There aren’t many things more exciting than accepting an offer or having an offer accepted on a house, but that initial buzz often turns to dread as the stress of moving day approaches.
In reality, moving home needn’t be stressful at all – as long as you plan everything in advance. Get started straightaway with our complete moving checklist and the whole thing should be a breeze.
Before Exchange of Contracts Happens
- Get three quotes before choosing the removal company you will be using.
- Keep in contact with your solicitor and estate agent. Try to keep the ball rolling as fast as possible and always keep the removal company in the loop.
- Do not let them exchange contracts without first confirming the completion date is okay for you and your remover. Remember: the date you move is down to you!
- If you are packing yourself, it may be a good idea to get your packing materials delivered and start packing items from non-essential areas such as the garage, loft and spare rooms.
When You Exchange Contracts
- Start a ‘moving house file’ in which you can keep all relevant documents, as well as important dates and costs.
- Make sure your home insurance will cover the removal of any valuable items, or check to make sure that your removal company is fully insured.
- Finalise your removal company booking.
- Arrange mail redirection.
- Inform any regular subscriptions of your new address.
- Notify all utility providers of the move and arrange for connections at your new home. Alternatively, take the opportunity to seek a better deal with alternative providers.
- Notify your local council (you may even be due a council tax rebate).
- If you have children, now is the time to transfer their school records.
- If you’re currently renting, notify your landlord of your moving date.
- Start looking into storage options, if necessary.
- Start saving up for any potential moving day emergencies or repairs that might need sorting out in the new house.
6 Weeks Before Your Completion / Removal Day
- Create a ‘moving home checklist’ of all your possessions so you can keep track of what’s packed and where you’ve put it.
- Have a clear out of any leftover possessions you don’t want to avoid taking anything unnecessary with you.
- Set aside clothes, toiletries and any cooking equipment you might need over the next six weeks and start packing up the rest of your belongings.
- Make an unpacking plan using the floorplan of your new home, so you can label boxes with the rooms they’ll need to be placed into.
1 – 2 Weeks Before Your Completion / Removal Day
- Transfer insurance to cover contents at your new home.
- Dispose of any flammables such as petrol.
- Rearrange your TV, phones and internet services if appropriate.
- Inform friends and family of your new address.
- Make sure there are no parking restrictions at your home that might make things difficult for your removal company.
- Book a cleaner to clean your house once your possessions have been moved.
- If you’re planning on moving some of your belongings in your car, make sure everything fits.
- If possible, organise for someone to look after the kids or pets on moving day as it can be stressful for little ones and safer to keep them out of the way.
- Pack the last of your possessions, leaving out anything you’ll need on the day and putting together a priority box of essential things you’ll need right away at the new house.
- Check in with your removal company to confirm all the details such as times and addresses.
1 Day Before
- Make sure your ‘moving home checklist’ is to hand to check off anything that needs to be done at the last minute.
- Disconnect your cooker, washing machine and dishwasher.
- Confirm there are no loose items in any rooms, everything should be in boxes by now (except a select few essentials).
- Pack a ‘moving day box’ with all the essentials you’ll need overnight and on the day such as activities to entertain the kids if they’re in the house, snacks, a kettle, tea bags, coffee, milk, sugar, sandwiches, or anything else you think you might need.
- Pack a ‘first night box’ to make sure you have everything you need on the first night in your new home. This should include pyjamas, bedding, food, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery – or you can save yourself the trouble and get a takeaway!
- Complete final checks to make sure everything is either packed or ready to be moved.
- Make sure the whole family (and any helpers) know what the plan of action is for the next day including the delegation of tasks.
On Moving Day
- Take meter readings.
- Label keys ready for the new owners.
- Strip the beds and pack your bedding.
- When the removal team arrives, immediately identify any fragile items and notify them of anything you’ll be taking in your own car.
- Check off your packing inventory as items get moved.
- Make sure your removal team has directions to your new home.
- Complete one last check around the house, including cupboards and closets, to make sure nothing has been left behind.
- Travel to your new home!
At the New House
- Take meter readings at the new house.
- Unpack the moving day box and put the kettle on, as well as providing lunch or snacks.
- Make sure someone is on hand at all times to guide the removal company to the right rooms.
- Plug in appliances and check the boiler is working.
- Make the beds as early as possible – this will feel like an impossible task later in the day.
- Don’t try to do everything at once – moving house is exhausting, so get some food and try to relax and celebrate on your first evening.
The First Month in Your New Home
- No one can unpack a whole house in one go but try not to leave boxes unpacked for too long.
- Throw away anything that you haven’t needed during the moving home process and no longer have a use for.
- Make a ‘new home checklist’ of all the things you need to buy or repair, to stop it all becoming too overwhelming.
- Take time to settle into your home and get to know it before making any major decorative or renovation changes. The ideas you had in mind might not quite fit once you’ve lived in the house for a while.
- Meet the neighbours!
We hope this moving checklist has been useful for you. If you’d like any more information about our removals and storage services, just give us a call on 0800 907 8484, email us at [email protected], or contact us using this form.
