I like to think I was pretty organised when we were moving house. Both I and my husband were working at the time and only had moving day off, therefore leading up to moving day we had to be hot on it so nothing was missed. What kept us organised? A moving house checklist for dummies of course!
Here is a list similar to what we used, plus a few tips to see you through one of the most important days of your life.
First thing, are you moving to another city, country or down the road? This will alter your checklist slightly. The further you are moving especially if it’s abroad or a large city then you might need these tips, click here for more info.
So you have found your dream home, exchanged contracts and are now ready to move. What’s the first thing on the checklist?
A moving date
Yes! You need the moving date officially confirmed by all parties. We were lucky in that the family who bought our house, were renting so were going to move in over the week. This date is important for booking in movers as well. If you have lots of things, that may need special moving instructions like a piano, you need to let them know ASAP.
Give notice
This only applies if you are moving from rented accommodation. Fingers crossed the moving date will coincide with the end of your lease so you are not paying a month’s rent alongside the first month’s mortgage payment. We had to let the owners of our carport know, as it was on leasehold underneath a flat. In fact, we had to even let them know if we were planning on getting the garage door replaced. You can click here for more info on garage door repairs.
Utilities
Let all your utility suppliers know you are moving out on a certain date. You will need to acquire readings for these and take photos if possible so they are time stamped in case of any discrepancies. Additionally, if you’re looking for high speed internet at your new location, it’s beneficial to research and contact potential providers early to ensure a smooth transition and timely setup of your internet service.
Then also let them know you are moving into a new property and again take the readings on moving in day. Let your broadband supplies know you have moved in as soon as you can, as it can take a while for this to be set up. We waited for almost 3 weeks for our broadband when we moved in. As I work from home this was a real pain. I had to set up a mobile hotspot on my phone.
Big clear out
The best thing you can do is have a big clear out before you box up all your things. You don’t want to be taking clutter to your new home.
Pack
Once you’ve had your clear out then pack pack and pack. Label all boxes of where they are going to go in your new house. This will help the movers know where to put it all.
One of the easiest ways to simplify your move is to use mobile storage. With mobile storage, you can pack at your own pace and have your belongings securely stored until you’re ready for delivery to your new home. This flexible option helps reduce moving day stress and keeps everything organised.
Let people know you have moved
You must let your work, DVLA, bank, doctor and dentist, local council, insurance, TV Licencing, pension and credit card companies you have moved. As well as friends and family of course!
It’s also a good idea to have your post redirected from your post office for a few months. Due to myself working at home, I redirected ours for 12 months.
Move in!
All that’s left to do is to move into your new home. I suggest ordering a takeaway for the first night in your new home and putting your feet up!
Moving for Dummies Checklist:
Two Months Before Moving:
- Sort through belongings and declutter
- Research moving companies and get quotes
- Create a moving budget
- Start collecting packing supplies
- Inventory all high-value items for insurance purposes
- Start using up perishable food and household supplies
Tip – Boxes, bubble wrap and tape can get pricey, hop over to Shopper.com and use this Michaels discount code to unlock a tidy little saving on your moving essentials.
Six Weeks Before Moving:
- Begin packing non-essential items
- Label boxes with contents and destination room
- Notify schools and arrange for records transfer if applicable
- Plan how to move special items, such as plants or pets
- Begin to pack items from storage areas like the attic or basement
One Month Before Moving:
- Confirm arrangements with the moving company
- Notify utility companies of your move
- Change your address with the post office
- Inform banks, employers, and subscription services of your new address
- Arrange for time off work on moving day
- If renting, notify your landlord of your moving date
Two Weeks Before Moving:
- Pack most of your belongings
- Set aside essentials for the last days before moving and immediate use at the new home
- Dispose of any items not being moved
- Confirm transfer of medical records to new healthcare providers
- Arrange for cleaning services for the old home if necessary
One Week Before Moving:
- Confirm moving day details with the moving company
- Prepare appliances for the move
- Pack a suitcase for personal items you’ll need right away
- Prepare an “Open First” box with essentials like toiletries, snacks, and chargers
- Double-check all details and paperwork related to the move
Moving Day:
- Supervise the movers and ensure all items are accounted for
- Perform a final walkthrough of the old home
- Ensure utilities are functioning in your new home
- Unpack essentials and begin settling in
- Keep important documents, like passports and moving company contracts, with you
- Take meter readings at both old and new properties
- Leave a note with your contact information for the new residents of your old home
Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have found this post useful for moving!
If you have any tips you’ve discovered, I would love to hear about them in the comments!