3 Things You Might Want to Sell Before Moving Into London

Moving from the countryside into the big city necessitates a pretty drastic change in lifestyle.

London is a vast and crowded city. It has mild climates, small abodes and a comprehensive public transportation system. So here are some things that you might want to get rid of before you head into the big smoke to start your new life.

Heavy winter clothing

London generally has a milder climate compared to the countryside, so you won't need as many heavy jackets, coats, and boots. The city has always been famed for its extremely mild microclimate – caused in part by pollution and the sheer number of people living in such a small area.

In recent years, however, the impact of global climate change has started to touch the city too. Hotter summers and colder winter months are predicted in the near future. London is not immune to the changes impacting the rest of the world, so it might be a good idea to store some of your winter clothing if you value it highly. If you are moving from, say, Yorkshire, you’ll still be shocked at the mildness of London Winters. Keep a couple of your most prized coats on hand but sell any more ‘extreme’ pieces.

Your Car

London is not a very good city for driving in. While your car may have been an essential item in the countryside, it can be more of an expensive hindrance in the city. In recent years, the mayor Sadiq Khan has introduced an Ultra-Low Emission Zone in order to combat high levels of air pollution within the capital. Older vehicles and those that have high emission production levels now need to pay a charge to drive within the large boundaries of the ULEZ.

That 4 x 4 you relied upon in the countryside is almost certainly going to emit more polluting particulates than the Ultra-Low Emission Zone permits. Luckily, it won’t be hard to sell your vehicle before you move as the used car industry is going strong. How much is the UK used car industry worth? It happens to be vast. Around seven and a half million used cars are sold every single year. Try and get rid of your polluting vehicle before heading to London – you won’t get a good price within the city if it is not ULEZ compliant.

Luckily, you won’t need a car at all once you move in. London has an amazing and comprehensive public transport system. Trains, buses, the subway and even boats can all be paid for using your contactless card.

Garden tools

If you're moving to an apartment in London, you probably won't have much need for a lawn mower, hedge trimmer, or other large garden tools. Most people in London only have modest gardens - if they have any at all. Expensive power tools take up a great deal of space and won’t be necessary in a small urban garden. They can often fetch a rather high price on the second hand market, so make sure to sell them before you reach the city. Stick to small hand held ones for container gardens and balconies, if you do end up with a lawn, you’ll probably need a compact mower so your old large one won’t be useful to you anyway.