So, you’ve found your dream home – the place where you’ll begin your next chapter – and the mortgage is sorted, the contracts are signed but what’s next? It’s time to move in, which is the exciting part, right? Of course, amid the chaotic fun of moving house, there might be a few things that you forget to do – you know, all of those ‘must-do’ things that are annoyingly essential but can easily slip your mind.
To make things as easy and stress-free as possible for you, the team at Shortland Horne has created this moving house checklist – complete with a countdown to move day.
First thing’s first…
- Confirm your estimated moving date
- If you rent, give your landlord or the estate agent notice that you’re moving (check your contract to see how long your notice period should be)
- If you have children and are moving to a different area, then be sure you have researched and applied for nurseries, childminders and schools in advance of your move, if required
Two months to go
- Decide how you will move your belongings into your new home and if necessary, book removal van hire
- Get your hands on some boxes for packing
- Start decluttering your items – the less you have to move the better
- Sell any unwanted items or donate to charity
- Start packing any unessential items
- If you are looking at buying new furniture and appliances ahead of your move, then get ordering now – usually larger items like sofas will have at least a two-month lead time (and remember to give your new address, not your current one!)
One month to go
- You’ll need to notify a number of organisations and update your address for a number of organisations, including:
- Utility and energy providers
- Internet providers
- The DVLA (you can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t notify the DVLA of your change of address. It’s worth noting that you don’t have to update the address on your passport, as long as your passport is still in date)
- Council tax
- Your employer and pension provider
- Banks, money lenders and building societies
- Insurance providers
- TV licence
- If you have children and pets, you need to make arrangements for them on moving day, if possible
Two weeks to go
- At this point, you should update your address for:
- Any magazine subscriptions
- Online shops
- Cancel any ongoing subscriptions like milk or newspaper delivery, which you won’t be continuing
- Get your mail redirected (for a minimum of three-months post-move)
- Give close friends and family your new address
- Pack up the majority of your home – be sure to label boxes appropriately and if you’re moving a removal company, label each box, piece of furniture and appliance clearly, including what room they each need to be put in, in your new home
- Make things easy by cleaning as you pack
One week to go
- Call the team at Shortland Horne (or the relevant estate agent) and your solicitors to ensure the pre-planned move day still applies
- Finish off your packing, including any final food items from your cupboard
- Reconfirm your moving plans, including giving the removal company (if using one) a call to finalise timings
- If you’re moving to a different area, establish the best route to your new home
- Defrost your freezer and empty your fridge
- Pack important documents separately and store them in a safe place that you can easily find
- Pack a ‘first-night’ box, so you don’t have to worry about unpacking every single box immediately
The day before
- Collect your van hire if necessary
- Charge your phone
- Make sure your packed boxes are best placed, ahead of removal
It’s moving day!
- Make a note of all meter readings, for gas, water and electricity (be sure to take photos for your records, if you can)
- Double-check every room, to make sure you’ve not left anything
- Do one final quick clean
- Collect the keys to your new home
- Leave your keys for the new homeowners
Are you looking to buy, sell, move or rent?
Are you looking for your next home? Perhaps you’re thinking about putting your house on the market? You might be a landlord, or maybe a tenant? Shortland Horne are your professional and friendly property experts, here to make the process as hassle-free as possible. Get in touch with our team today.