!

[mentalfirewall.livejournal.com]

Roseby's do curtains (westgate centre) as do most department stores. They can get expensive though :S

[riksowden.livejournal.com]

I recommend http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

[sea-of-flame.livejournal.com]

Curtains - check whether measurements being stated are the actual dimensions of the curtains, or the aperture they're designed to fit.

Curtains need gathering, so the actual fabric will be significantly wider than the window. Can't remember off the top of my head by how much (I think it may vary according to the style/fabric) - something like either 1 1/2 times, or even double?

Height, of course, is basically the same as the window, but you want to leave some excess so the light doesn't sneak in across the window sill, and of course you need to measure from the rail down, not just from the top of the window (rail will usually be situated several inches above, for much the same sneaky-light reason)

[aendr.livejournal.com]

Height even depends on where you're going to put the hooks on the curtain rufflet stuff, as there can be 2 inches difference of where the bottom falls due to that alone.
(Width calculation is mentioned in a url linked from my previous comment.)

Oh, and Chris; my mother suggests doing one window to begin with (e.g. bedroom) and see how it all works before doing the rest of them.

[aendr.livejournal.com]

Curtains:

You need to identify the type of curtain rail you have. These can be a track or a pole. The pole may have loops or not - if track or a pole with loops, you can use pencil pleat curtains, if the latter you need tab tops or eyelet curtains (and you have to take the pole down to thread the curtain onto it). This will affect the curtain type you can buy.

http://www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=15 is about poles and shows how to hang pencil pleat curtains (on track or pole).
http://www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=17 is about curtain types.
*Do* read these urls, else I'd have to say most of that stuff here and I can't be bothered.
For completeness, this is about tracks http://www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=23 but just look at the picture in http://www.johnlewis.com/8299/Product.aspx for a reference point.

If you need to buy pencil pleat curtains, you will also need curtain hooks. You can get these by the hundred for not that much money, from e.g. Argos. They look a bit like @ signs.

You also need to know how big your curtains need to be. The second url tells you how to measure. If you like a dark room, do not be stingy in your measurements.

Standard sized windows mean you can get ready-made curtains - made-to-measure are far more expensive. If ready-made curtains end up too long, it's possible to get them shortened far more cheaply than getting made-to-measure. If they'll be a bit too wide, that's not a problem - they're just a bit pleatier when hung and will keep the room warmer/darker. If they'll be a bit too narrow then there's more of an issue and I suggest thinking about it a bit more.

Argos, Littlewoods and Roseby's will do cheaper curtains, M&S and John Lewis etc more expensive - however if you find yourself considering an expensive curtain in the Argos/Roseby's ranges, see if there's something suitable in M&S/JL for a similar price as they may well be better quality. Lined curtains will be more expensive to shorten (if required) but cut out more light, keep more warmth in and often hang better. More expensive curtains will also hang and wash better. Cheaper curtains can be machine washed, lined ones and more expensive ones typically need taking to the cleaners. A blind can mean you can get away with cheaper curtains in rooms which want more light cut out.

Once you've hung your curtains, they will take a while to "hang" the creases out and develop a drape which looks nice. Cheap curtains might never look that nice.

[cjholding.livejournal.com]

You'll find it difficult to get a double mattress in anything but a van. When I first moved house I rented a Luton Box van with a taillift (an absolute Godsend) and half filled it (check your driving license includes category C1 as otherwise you can't drive anything over 3.5 tonnes). I didn't have a bed or any white goods though.


When I moved out I had two vans, a Medium Wheelbase Vivaro and a Short Wheelbase Movano, both borrowed by my mate from Vauxhall. I filled one van with the contents of my garage. I then needed two trips in the other, despite having only added a double bed, bookcase and washing machine to the contents of my house.


Most rental companies will give you interior dimensions on their websites so you can do a trial fit before you order.

[cjholding.livejournal.com]

On the SKY front, I use them for TV and internet - but as you have to have a BT phoneline I use BT for phone.

[cjholding.livejournal.com]

Sky's current "introduce a friend" offer is a free Sky+ box/M&S vouchers to both parties. If you want me to do the honours let me/Andy know.

[chrisvenus]

I've actually got a friend who works for sky so I was hoping they were going to have a nice "friends and family" offer going on. I should drop him a line really... :)

[hendybear.livejournal.com]

Don't forget to take the meter readings for Gas/Electric as soon as you move in. The buggers that I bought my Cam house from tried to stick me with their bill..... fortunately a couple of time stamped digital photos of the meter readings on the day I moved in persuaded the Gas/electric people to chase the right people!

[harmonsmith.livejournal.com]

you can find plenty of useful boxes for Box (http://www.boxyourstuff.com/) site. They are also professional movers and i have hired them once i moved.