Don’t let the weeks before moving day get the better of you. By planning ahead and knowing what to do when, you’ll be surprised at how much easier it all feels. This is our ultimate countdown to moving home checklist…
Six weeks before
Book time off work
Book as much time off as you can for a move – you’ll be really thankful you did when the time comes around. If you’re tight on leave, try to arrange to move on a Friday and request the Monday off. It’ll give you a few days at least to get straight.
Select your removals company (carefully!)
If there’s anything that can help take the stress out of moving day, it’s instructing a reliable removals company to do all the heavy lifting (literally).
They’ll load up the van for you, you just need to have everything packed and ready, and to give them a steer on the order you want the boxes stacked (if necessary). Then, at the other end, you’ll have a team of helpers to unload. The same goes for storage – arrange to shift items you want to store ahead of time and get it out the way ahead of the big day.
Start a moving folder
Go old-school with printouts and a binder or save everything down in Google Docs or OneDrive. Either way, having a simple filing system to keep documents organised and readily available will really pay off when you’re trying to locate things later on.
Four weeks before
Contact your TV & broadband provider
Some companies, such as Sky and Virgin Media, require at least 30 days’ notice to switch over and set up your TV and internet in a new home, so don’t delay.
Organise children
Moving day is daunting enough, without having to deal with little ones under your feet. Now’s the time to schedule the babysitter, so you can concentrate on the tasks at hand, uninterrupted. It’s also helpful when it comes to adjusting children to the new place, as it’ll give you a chance to sort out some familiar items in new bedrooms, for example.
…and pets!
Make sure you read up on what’s-what in advance if you’re moving home with a pet. Cats and dogs, for example, may benefit from some calming supplements, or may need to be crate-trained ahead of moving day. If you’re the owner of a more exotic pet, then you might need a special removals company to accommodate. Check out our top tips for moving home with a pet for more info.
Create a packing inventory
A packing inventory is a handy document that details which items need to be packed in which room and in which box. The earlier you make this list the better, as it’ll help you understand which supplies you’ll need. Ensure you label your boxes according to your inventory as you go. You can see an example of a packing inventory, plus lots more packing tips, in our handy packing for a move guide.
Get your packing supplies sorted
Boxes in all shapes and sizes, bubble wrap, labels, marker pens – you’ll want to get it all in ahead of time. Your packing inventory should help you understand what kind of things you’ll need to get the job done.
Schedule tradespeople
If you’ve got a gas cooker that needs shifting, any electrical items that need disconnecting, or white goods that need unplugging, you just might want to call in the experts. The same goes for deep cleaning, or lock installation in the new place. Make a list of the people who can help make life easier, and click here to get up to three free quotes per service, and schedule them all in one go!
Organise buildings & contents insurance
If you’re buying a property, you’ll usually need buildings insurance in place by the time the contracts are exchanged, so you’ll want to sort this in advance. Contents insurance, meanwhile, should be in place on the day you move in.
Declutter your space
It goes without saying that the less stuff you have at this point, the less you’ll need to pack and unpack when you get to the new place. Have a proper clear out in every room before you start the packing process. Need help getting rid of stuff? Find a dependable waste clearance company on Rezigo.
Two weeks before
Sort utilities
Contact your service providers for the likes of electricity, gas and water and let them know where and when you're moving from and to.
Change your address
Utilities aside, there’s a whole list of other companies you’ll need to get in contact with when you move – TV Licensing, the DVLA and HM Revenue are just a few. It’s a good idea to contact Royal Mail and arrange a mail redirect, too. You can do this for 3, 6 or 12 months, and it’s a good way to ensure no important post goes missing.
Get registered
If you’re moving to a new neighbourhood, you’ll need to register with a new doctor, dentist and library. Want some help with recommendations? Check out the local social media groups for useful insights. Find out more about how you can get to know your new area ahead of time here.
Two days before
Collect essentials for the buyers
Grouping labelled keys and instruction manuals, plus notifying the buyers of bin day and directions to the likes of the water stopcock is a really nice touch, and your buyers will appreciate it. Don’t be afraid to ask your sellers to do the same, too!
Pick up any items you’ve left with a local business
Any prescriptions at the chemist, or dry cleaning that’s due for collection – now’s the time to pick them up, or you risk leaving these behind.
Pack your moving day survival kit
There are certain things you won’t want lurking in the depths of the removal truck, such as sentimental valuables, passports and birth certificates. We’d recommend packing all of these in a bag and keeping it on you. This is also handy for stuff you want to be able to grab instantly either on the way to the new place, or as soon as you get there. It might include a phone charger, baby food or a change of clothes, for example.
Clean house!
It’s important to leave things spick and span for the next tenant. Don’t want to do the scrubbing yourself? Organise a cleaner to do all the hard work for you. Click here to book yours.
Finally, make a list of what you need to do when you get there
Moving day can be overwhelming. To help you prepare as best you can, make a list of what you need to do once you arrive in the new place. We’re talking things like taking meter readings, giving the neighbours a knock, and unpacking in an efficient order. You can read our guide for what to do when arriving in your new home here.