Some say that moving house is one of the most stressful events of all, so be prepared for the whole process long before you begin. Check out our dedicated moving home checklist for hints and tips to make your move as smooth as possible.
Where to begin. Decide on a moving date (usually the completion date) as soon as contracts have been exchanged. Try to avoid Fridays and bank holidays when removal firms are in high demand and may be stretched. For a less stressful move, opt for off-peak times such as mid-week. It’s more likely your chosen removal
Be prepared. Ensure your possessions are insured for transit. Most removal companies provide such insurance. Check what it covers and whether there are exclusions. Remember that anything you pack yourself may not be covered by the removal firm’s insurance. If you are planning to transport any precious items yourself, check that these are covered when in transit by your contents insurance.
Hire professional cleaners to give your new place a thorough going over before you move in. Some removal firms will arrange to do this. This will make the whole move a more comfortable process.
Clear Out. Before the big day, have a clear out and keep in mind “everything must either be useful or beautiful.” Valuable items that are no longer needed can be auctioned or sold to a dealer in second-hand furniture. Other items can be donated to charity shops or recycled.
Babysitter. Get someone to look after the children for the day. The same goes for pets – or book them into kennels or a cattery. Make sure they have identity tags with their new address.
New Owners. Compile a fact file for the people who are moving into your property, such as instruction leaflets and service information for the heating system and appliances you’re leaving, together with details of rubbish collection, milk deliveries, recycling schemes and so on. This will save you time in dealing with possible enquiries from the new owners when they’re struggling to work the oven etc.
Keys. Round up all the keys to your home, including those left with neighbours, nannies and relatives, and give them to your solicitor or estate agent.
Accommodation. If the move is going to be spread over a couple of days, arrange accommodation somewhere special, ideally a hotel – you’ll be too exhausted to socialise – and pack a bag for an overnight stop.
Organise your boxes. Make a scale plan of each room in your new home to give to the removal team so, in theory, they know exactly where every box is to go. Colour-code packing boxes, cases and furniture in the hope that this will mean it ends up in the right rooms. This will save you endless time raking through ‘mystery’ boxes.
Inventory. Final preparations should include making a complete inventory of everything to be moved, advising the post office to redirect your post and cancelling the milk and newspapers if you have them delivered. If you are moving to a different area, register with a new GP.
Hire a removal company (see our tips on choosing a removal company). Resolve to book a removal firm as soon as you exchange contracts and the completion date is set. Get at least three estimates from different firms and don’t automatically accept the cheapest; you tend to get what you pay for. When comparing estimates, make sure you are comparing like with like. Are packing materials, boxes, cartons and crates and VAT all included?
Notify relevant parties of your new address
- Telephone and Internet service providers
- Notify TV Licensing of your new address. Your TV licence doesn’t automatically move with you when you move house. If you don’t notify TV Licensing of you new address, you could end up being unlicensed in your new home, even if you paid for a licence at your old address. Anyone who watches TV without a licence risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1000, so make sure you’re covered. It’s easy to update your details. Simply log on to www.tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0844 800 6722 and follow the instructions. You’ll be asked for your TV Licence number and new address. It only takes a minute or two to transfer your licence.
- Bank, building society, pension provider and any company you have loans or investments with
- Credit card and store card companies
- Inland Revenue – see www.hmrc.gov.uk for a list of offices
- Local council regarding council tax
- Subscriptions to magazines, charities, etc.
- Employers
- The schools your children attend
- It is a legal requirement to notify DVLA – you will need to renew your driving licence and vehicle registration document
- Friends, family and colleagues.
Using storage facilities. Storage companies will accept practically anything as long as it isn’t perishable (food, plants, etc), flammable (noxious chemicals), illegal (drugs, cash waiting to be laundered) or alive (pets, children). Expect to be charged for packing, delivery to and from your house, the amount of space required and the length of time items are to be stored. Insurance can be arranged through the storage firm or through your household insurance. Make an inventory of everything in storage in case anything is missing when it is all delivered to your home. 
Furniture arriving at new home. Make sure the foreman has a layout of your new home so furniture is put in the correct room. Ensure the removal firm has access to your new home and has arranged for permission to park outside the property if necessary. Have all paperwork and contact numbers relating to the move with you. Upon arrival, read the meters and check that the phone, security alarm, electricity, gas, central heating and water work.
Make sure nothings missing. Make sure all items that were included in the sale, such as carpets, curtains and light fittings, are there. If there is anything missing, contact your solicitor. Alert your surveyor immediately to any serious faults in the building that were missed in the original survey.
Security. Think about getting the locks changed on your new property – you never know who the previous owners may have given spare keys to in the past.
Cheers! Even if everything is in order and has run smoothly, the chances are by the end of the day you’ll be too shattered to move a muscle, so collapse on the sofa, order a takeaway and crack open a bottle of champagne.
P.S. You can always get someone else to do the work for you. If you want someone else to handle the whole moving process for you, from hiring the removal firm, transferring utilities and organising change of address cards, consider appointing a moving specialist.
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