Moving House Checklist

Tuesday 4 March 2014
Like I said in 5 Steps to Buying Property in England, buying a house is one of the most stressful things you will do in your life. First, you have to pack everything you've acquired since you've been in the property. (And if you're anything like us this will lead questioning where all this useless crap has appeared from.) Second, you have to go through all the hassle of notifying everyone under the sun about your upcoming move.

Whilst I can't help you with your packing (and nor would I want to) I can make the process of moving house slightly easier with this moving house checklist;

Quintessentially English's Moving House Checklist


FOUR WEEKS BEFORE MOVING


  • Ask around and obtain quotes from several removal firms. Or if you're not using professionals, start asking your friends for help.
  • Book extra storage space if you need it.
  • Start getting rid of the things you no longer need. I split our items into three categories: charity shop,  eBay, or rubbish. 

TWO WEEKS BEFORE MOVING


  • Start packing non-essential items such as books (6 boxes in our case) and non-seasonal clothes.
  • Visit the Royal Mail's website and arrange for your post to be redirected to your new address (even if it's overseas) for a period of 1, 3, 6, or even 12 months.
  • Notify the bank of any changes to direct debits and standing orders. Depending on who you bank with, you can usually do this online.
  • Notify the relevant companies of your departure, to make this easy for you I have created Quintessentially English's Notification Checklist which you can download at the bottom of this post!

ONE WEEK BEFORE MOVING


  • Start packing all things that you've deemed essential, leaving yourself just the bare minimals. (We lived off a pair of dishes and a suitcase for our last week.)
  • Finalise arrangements with your removal company/friends. 
  • Make sure your home insurance covers you from the day you move in to your new house.

MOVING DAY


  • Take pictures of every inch of the house, this is especially important if you are renting.
  • Get you last meter readings for any gas, electricity, and water.
  • After all the heavy lifting is done, make sure to relax with the traditional moving house feast of pizza and beer.

Erin x

Quintessentially English's Notification Checklist
Click here to download your FREE copy of Quintessentially English's Notification Checklist.

15 comments:

  1. jody989 said...:

    I love the article, and the tips are really interesting, you sure did alot of research. And its true we should have a checklist when it comes to moving. Whether we are moving all by our self or using a company. And having insurance is a smart step which we all should take and ensuring that the company too have insurance. A friend of mines told me of A-1 Moving & Storage and the professional services these guys offer. Between work and my family, I didn’t had the time to pack my stuff and hearing about a company who is willing to do the task for you was a relief for me. And the expense was not beyond what i thought it would be. So I am very satisfied with the services I received and I would recommend them to others. They are also known for providing exceptional storage facilities, check out more at http://www.jupiter-movers.net/local.cfm or give them call today (561) 625-0600.

  1. Thanks for the recommendation Jody! Glad you enjoyed the article!

  1. Unknown said...:

    Very, very helpful information. If you're about to move, you should definitely read it!
    Thea

  1. Unknown said...:

    Thanks Thea, I'm glad you liked it!

  1. Dana said...:

    Thank you for sharing these tips! I am about to move with my family and it is great to find this helpful article!

  1. Lora Noris said...:

    Label all boxes with which room they're due to go to, and a description of what's inside. Put these labels on the top and side of the box so you know what's inside when they're stacked.

  1. Cimber Adams said...:

    Thank you so much for all of these helpful advices! Next month I am moving to my new house and I am so exciting. I know that I should do a lot of things before that but I can't wait move into my new house! Thank you again for the article!

  1. Unknown said...:

    Wow! Those steps are really helpful for those who are planning on buying a house, not only in England, but in majority of the countries around the globe. The printable checklist seems to be very functional to make sure that things will go according to your plan, most especially the insurance. Thanks for sharing that, Erin! All the best to you!

    Steven Keltsch @ Allied Insurance Manager, Inc.

  1. Unknown said...:

    Amazing tips, thank you so much for this post. this is best that moving house wit House removals Battersea

  1. Justin Gray said...:

    Purchase cartons and packing material. Take a final walk around your old house to make sure you haven't left anything behind. Pack valuables like jewellery and important documents in a bag to take with you, and lock them in the car boot for safe keeping.


    Anthony@MovingBoxesMelbourne

  1. Robert Smith said...:

    Wrap all fragile items in newspaper, kitchen towel, tissue or clothes.


    Robert@Movingboxesadelaide

  1. manwithvan said...:

    Great article. Buying house could be the most stressful thing, indeed. I did it last year. I had troubles sleeping 2 months after that. Best regards!

  1. Anonymous said...:

    We are moving house - we have 4 kids and a dog and so much stuff! i have organised for the Salvation Army to come and collect our old furniture, a rubbish clean up bin and also professional cleaners to come after we have it all cleared out - but how oh how do i pack all the stuff and sort it? What is a good method or way to do it? Where do i get all the boxes and stuff?
    office moving companies toronto

  1. Joanne S. said...:

    I <3 checklists and right now this is exactly what I need. Thanks for sharing and helping me be confident I will get a less stressful move this time around. Sharing this on fb right away!

  1. Anna said...:

    This is a really great checklist/step by step guide to moving house! One thing I'd maybe add is, during the early stages of packing, take the time to take a good look at your possessions and get rid of anything you don’t need.­ You can sort your unwanted stuff into what can be sold, donated or simply thrown out. You'll be so thankful for having done this once you're in your new place!

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