The ultimate moving house checklist

It’s just days or weeks before you move home. You’re still packing boxes, sorting final bills and booking removal vans. But what else do you need to know and do? What else would have made your move easier if you had known? Our moving home checklist is here to help, offering everything from moving day tips to how to prepare weeks and months in advance.

Once you’ve had an offer accepted

Once your offer has been accepted, the journey to completion day begins and while exciting, it can be a busy time.

While you can plan for the financial side of moving, here are some key steps you can start ticking off your checklist right away to stay on track.

  • Mortgage arrangements – When you move home there’s the option to transfer your mortgage, which is a good choice if you’re currently on a low-interest deal. Alternatively, you can pay off your current mortgage and take out a new one.
  • Declutter – Moving home is the perfect time to get rid of items you no longer need or want, while saving money on removal costs. There’s plenty of decluttering methods so see which one works for you, from Marie Kondo’s ‘does it spark joy?’ to the slightly more ruthless Swedish Death Cleaning Method, where you declutter to save your friends and family having to go through your personal belongings when you die.
  • Insurance – buildings and buyer’s protection – In the event the house sale falls through it is a good idea to have home buyer’s protection in place, which means you can claim back upfront costs like valuation, survey, mortgage and conveyancing fees. If it all goes ahead as planned then you will need to have buildings protection from the date you exchange contracts, as from this point you become legally responsible for the property.
  • Removal companies – If you live in a small property like a one-bed, ground floor flat, then you may want to consider renting a van to move items yourself. To take some of the stress out of moving, it can be easier to use a removal company. Make sure you do your research into reputable companies – read reviews and ask friends and family for recommendations. It’s best to get at least three quotes, preferably from removal firms who will come to your home and see any restrictions – like small doorframes or tight staircases.
  • Surveys – While you are not required to have a survey done on the property you are buying, it is recommended.

Moving house checklist between exchange and completion

Once contracts are exchanged, your completion date is officially set, so the countdown to moving day begins.

At this stage, it’s time to focus on the final preparations. Here’s what you should start ticking off your moving day checklist to ensure everything goes smoothly leading up to moving day.

  • Start to pack – It may seem like you have a lot of time, but packing up a whole house is a big task! It’s best to start six weeks before your move date, focusing first on non-essential items. Leave things you use regularly until the week before, and take your time packaging fragile items.
  • Organise post redirection – The Royal Mail has a handy redirection service which diverts all mail to your new address for three, six or 12 months. It starts from £41.50, but is worth the peace of mind to stop your post going astray.
  • Confirm removals – Speak to your removals company about specifics and times on the day. It can be worth packaging fragile items separately and transporting them in your car.
  • Sort your current utilities – Let your gas, electric, water and internet providers know you are moving, along with your local authority for your council tax. One of the final things you should do before moving out is check your meter readings and give these to your providers. In your new property, check the existing suppliers (these should be noted on the TA6 form) and contact them when you move in. While you will want to take over these utilities when you move in, you can still shop around for a cheaper or better supplier to switch to.
  • Deep clean the current property – You’ll need to give the house a thorough clean before moving. It’s easiest to do this as you go along – as packing can be messy work. If it’s too big a task or to take off some of the moving stress, consider hiring a professional cleaner.

Moving house day – checklist

  • Start by packing up any last-minute items and make sure you have any important documents and valuables with you
  • Ensure the house is fully cleared and do a final check to make nothing has been left
  • Take final meter readings and pass these on to suppliers
  • Take meter readings in your new house
  • Stick on the kettle or pop open the champagne and celebrate!

Handy change of address checklist

Remember to notify all relevant people and organisations about your new address. This is an important step to include in your moving checklist.

Your change of address list might include:

  1. Healthcare & Education
    • GP and dentist
    • The schools your children attend
  2. Employment & Financial
    • Employers
    • Insurance providers, including life insurance
  3. Services & Subscriptions
    • TV Licensing
    • Subscriptions, including TV packages
    • Online shops (e.g. saved addresses on Amazon)
  4. Government & Legal Authorities
  5. Personal Contacts
    • Friends, family and colleagues

Move to a William Davis new build home

If you are looking to move home or you are a first time buyer looking for your first property, then take a look at the range of beautiful housing developments we have. Alternatively, if you have a question or would like to learn more about our new build homes, please contact us for more information.