Moving House Checklist

2 months before your house move

If you finally found your home you like and the offer was accepted, then you need to start your moving checklist.

With two months ahead of moving house, start browsing the web and compare market’s offers, check reviews and quotes, ask and select your Conveyancing Solicitor.

It is extremely important to begin with the right foot so make sure that you are all legal and all the sale/purchase phases are legitimate.

For a smoother adaptation take your time and inform yourself about the new community’s facilities and specifications; close by schools, public and/or private childcare available institutions; this will help you to create your safe haven in a short-time.

• Arrange and book a Conveyancing Solicitor;

• Settle your mortgage loan data;

• Investigate the area you are moving to for a clearer vision of the neighborhood.

• Prepare and transfer your children’s school records if any (previous years’ academic achievement diplomas, dental and medical records, also don’t forget about a new uniform).

• If you are renting at the moment, confirm your house move date with your landlord for a closing check out day.

• Gather and keep the copies of as many as possible financial and legal documents from the house that you are moving from.

• Make sure you get all your significant possessions evaluated for a insurance and check if your insurer will cover your home move; if not ask your removals company to include it in their quote in case of any loss or damage of the transported goods.

• Open a journal or make yourself a folder where you can keep track of all the documents involved in the house-move; dates, arrangements, contact numbers, contracts.

6 weeks before your house move

Inventory items. With over a month ahead before the move day, begin to clear out any items you think won’t have a place in your new home. You can donate them to any charity center or even to make a garage/yard sale.

Start off with the items you definitely want to take with you and what you need to leave out and make a list so you don’t forget anything major.

This will also help you to view the volume and the quantity of the items that need to be transported, if you will require any furniture dismantling and reassembling service and likewise will help the removals company to have an idea of what you are moving before they visit you for a survey.

Reassure yourself and get up between 3 to 5 quotes from local removal companies – check their reviews online for your peace of mind.

Don’t forget the less items you move, the cheaper your house move will be.

• Get and compare enough removals quotes.

• Plan a visit of a RICS surveyor at your house for a survey.

• List all your items that are to be moved.

• Sort what boxes are going to be moved and exactly in what rooms, mark them (color label will help).

• Start to clean out your cupboards and move your possessions into larger rooms and place them in usable piles.

• Think of the best way of giving-away unnecessary items, keep in mind the removal companies are quoting based on the volume of your goods, so decide well.

• Make sure you have packing materials ahead prepared. As an alternative you can ask your removal company to supply them in advance or on the moving day – or ask them to provide a full packing service.

• In case your house moving is based on a job move, inform yourself about if the employer will cover the moving costs.

• Try to find out if there are any parking restrictions for a removal van/truck at your current home and at your new home as well. You may need to get a temporary permit, so the removal van can park within the CPZ (Controlled Parking Zone). Ask the local council about this.

1 month before your house move

One month before moving into the new house, you should have had a Chartered Surveyor inspect all the property in order to identify any structural defects and inspect your new house.

After this stage, set out the moving date with the solicitor, sign and exchange the contracts so you can proceed to next step- booking and hiring a removal company.

Don’t forget to check if there are any specific parking restrictions at both ends, if so get some parking permits.

You should also consider checking the travel route to the home you’re moving to and if it is suitable for a large removals lorry.

Don't forget to have your moving checklist on hand so it is a good idea to print it and stick it on your fridge !

• Announce your solicitor about the moving day and end with the exchange of the signed contracts.

• Confirm your booking with your removals company; check their reviews through trustpilot.com. Ask about any discounts, as all companies will charge a premium for moves outside business hours, on weekends, on bank holidays and in the summer.

• If moving with WeCare Removals, feel free to reserve your move online or by calling our toll free number +44 800 368 7707.

• Plan the itinerary of the removal day, considering the route for the removals truck and any possible traffic barriers, weight restriction, narrow roads or low bridges.

• If needed, ask the removals company for additional information about any available storage facilities. Most removal companies have their own storage accommodations. Or you can check our partners at WhatStorage for a self-storage solution in your city.

• By the way, you can save your time and mood by hiring a cleaning service company that will polish your new home and get it ready for the new “master”.

• In case your new house has a swimming pool, garage, back yard, terrace, and other open door spaces, make sure to refresh them also or to mention about them to the personnel of the cleaning service company.

• Get your furnishing ordered for your new home. If any carpets need replacing, find out the floor size and book carpet fitters.

• It is advisable to pack your stuff beginning with the least solicited room and non-essential items - for a more productive unpacking. For more tips use our guide on when and which items to pack.

• Clear out the shed, loft and other storage or outside spaces.

• Inform about your new address the necessary utility services for transferring the home insurance and all the bills and contracts:

- Electricity

- Water supply

- Gas

- Landline phone

- Internet

- Cable/satellite

- Alarm service

- Sewer service

- Garbage collection service

- Mail, magazines, newspaper

- Credit and banking services

- Seasonal specific services (lawn, exterminator, snow removal, etc.)

- Any other service that would need an updated billing address

• Check your automobile(s) readiness - oil, fluids, air pressure and other components to ensure everything is functioning properly before you make the trip to your new home.

• Check if all the planned items that you want to transport with your own car fit in your car.

• Make a hotel reservation in advance or book a place for a night (or more) if your removal journey takes more than a day. The sooner the better.

2 weeks before your house move

Two more weeks before the moving day, time to confirm final details and contact numbers with your estate agent and your removals company in arranging for your move date.

If your chosen removal company does not provide any additional services like disassembling and reassembling of furniture , un-plumbing dishwasher and washing machines and packing – upacking of your goods, it would be a good idea and time to organise those as well.

You have to keep in mind that small children are more sensible and more influential when comes to leaving the place once they called house, so if it is possible arrange with your family members or close friends they are comfortable with, to have them for the period of moving, this will give you free hand and more concentration on all the steps afterwards. Don’t forget about the pets.

• Confirm final data and some emergency numbers with all the involved parties of your house move (estate agent, new owner, old owner, Removal Company).

• Discuss in advance with a family member or friend regarding the children’s assistance while the removal takes part. Don’t forget about the pets.

• Take with you the first aid kit for emergency situations.

• Book relevant people to carry out any services in case if your local removal company does not provide them e.g. dismantling of your furniture or assembling your flat packed furniture, house cleaning or a plumber for your dishwasher and washing machines.

• Securely dispose of all liquids that need specialist treatment and other flammable materials you might have in your house – most removal companies just can’t move such items due to safety legislation.

• Seal all the perishable food and semi-products from the fridge and take out all that’s left and unwanted.

1 week before your house move

One more week before the big day of moving into your new house, so during this week you need to make sure you set up all your documents and reassure they are well-stored and keep them at hand.

By this time, the packing process should be over, if not make sure it does, for a calm and organized work of the removal company’s service.

Important to mention to leave out specific items necessary for your Moving Day Survival Kit for just in case situations so you get to the end of the day safe and sound.

• Set aside all the necessary documents (contracts, passports, mail, insurance, bills, driving license, medical reports etc.) in a safe folder always at your sight.

• Make up a Moving Day Survival Kit with specific medical tools and drugs for surviving the day.

• Try to pack as many items as you can so you have everything ready to go; do not forget outdoor/garage equipment.

• Label the boxes with different color or numbers according to the items inside- check out our advice on labelling boxes here.

• Gather together your current property’s keys and arrange a day to take the new place’s keys from the Estate Agent of yours.

• Leave your new address to the post office and redirect your mail service– you can start the process here .

• Defrost your freezer and fridge – ensure they are both dry and ready to be moved.

• Return any items you borrowed.

• Give away garden or swimming pool items, plants and flowers you won’t be taking with you.

• Refresh all possible linen items and clothing – pack them up and label the boxes so it’s ready to be used when unpacked.

• Reinsure you have on your account enough sources to pay for your move and sufficient cash for any emergencies or first night at the new place.

• Announce your relatives, business partners, close friends and abroad ones about the changing address through any available method (gift card, postcard, invitation, letter, short notice, email)- for a “who to notify when moving house” guide take a look at our Change of Address Checklist

1 day before your house move

One more day and you’re out, use it to look around and observe with a calm eye all the corners, verify if everything is closed, packed, disconnected and ready for the big ride.

Don’t forget to have arranged the first over-night pack with all those things that will help you get through the move-day number one. Make sure it is separate from the rest of the boxes ( use the color or number labeling) so you can easily identify it when arrived, also make sure you have chargers and batteries at hand and charged phones and laptops.

• Have a walk around the house to verify that there is nothing left.

• Prepare a first over-night pack with all the necessary hygiene items for all the family (towels, bed sheets, toothbrush, shower supplies).

• Set aside a toolkit for emergency situations and also for opening boxes ( knife, lantern, matches, glue).

• Gather together the old house keys and schedule to take the new ones in case you did not collect them in advance.

• Check your electronic devices are fully charged.( laptops, phones, tablets).

• Notify your close relatives about the moving and have some near-by friends previously informed just in case of emergency help.

On the day of your house move

Here you are, one last roundabout the house and one more check-out to do.

With a little patience and small plan in your hand you can actually enjoy the move-out.

Start early and get everything suited-up for the removal company’s arrival, stay focused and monitor each box, assist which can go at the bottom, which need a special care, which go personally with you (the document box), which have to stay opened (fragile object).

Take the a final overview in each room, leave the meter readings and keys for the new owner and your new address in case you forgot something, and hit the road!

Final check-out:

• Note down or register on your mobile phone all the utility data (electricity meter readings, water gas).

• Prepare the bed sheets and curtains for the first night day.

• Label the fragile item boxes and monitor their place

• Delegate one person to stay until all the packs are aboard and empower him to count the total number of the boxes.

• Talk over with the movers about the optimal route of the transportation directory and leave them emergency contact data-like an additional phone number.

• Make copies of all the contact details of the Conveyance Company, owners of your old and new, estate agent and removal company.

• Verify all the utilities, entries and exits (the windows, doors, the garage) are secure and leave the keys as previously settled.

Once you arrived in your new home

Once you’ve reached your new house, you may feel enthusiastic and in a bit of rush, it’s not the time to lose it, so inform the removal company about any particular solicitation regarding which and where to unload the boxes. Point again a person to count down all the packs while you take your first host task, and prepare the lemonade for everybody- moving is stressful so with just a simple gesture you can make everyone feel like home and you’ll definitely start with the right foot by showing a good example; this may release tension and increase team-work capacity.

• Get your host role on- unpack some snacks and soda for treating your family and also the removal staff.

• Guide the removal guys while unloading the boxes ( labeling moving boxes would help to identify the correct room) to the right places.

• Check each and every item from the list made earlier, to make sure everything is there and at one piece- only then you can sign the any jobshees or PODs.

• Find and unpack the emergency “survival kit” and place it at hand.

• Find and stock the documents box in a safe place.

• Record or take pictures of all the utility meters from the new house.

• Consult and verify with the locksmith about each key lock around the house, basement, garage.

• Walk around the new property to identify all the possible threats (dangerous ground holes, dark corners, unstable walls, etc) and remove them or block before using.
• Have a quick clean-up of the floors, refresh the air, bathroom; if any objects found put them aside, probably previous owner forgot them

After you have moved in

Now that you and your family have moved-in, after months of planning and preparation, you can give yourself a round of applause. What a relief !

Try and pamper yourself and enjoy the fact that you did it; take it easy and don’t rush into unpacking and arranging everything at once.

Just make sure everybody has that achievement feeling and that you all have one more chance to fill your new house in a different way- take it as a team-building activity- as a family-building activity.

Now, it will take couple of days to set a cosy atmosphere, but now , make up the beds and try to spend the evening relaxing with your family and a celebratory takeaway.

 Meanwhile keep your head organized and mind next things :       

• Turn on your larger household appliances such as the freezers and fridges and connect the most important devices: the alarm, the telephones, mobile phones, the internet and make sure everything works.

• Plug in your heating and boiler – ensure that you know how to use them. You deserve a warm house and a hot shower this evening.

•  Organize a cleaning quest, take some time just to refresh the floors and air so you and all of your family members feel involved and responsible for their further comfortable staying while questing each room’s potential. Don’t forget about the beds so you can fall straight into them tonight.

• Of course you have to unpack something, but it’s not necessary to have a full-house in the same day, especially when you know that it will take a lot of effort and concentration to arrange everything in the best way.

• Your kids, are more sensitive to changes, it is the best time to give them some space to embrace and meet the room, so make sure you leave them some sweets or a midnight snack, some things you know they feel good around, maybe some pictures, toys or clothes, even a lamp on.

• Advisable is to keep pets away , at least for the first days until you’re settled in. You wouldn’t like to have the problem of a crying child because of a missing pet under the cartons, moreover they are extremely sensible to new smells, so make sure to bring them in only when the house fells like home.

• Don’t forget you can make this moments memorable so invest constructive emotions and make this lifetime experience positive; order a surprise meal or a simple takeaway snack that kids love and take your time and spend it with all together in a round family meeting settling the rules or expectations.

• Relax – everyone knows that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your new home won’t get sorted within few days.

Here are some things you may wish to do:

• Give older children the chance to organise their own rooms – this will help them feel at home, even if you may want to rearrange things later.

• Whenever you have time in the first days arrange for your daily newspaper delivery or talk to your milkman to have your fresh milk delivered. Don’t forget to note any emergency phone numbers, public transport time-table, taxi service numbers, local hospitals and police departments, take a look at surroundings to identify all the roads, road signs and distance between your house and local shops etc. This is important for a safety feeling and a good way to overcome future unpleasant situations.

• Take into consideration the fact that you’re new in the area is stressful for your neighbors too, so make the first step toward a fruitful relationship with them, you can bake something and take a minute and pay a visit to the closest ones or you can invite them over to your place for a tea-time chat.

• When talking with your neighbors be attentive and observe or you can even ask what are the traditions, activities, strange things or next holiday routine around the area, this will tell you more than you think and you’ll adapt easier and smoother to the area you just moved in and its new traditions.

• As the experience of moving out / moving in is fresh, take a moment to reflect on what just happened and take advantage and leave feedback reviews for your solicitor, surveyor and removal company on  their website or on trustpilot.com . It is also a relief moment as you recollect all the stages and you can really arrange one more time your thoughts in a calmer pace.