Your moving home checklist

When it comes to moving home there’s a lot to think about, so it helps to have a list you can refer back to at any time. And as your moving date gets closer, the more things you’ve ticked off, the more you can start thinking about exciting things, like how to decorate your space.

Here are some of the key things to think about in the weeks before your moving date:

• Declutter - sell or donate things you don’t want to take with you
  
  
• Get boxes and other packaging materials - including things like paper, bubble wrap, tape, marker pens & labels
  
  
• Arrange home insurance for the new house - if you’ve got a mortgage, your provider may have asked you to do this already so your home is protected from day one
  
  
• Book a removal company - as with anything, it’s always a good idea to get a couple of quotes
  
  
• Change address with Royal Mail - setting up a forwarding service for the first few months can help make sure your post doesn’t go astray
• Tell all utility companies you’re moving - by giving companies a heads up you can help make sure you’re paying the right amount in any final bills
  
  
• Make moving day arrangements for pets and children - having a plan in place can help make moving day as stress-free as possible
  
  
• Set up installation dates for TV, phone and internet services - the sooner this is booked, the sooner you can be up and running in your new home
  
  
• Take final gas & electricity meter readings - this ensures your final bill is correct

• Pack - just remember to leave the kettle, milk, sugar, mugs & cleaning supplies until last as you’ll need them on moving day (including enough mugs for the removal guys)
  
  
• Gather all your keys - you’ll need to hand these over to the estate agent on moving day

Once you’re in…

• Tell everyone your new address - including banks, insurance companies, doctors, magazine subscriptions, schools, friends & family
  
  
• Update your driving licence - you can do this easily online and carry on driving as normal while you wait for your new licence to arrive
  
  
• Register to vote - you can do this easily online
  
  
• Set up council tax - you can either wait for the letter from the council to arrive or get a head start and contact them yourself so all your bills are set up