Moving house checklist: points to remember when moving

Four weeks before

• Get at least three quotes from different local removal firms – prices can vary enormously. Avoid scheduling a move at a weekend, which can include Fridays. They’re the most popular dates so the hardest to book, and removal firms will often charge extra for these days.
• Once you have chosen which firm to use, book in your delivery slot.
• Arrange meter readings for just before you move out.
• Notify service providers of your moving date (i.e. Gas/Electric/Water/Phone/Internet). I am Moving (www.helpiammoving.com/) lets you notify your council, gas, electric and water companies, your bank /building societies and many more, all in one go.
• Notify your insurance companies of your address change.
• Arrange for post to be redirected -while you may have notified everyone you can think of about your move, you are bound to forget one or two. The Royal Mail’s redirection service can take up to 10 working days for redirection to take effect.
• If you are ordering Carpets/curtains/furniture for your new home, confirm the delivery dates.
• Pack early - even if you only pack two boxes a day, in thirty days you will have packed sixty boxes. Start in areas where the goods are not in frequent use in your house such as the cellar, attic, garage, etc. Bin items you know you no longer need, or put them on Freecycle.( www.uk.freecycle.org )
• Label and itemise each box. Mark which room the box is intended for so the movers can place all boxes in the right rooms. Write "delicate" or "fragile" on the side of boxes that contain breakables.
• Use The A-B-C System. Not everything has to be unpacked the first day in your new house. If it contains essential items, mark it ‘Priority A’. If the contents are important, but not crucial, mark the box ‘Priority B’. If the box contains out of season items, holiday items and other things you won't need right away, mark the box ‘Priority C’. Then unpack in A, B, C order.

2 weeks

• De-register from your GP and dentist if you are moving out of the area. Remember to register in your new area.
• Notify your local services, such as milk delivery, papers, window cleaning, etc and arrange a cancellation date.
• Order address labels before you move into your new home, which will be really useful when you need to indicate a change of address on anything. Leave a few behind with the people who move into your old home or apartment so they can forward anything that gets delivered to them for you.
• Keep on packing…

One week before

• Confirm the date and time with your removal company
• Send change of address to friends and family
• Notify your banks and credit card providers of your new address.
• Notify other key establishments such as the DVLA, your local
  borough, TV Licence authority and your employer.
• Keep on packing…

Three days before

• Make sure all your valuables are in a safe place
• Check with the estate agent or previous owners that the keys are going to be available on the day
• Keep on packing (nearly finished now).

One day before

• Put down dust/plastic sheets to protect the carpets.
• Make up a box for essential items - kettle, tea bags and coffee, cups, bathroom supplies, towels, mobile phone recharger, first-aid supplies, bin bags and sleeping bag.
• Empty and defrost the fridge and freezer the night before you move.
• Arrange with neighbours for the bins to be brought out on the correct day.

On the day

• Brief the removal men – show them around the house.
• Arrange for a friend or family to look after your children so they won't interrupt your progress and you'll accomplish more.
• If you have pets, be sure you have a plan for them too. Cats could go in the bathroom with the litter box, or arrange for friends to look after the dogs.
• Roll up any carpets you are taking with you.
• When the furniture has gone, take a walk through and check that everything you intend taking with you has been packed away. Make sure all windows are closed and appliances unplugged.
• Ensure that the house is clean for the new owners.
• Lock up.
• Pickup some champagne on the way.
• Collect the keys for your new home.

When you get there

• When you reach your new home, make the beds and hang the bedroom curtains as soon as possible - by the end of the day you'll be exhausted and won’t want to search for the bed linen when you want to go to bed.
• Set up ONE room in your new home as quickly as possible. This way, you'll have a quiet retreat, free of boxes. You and your family will then have a place to go when you need a break from all of the unpacking activities.
• Don't attempt to do all your unpacking on the first day; just unpack the essentials - and make sure there is somewhere comfortable to sit, eat and sleep.