Your Complete Moving House Checklist

Moving house is one of those life events that provides an awful lot of stress, a huge amount of excitement, and just a little bit of fear that something could go wrong. It’s perhaps that concern that sees many turn to a cash house buyer so that a property sale is guaranteed.

Understandably, you may have concerns about moving house. You may have spent many months trying to sell it and find your new, perfect forever home, and now it is here. The big move.

To make things go smoothly in the run-up to moving day, we have created this thorough checklist and broken it down to show when everything should be donw. There is even a free downloadable moving house checklist for you to download that you can use as you move.

Exchanging contracts for your house move

With contracts exchanged, there is no turning back. The house is yours, and your old home is soon to be someone else’s. The legal documents needed to sell your home are signed as are those for your new home. The countdown is on.

At this stage, it is just a matter of time before you can move into your new home. If you were to have cold feet at this stage, you can’t legally back out. All the paperwork is signed, meaning you will become the homeowners of this new property.

Checklist for moving house: 2 months before the big day

• Serve notice on your rental property
• Research your new neighbourhood
• Research broadband providers and mobile phone coverage

Serve notice to lanlord

If you are in a rental property, you must serve a notice period to your landlord or letting agent. In most cases, this will be one month, but it doesn’t hurt to notify them as early as possible. It maintains a good relationship with them and gives you one less job to worry about closer to moving day.

Research your new neighbourhood

This could also be a good time to learn more about the neighbourhood you are moving into. Researching where the local shops, petrol stations, supermarkets and other amenities are located. It may sound trivial but that first night in the new house is easily the one where you will be frantically doing a panic buy of items you have forgotten.

Research broadband providers and mobile phone coverage

You should also check things such as internet providers and mobile phone coverage. If you are nearing the end of your contract on either of these and the area you are moving to isn’t the best for signal, it could be worth looking at switchingsuppliers. Gathering information at this stage is going to be a huge benefit further down the timeline.

Now with these basics out of the way it is time to get moving, although not quite in the literal sense. You’ve still got a few weeks to go until you can set foot in the new home. So instead read on to discover what you need to do in the run-up to moving day.

Moving house checklist: one month before you get the keys

• Confirm your moving date
• Source storage boxes
• Contact removal companies and get quotes
• Create an inventory
• Book a storage facility
• Book time off work

Confirm the date of your house move

This should already be firmly planted in your diary but with property, there can often be hiccups along the way. Speak to your estate agent and confirm the moving date. It doesn’t hurt to be persistent and check more than once, especially if there have been any problems during the process of buying the house.

This also helps if you are renting. As we mentioned earlier, you will need to serve notice to your landlord but if the house move date has changed, you could find yourself homeless. So get a confirmed moving date and inform the landlord, even if you have served notice. This acts as not only a secondary confirmation, but should it be before the end of the actual tenancy agreement, the landlord now has additional time for viewings or even any refurbishment. If you have opted not to serve notice yet, you may be in a position to negotiate an extra week or more of rent should there be a delay in moving.

Contact house moving companies and source boxes for moving house

Getting quotes from removal companies would be the next thing to do. Prices can vary dramatically across the industry so checking costs and availability early will be vital.

Remember, you may be able to save money by utilising friends or family members.

If your move requires a little more manpower though, speak to removals companies and find an affordable, reliable provider to get your items from one property to another. Also, ask them about packing materials. Some firms provide these for an additional charge, whilst others do not provide them at all. If it is not a service they offer, use this time to start ordering boxes, tapes, padding, etc.

If there are specific items of value, whether monetary or sentimental, keep them with you if possible to minimise theft, loss or breakage.

Create a house move checklist inventory

Carrying out what is fundamentally a stock take of all your belongings is an easy way to ensure you keep note of your belongings. Note not only what you have, but the condition the items are in. Especially if they are going inside the removal van. It's also advisable to take photos so you can spot any damage once you start unpacking.

Inventory also provides a great opportunity to discover items you may no longer need, or that you had forgotten about. A charity shop donation is always welcome, so consider this for the items you no longer need. A key tip is to remember the more commonly unused rooms or spaces. Sheds and garages can be a storage haven, but when it comes to moving house, they can become a nightmare to navigate. So, work through these places first.

This all helps with your removals quote too. The fewer items you have, the cheaper it will cost to move the items you do want to keep.

Consider booking a storage facility

With your inventory now complete, you will have a detailed listing of all your belongings. Some will be essential for the first day of moving in, some you may not yet have plans for, and others can wait until you have been in the home for a few days. If there are a lot of items you want but won’t need right away, consider hiring a storage unit. This way you can safely and securely have items kept for as long as you need without interfering with your move. It also means that come moving day, your removal team won’t have as many items to load onto the van, or as many items to navigate their way around when moving things from place to place.

Check you have booked time off work to move house

You may have done this the moment you were given a moving date, but if not, we suggest you do this as soon as possible. You may not know what the leave calendar is like, and you could find that a request if you leave it too late. Submit your request at least a month before the date, and consider booking 2 to 3 days to help make the move much easier.

House moving checklist: 2 weeks to go

• Notify utility suppliers of your move
• Contact the council to close your council tax account
• Update your GP, dentist, bank and insurance providers
• Book a professional cleaner
• Contact landlord (if applicable) and conduct any maintenance
• Schedule pet care and childcare if necessary

Who to notify when moving house

In some cases, you will be able to take your utility suppliers with you; in others, you won't. Either way, you'll need to inform them of your house-moving plans. If you don't tell your utility suppliers of a house move, you could find yourself paying for gas, electricity, or water that someone else is using.

In most circumstances, 2 weeks' notice is more than adequate. With smart meters in many properties, you may not be required to provide a meter reading, but we will always advise that you do, so your final bill is accurate.

You should also contact your broadband supplier; timelines on this switch can vary, so the earlier you contact them, the better. In some cases, you may find yourself without internet for the first few days in your home. If there are any important documents or files you require in the interim, download them before you move, just to be safe.

Next up, contact the council. Your council tax is associated with the property but the account is yours. Therefore, reach out to them and notify them of your move date and the address you are moving into. This will allow for a bill to be created for the end of your time in the old property and a new bill to be created for when you move into the new one.

In addition, you should also be contacting the following people to inform them of your move:

• Your bank, pension, and insurance companies
• Your GP and dentist
• The DVLA
• Your workplace

You can also contact HMRC but in many cases, your employer will do this through payroll. Double-check if this is the case though just to be safe.

This could also be a great time to update addresses on any online retailers or other places you hold some type of account. Amazon, Deliveroo, Tesco, or Very for example could all end up sending packages to the wrong property if you don’t change your default address in time.

Book a professional house clean

You may think you are an amazing housekeeper who never lets a speck of dust, or a scratch, adorn any surface in your home. Whilst it is not an obligation, hiring a cleaner can be a godsend, especially with all the stress you are likely going through ensuring your move is running to plan.

They will keep the property looking at its best whilst you focus on your move. A full clean is typically required as part of your rental contract. Landlords can often be reluctant to return the full deposit, but leaving a property in pristine condition will go some way to seeing a speedier return of your funds. Decide whether you want the cleaner a few days before the move or just for the day before. Much depends on how you plan to spend those last days in the property.

Contact your landlord and complete any maintenance

If you have rented your property, you will be required to leave it in a decent condition before getting your deposit back. Of course, a cleaner has already been booked, but this will not cover any random scratches, chips, or nail holes so it is best to repair these yourself. In some cases, landlords handle any kind of repairs no matter how minor, but you would need to check your tenancy agreement to see if this is the case. Whilst deductions do not get made for general wear and tear, definitions of what is classed as fair could vary substantially from landlord to landlord. Therefore, filling nail holes, and repairing scratches can go some way to ensuring the full deposit is returned to you.

What if you are moving house with children or pets?

On moving day, children may well be at school or nursery, but to ensure a smooth process, it may be best to see if you can get help with school runs or have them stay at a friend's or relative's house. Cats, dogs, or any other animal could get in the way on moving day, plus it can be stressful for them. It is worth considering a pet care service or seeing if any friends or family can look after them for a few days, either side of the move.

House moving checklist: One week to go

• Get full details of your new home, such as stopcock, gas meter, fuse box etc
• Start packing
• Create a first-day essentials box to make the first day and night in the new home much easier
• Defrost your freezer and disassemble any furniture if required
• Check in with your solicitor and mortgage lender, and check your finances are in good shape for the move
• Start cleaning

Ask for full details of your new home

It never matters where anything is until you need it. So, before moving, ask for information on the location of key parts of the building. When the electricity cuts out, the radiator bursts, or you sense a gas leak, the location of meters, stopcocks and fuse boxes is vital.

Have the current owners provide you with where the following are:

• Stopcock
• Electricity meter
• Gas meter
• Fuse box(es)
• Thermostat
• Any appliance instructions

Start packing to move house

Start packing items you aren’t likely to need over the next seven days. Preparation is so important at this stage so packing your belongings ahead of time will make the moving day so much easier. Label each box or container with what is in it and store them safely ready for collection on moving day.

As well as packing clothing, furniture, and other household items, remember to pack important documents such as IDs. This can include passports, insurance policies, and so on. Pack them safely and securely so that you know where they are at a moment's notice. The last thing you want is them hidden at the bottom of a box that is likely not to be opened for quite some time after you move in.

Refrain from packing any flammable materials. These should be safely disposed of. Your removal firm will not transport them.

Create a moving house essentials pack

When packing, you will no doubt be filling lots of boxes with various bits and pieces. Then, come moving day, when you start to unpack, you can only find one mug, a random blanket, and a few knives, but no forks. So, make yourself a moving day essentials box. Include the items you are most likely to need for that first day or two of getting settled.

• Tea, coffee, drinks for the kids, milk, sugar, kettle and mugs
• Some cleaning products and bin bags
• A vacuum cleaner
• Bedding for all for the first night
• Basic toiletries
• A TV or radio
• Mobile phone and charger

Defrost your freezer and fridge and disassemble any furniture

This sounds like common sense to many of us but there are a huge number of people that think turning them off makes them ready to go right away. Defrosting can take a long time so this needs to be done a few days before you move. Make sure the items are fully dry before they move into the removal van.

You should also note that once in your property, these appliances will need some time to stand before being used again. Check the manuals for the appliances to see what the specific requirements are.

If you have any furniture that can be disassembled, now would be the time to do it. Not only does this make loading so much easier but you’ll have additional space in the removal van.

Double-check your finances

Funds are transferred on moving day and must be in the account in advance. Double-check that all the relevant funds are ready. In many cases, a simple bank transfer will take place, but if you are moving money from one account to another, it may be worth starting this process early. Especially if your account has daily transfer or withdrawal limits.

Pack the final items ready for moving day

With the move just days away the level of packing should be somewhat reduced now, leaving just some core items for you to box up and label.

This also includes clothing, so consider washing and drying anything you have left in the wash baskets. This way you can pack them too and have just some clothes left for the day you move and a spare set for the day after.

Now would also be a good time to start protecting the items that will be loaded onto the removal fan. Some services offer this themselves, but it certainly doesn’t harm anyone for you to add an additional layer of protection. It will make things move much smoother on the day.

Start cleaning your home

Whether you have opted for a cleaner or not, cleaning as you go will help as the move comes into its final stages. If certain goods are staying in the property due to them belonging to the landlord, an oven for example, give them a thorough clean. Likewise, the bath, toilet, and surfaces. Even with a cleaner booked, putting in some groundwork will make the cleaners job easier, quicker, and potentially less expensive for you.

Moving house checklist: 2 - 3 days before moving in

• Get all keys for the property
• Disconnect appliances
• Take items to storage (if required)
• Check in with estate agent to ensure things are on track

Collect all the copies of keys for the property

Across the household, there are no doubt various keys for the property, and you will need to hand them all over on the day you move out.

Contact those who may hold spares. Friends and family for example. Then importantly, get those from the people that live with you. Check them off against the list you have from when you moved in to make sure everything has been returned. Label the keys too. Then the new owners know exactly what they are for.

Disconnect any appliances

You will have already defrosted both the fridge and freezer, but other items may also need to be disconnected so they can be transported to your new home. Check washing machines, tumble dryers, cookers, dishwashers etc. Disconnect them and safely wrap the cables so they don’t present trip hazards.

It's often beneficial to take photos of the rear of any appliances or electrical goods, just so you know what should be connected where.

Transport items to storage

If you have booked storage for some items, now would be a good time to start taking them over to the storage facility. This will keep your house as clear as possible for when the removal team arrive and allow you to only have the items to hand that you need on the day you move in.

Have a toolkit to hand

When you arrive at your new property there will not only be boxes to open but there may also be things to tighten, loosen, put together and so on. Keep a tool kit on hand, perhaps stored in your car so that when you move in, you are ready to put your home together the way you want it to be.

Contact the estate agent for key collection

Your date for moving will have already been confirmed but it would not be too beneficial to turn up at your new home in the morning with a removal team only to find you can't gain access until 3pm. Ask your estate agent if they have an estimated time and whether you should be collecting the keys from their office or at the property itself.

Moving house checklist timeline: All of the above are best carried out 2 - 3 days before you move into your new home.

Moving house checklist: 1 day before you get the keys

Everything is booked, some items are in storage and your estate agent is confident you will have the keys at a suitable time. You have touched up any scuffs and scratches and the pets, as well as the kids, are off your hands for a day or two while you complete the final steps of moving house.

Verify that you have packed everything, and check lofts, cupboards, and any other area you will have used for storage.

Once done, ensure you have kept your moving day essentials box on hand. You can load this into the car and leave it until tomorrow. Although, with the hard work and stress you have endured, you may want tea or coffee so you might decide to keep it in the house for a little longer.

Now get an early night, tomorrow will be busy.

Moving day checklist

Now the day is finally here, there are still just a few small things you need to do to make sure your move runs smoothly.

• Keep calm
• Take meter readings
• Strip down beds
• Lay down sheets to protect flooring
• Give instructions to the removal team
• Clean up
• Close all windows & lock them
• Ensure all utilities are shut off
• Take photos to prove you left the property in good condition

Don’t stress

This will be a huge day, not just for you but also for the people moving into your home and the people moving out of the one you are moving into. Just remain calm and don’t panic about any delays.

Take meter readings

You have already given notice to your suppliers, and with smart meters, they may have already obtained meter readings, but still take some yourself. Take photos of them as well as submit them to the supplier. This will help should there be any queries with the final bills.

Lay down some protective sheets

When the removal team arrive, they will work with care to ensure your items are safely moved but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to stop any additional scuffs or scratches by laying down sheets to protect the flooring.

Direct the removal team where necessary

Some of your items may be fragile, if you prefer to take these, inform the removals team that anything marked fragile will be taken by yourself. They will then load up everything else as you direct them.

One person should stay at the property

As the removal team moves items to their van, one of you should stay at home to make sure everything that appears on your inventory is packed. Once you are confident that everything has been packed, you can sign the removal firm's paperwork to confirm you are happy.

Give the property one final clean

If you have booked a cleaner, they should now be on site to complete their role. If you haven’t now would be the best time for final sweeps, vacuuming, and polishing - especially if leaving a rental property.

Close all windows and lock them

Secure your windows and if any keys are needed for them, leave them in the locks so people know which key works with which window.

Turn off all utilities

Before leaving your keys, or dropping them off at the estate agent, ensure all of the utilities are switched off. This is especially important if nobody is moving in for a few days. Once your keys are handed over, there is no turning back.

Take photos of the property before leaving

If you have rented a property, it would be in your best interest to take photos of all the rooms showing the condition you left them in. This way should there be any queries regarding the return of the deposit, you can show some evidence from your side of how the property was left.

You should also consider doing this even if selling. It simply helps safeguard you from any concerns and questions.

Moving into your new home

Now everything should be in place. You have handed the keys over, the solicitor has confirmed funds are transferred, and your removal team are on the way to your new home.

Take it easy from here on in. It’s been a busy few weeks. Perhaps consider unpacking tomorrow, just get your essentials box from your car, and discover the local takeaway. Put your feet up and relax for a while. Tomorrow you can start unboxing and discover more about the new area you live in.

As we said at the opening of this guide, selling a house can be stressful and at times full of worry. With Bettermove, all of that is removed. We offer a comprehensive and fully managed sell house fast service that not only sees a sale with no fees but also a sale within 30 days. Much faster than the current market average. Our comprehensive network of pre-approved cash house buyers means that once you approach us and we provide you with a valuation, your home can be sold extremely quickly. We contact each buyer, showcasing your property. Once we find one that is keen to purchase, we manage the entire process so you can sit back and let everything fall into place. Equally, if you need an expedited sale, we can buy your home directly from you with our own funds. No stress, no worry, just a fast and efficient house sale from a leading agent. Contact us and get and free valuation for your home today! Find out more with out step by step guide to selling your house.

Your free moving house checklist PDF

Download or print off our free moving house checklist. Tick off the different tasks as you go to stay organised in the lead up to your move.