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Moving can be a whirlwind of activity, with endless tasks to tackle and decisions to make. Suddenly, you find yourself questioning the necessity of every possession, pondering the joy sparked by a humble chopping board, and wondering why your collection of coat hangers seems to have multiplied overnight. In moments like these, embracing the principles of Enrico Castellani, the father of Italian minimalism, becomes all the more appealing.

But fear not, for we're here to lend a helping hand and ease the transition from one home to the next. Here's a handy checklist to streamline your move and minimize stress.

1.Shine Bright Like a Diamond: Before bidding farewell to your current digs, it's time to channel your inner cleaning maestro. Don those marigolds, summon Mr. and Mrs. Muscle, and ensure every nook and cranny gleams with the radiance of a diamond worthy of proposing to Rhianna. Pay extra attention to often overlooked spots like the tops of cupboards, skirting boards, and behind furniture. At The Flat Company, we ensure each property is professionally cleaned before tenants move in, setting a standard to be upheld upon departure. Consult the inventory for a detailed description of the property's initial condition, and consider enlisting the help of professional cleaners for a spotless finish. We can recommend cleaners who will quote for “Guaranteed Clean” meaning you know the cost beforehand and you know it’s guaranteed to the require standard. Bluestonebluestonecleaners@yahoo.co.uk 07512311322 and Angels at Handanglesathand@gmail.com 07494144294, both offer Guaranteed Cleans but you can use whoever you want.

2. Capture the Moment and Share It: When embarking on a new tenancy you will be provided with a Check In Report from a company called Pinstripe (https://pinstripe.services/ ) which will have a visual record of the condition of the flat when you move in. However, if something is missed, snap some photos update your check in report, Pinstripe will tell you how to do this. If there is a maintenance issue report it through The Flat Company website: https://flatsalt.fixflo.com/issuereport/CreateIssue If something isn’t right when you move in, we want know so we can do something about it!

3. Recycle, Reuse, Reduce: Let's take a leaf out of soft rocker and surfer dude Jack Johnson’s book and embrace a more sustainable approach to discarding unwanted items; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSM2riAEX4U  Instead of relegating them to the bin, consider donating gently used belongings to charity shops or organizations like the Edinburgh Furniture Initiative. Not only does this minimize waste, but it also supports charitable causes—a win-win situation for all involved.

4. Settle Accounts: Remember to notify the council and utility providers of your tenancy end date, providing closing meter readings to facilitate the calculation of any outstanding charges. While you're at it, update your address and arrange for mail redirection to prevent important correspondence from slipping through the cracks.The Flat company will contact the council and your providers too with the final date of your tenancy and the meter readings from your check out report but sometimes they won’t take a telling so make sure you do this too!

5. To Keep or Not to Keep: Avoid leaving clutter behind, as this may result in deposit deductions for clearance expenses. However, if you've acquired furniture during your tenancy and no longer require it, consider discussing with your property manager the possibility of leaving it behind for the next occupants and your property manager will ask your landlord. You might be pleasantly surprised by their willingness to accommodate your request, sparing perfectly good items from the landfill but ultimately, it’s the landlords decision.

6. Windows to the Soul: Was it Shakespeare or was it Da Vinci who said “the eyes are the windows to the soul”? It’s up for debate but what’s not up for debate is that without clear eyes or windows you can’t see and that is a tenant responsibility, even if you are on the top floor! But please don’t go hanging off the side of your building just to save a few quid, if you can’t clean them yourself, a window cleaner won’t charge you much to do it. Otherwise The Flat Company has to arrange it and you’ll be charged anyway from the deposit. Here are two window cleaning companies we recommend: https://www.comprehensivewindowcleaning.co.uk and/or https://anylevelwindowcleaning.co.uk/

7. I like to move it, move it: Remember to put things back where they were. If you’ve moved your room around or taken the sofa from your bedroom and put it in the kitchen, make sure you put it back. Again, this is just to help you avoid unnecessary deductions as otherwise The Flat Company has to pay someone to move things back where they were and that cost comes off the deposit. You can look back to the inventory if you can’t remember what was where.

With these tips in mind, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the complexities of moving house with ease and efficiency. So roll up your sleeves, don your cleaning gloves, and embark on this new chapter with confidence and if you need any more advice please get in touch as we are here to help!