Printable Checklist for Moving House: Essential Home Moving Guide

Are you ready for your big move?

It is a well-known fact that moving house is one of the top three most stressful experiences we can go through in our lives. It can be a logistical and planning minefield, so here at Excalibur Removals, we have put together a handy printable checklist for moving house to help you with your move. Good planning is one of the key elements in reducing moving stress. Having a comprehensive to-do list will make you feel more organised and in control. This is one of the best ways to beat stress. Forward planning is vital to ensure that the move on the day goes smoothly, so don’t leave everything to the last minute. We have broken down your printable to-do list into sections according to when they need to be done so that you can simply follow our step-by-step guide to walk you through the months leading up to your move.

The other key element for a stress-free move is to use a good reliable removals company. Trying to move without a professional removals company will cause you unnecessary stress and complications. When you use Excalibur Removals you can be confident that we will bring over 20 years of experience in moving households to help make your move as smooth and seamless as possible. So, you have chosen your new home, now get ready to move in!

Moving Home Checklist – Contents

  1. Early Moving Preparing – Two Months
  2. Getting Closer – One Month
  3. Imminent Departure – Two / Three Weeks
  4. It’s Almost Time – Two / Three Days
  5. Moving Day
  6. New Home

Moving House Printable Checklist  – PDF&XLS Downloads

Excel : Moving Home Checklist
PDF: Moving Home Checklist

Early Moving Preparation – Two Months

Around two months beforehand and as soon as you are confident that your move will be going ahead, there are several steps you can take to get yourself ahead.

  • Arrange for removals quotes and book your removals company. Removals companies can can booked up months in advance so it’s best to do this as early as possible.
  • Make a list of the companies and people that you will need to inform that you are moving house. Once you have a date that you will be at your new address, you can begin informing companies of your moving date. These will include your doctor, your dentist, HMRC, DVLA, and other service providers. Your employer and your bank will also need your new address. Check with your utility companies that they will transfer your contracts over to your new house. Many companies have dedicated departments for dealing with people moving house, and you may be able to do some of it online, reducing the number of phone calls you need to make.
  • If you are in rented accommodation, make sure you hand your notice in with your landlord. It may be worth arranging a final walk around at this point, at least provisionally.
  • Start sorting through your belongings. It is only when we move house that we realise quite how much stuff we accumulate. Sort through cupboards and take items that you no longer need to either the charity shop or the recycling centre. If you have time you can often sell smaller items on selling sites such as eBay. Starting your preparation early will allow you to sort through your belongings, rather than simply having to take everything with you because you ran out of time!
  • Start exploring the new area where you will be living. This can make you feel more at home when you move in, and it is really useful to know where all your local amenities are. If you have children you will have already scoped out the area for schools, but remember to inform your child’s current school of your moving date.

 

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    ​Getting closer – One Month Before Moving Day

    About a month before your moving date, make sure that you carry on organising and sorting, to reduce the stress on the big day.

    • As the day gets closer make sure everything is going to plan. Check-in with your solicitors, estate agents, and removal company, to make sure that there have been no sudden changes. Keeping informed will help to reduce the stress surrounding your move.
    • Arrange to have your removals boxes delivered, and start collecting free boxes where possible from friends, shops or supermarkets.
    • Check that there are no parking restrictions at either property. It can be difficult to park a big lorry in a narrow street, and some local councils require parking permits.
    • Children may be a hindrance on the day of the big move. Young children may be better with a child-minder, allowing you the time to concentrate on the move. Older children may be helpful but can benefit from being given a specific job to do, so it could be worthwhile considering this now, rather than on the day.
    • Pets can become quite stressed when moving house. It may be wise to book them in with a pet sitter. Remember when you are moving in and out of houses the doors to the properties will be left open, so it could be difficult to keep a cat or dog inside during this time.
    • If any small jobs need to be done before moving out, do them now. Small holes in the wall that need filling or fixing the garden fence. This can be more important when moving out of rental properties, as you will want to ensure that you get your deposit back.
    • Tidy out and start to pack up garden sheds and garages.
    • If you are going to need overnight accommodation between houses, organise it now. Hotel rooms can get more expensive closer to the day and can book up quickly during certain times of the year.
    • Your home will need to be cleaned before you hand the keys over. Consider booking in a cleaning company to do it for you. Or begin to deep clean during this time, to ensure that it will be clean when you leave.
    • If there are any pieces of furniture or other items that you don’t think will fit in your new house, but you don’t want to get rid of them, speak to Excalibur Removals about storage solutions.
    • It’s also a good idea to start taking pictures of your furniture before you move, as this can help if you ever have a damage dispute with your removals firm.

     

    Imminent departure – One / Two Weeks

    In the final couple of weeks before you move, you will need to have your to-do list firmly on hand!

    • Confirm all arrangements for the big day including times with all necessary parties.
    • Get your mail redirected. This will make sure that you don’t lose any important correspondence and will allow you to send out change of address notifications after you have moved.
    • If you are packing yourself, rather than letting us pack for you, start packing everything, other than the essential items. Remember, the heaviest items are books. Do not pack big boxes full of books, they will be nearly impossible to move. Remember to label your boxes! Either with a colour code or simply a room name and contents. We need to know which room in your new house each box is going into.
    • Wind down the contents of your freezer, and cupboards. Start to buy only the essentials, try and eat up as much as possible. Throw away anything that won’t get eaten and won’t survive the move.
    • Start dismantling furniture if required. Some furniture is easier to transport once taken apart, so now is a good time to do so. Make sure you fasten all the screws and bolts securely to the furniture so that they don’t get mislaid.
    • Walk around your garden and work out what you are taking and leaving. Remember, if you are selling your property, to check what you agreed to leave behind, you don’t want to start your new life, with an expensive row. Potted plants can be awkward to transport so consider what you wish to bring and whether it will survive the move.
    • Get on top of the laundry. You don’t want wet clothes hanging around during the final days of packing. Make sure that everything is dry. Place dirty clothes into laundry bags if you don’t have time to wash them.

     

    It’s Almost Time – Two / Three Days Before Your Move

    In the final couple of days before you move, you need to be very prepared as move day is approaching fast!

    • Empty the freezer and fridge and defrost, also clean thoroughly in preparation for the move. Both of these are still necessary should you be leaving them behind in rented property or sold with your house.
    • It’s a good idea to take pictures of the connections behind your TV’s and Computers. This can come in handy when faced with the daunting task of reconnecting everything at your new location.
    • Disconnect non essential appliances ready for the move, such as washing machines and dishwashers.
    • Dispose of all last minute rubbish to save having to needlessly transport it to your new home, or leave it for the new tenants or owners.
    • Pack an emergency supplies box, with a kettle, tea, coffee, biscuits, loo roll, some mugs, and other snacks. This will ensure that you can have a drink when you reach your new house without needing to rummage through boxes or head straight to the shops.
    • Pack all your important documents such as passports, driver’s licence into one secure box and label it clearly.

     

    Moving Day

    And the big day is finally here! Make sure you have a good night’s sleep the night before, moving days are often long, and can be tiring.

    • Pack an overnight bag of each member of the family, with a clean change of clothes, and other essentials, such as favourite teddies for children.
    • Make sure all your electronic devices are charged up and that you have access to all the chargers should you need them. Bear in mind you may not have access to a plug socket all day, so make sure you have car chargers available for the day.
    • If there is anything of sentimental value that you wish to transport yourself for peace of mind, make sure that it is securely packed and in your car.
    • Before dismantling your electronics, take a picture of the back of them, this will help you to set them up again in your new house.
    • Take a picture on your phone of all the meters for your final readings. You will need to give these to the relevant utility companies for your final bills.
    • Let your removals team get on with their job, make sure children and pets are out of the way and safe.
    • Do a final walk-through. Check inside cupboards and drawers that nothing has been forgotten.
    • Make sure that the property is clean, and empty, and left in the manner that is expected.
    • Remember to remove all the keys associated with the house from your key ring and leave them clearly labelled in the house. Leave a list of important information for the new inhabitants such as the location of the stopcock and meters.
    • Do a last check outside to make sure you have everything that you want.
    • Say a final goodbye and hand the keys over as per your arrangements.

     

    New House

    So, we have reached your new house, what’s next?

    • Walk around the new house with the removals team. They need to know where you want everything, so make sure you have a list of what is going where. No one minds moving a few items from room to room, but don’t suddenly decide to alter your house layout halfway through the unpacking process!
    • Unpack your essentials box and put the kettle on!
    • Take pictures of all the meters, so that you have up-to-date meter readings from when you moved in.
    • Check that the house is as expected. That it is clean and that everything that you agreed to be left has been. Check the light fittings for light bulbs, some people have been known to remove them when they move out!
    • Let your removals team get on with the unpacking.
    • You will need to assemble any beds that have been dismantled for the move, ready for bedtime, and check that the bedrooms have curtains. You aren’t aiming to get your house ship-shape by the end of the day, there is nothing wrong with camping for a few days!
    • Walkthrough the house and check that all the large furniture items are where you want them. We want you to be happy with where your belongings are, so make sure that you check before we leave.

     

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    We all know that moving can be very stressful, but a professional removals team will reduce your stress levels. We provide services that suit you. If you want a hand with the packing and unpacking we can do that. If you need storage during your move, or for the long-term, we can provide that. Whatever you need to make your move as stress-free as possible speak to us. The better organised you are, and the more you plan ahead, the easier it will be. A to-do list really does make all the difference, whether you want an electronic version, or a good old-fashioned pen and paper, it will make you feel more in control and less stressed. Simply plan ahead, tick off the items on your list, and look forward to your new home.

    We want to make your big move as smooth and easy as possible. We hope this guide helps you to plan your move. For any questions, to have a chat about your move, or to begin planning your own move give our dedicated and knowledgeable team at Excalibur Removals a call today on 0117 251 0288.

    Enjoy your new home!

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