Moving home can be a stressful time, but being well organised helps. This week-by-week checklist can take away some of the stress!
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You’ve saved your deposit, found the perfect home and had your offer accepted. Now it’s time to plan the big move into your new home!
Moving house always appears on lists of life’s most stressful events, and it’s no wonder really. Apart from the upheaval of moving all your worldly possessions to another house, there’s just so much to organise.
You can make it easier and less stressful by hiring a mover to help with packing and moving your possessions. But the key to making moving house easy is to get well organised.
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This checklist will help you to work out what needs to be done and when to do it. And that will help you to keep stress to a minimum.
As soon as possible
- Research removal companies online, and ask friends and family for their personal recommendations.
- Get formal quotations from a range of moving companies.
- Set up a folder on your PC to keep copies of any moving-related paperwork, and start a folder for documents and printed copies of anything you will need on moving day.
- Check your insurance policy to see if your contents are covered in transit. Some policies will include this as standard, or it may be an add-on that you can request.
- Don’t forget to check what insurance is offered by your removal company as well.
- If you are moving to a new area, research new doctors, dentists and if necessary schools. Make sure you have any paperwork necessary for registration.
- Make a list of businesses to contact with new address details, including any online accounts. Check when you will need to give them your new details.
Six weeks before
- There’s no point packing unwanted items so before you start packing your belongings, start with decluttering.
- Go through wardrobes and cupboards and pull out anything that you no longer need or want.
- Take unwanted goods to charity, sell them online, or at a local car boot sale. The processed can help help pay for your move!
- Dispose of any old tins of paint that you won’t been needing at your new home. Check with your local council to find out where to take them.
- If you have children, liaise with their current and future schools to make sure that records are transferred smoothly. You may also need to plan a trial day at the new school.
- Start the process of packing items with seasonal items and anything that you’ve been storing in the loft or garage.
- Start running down food that is being stored in the freezer and storecupboard. And try not to do any bulk buying of food until after you’ve moved house.
- Make a list of friends and family who will need your new address details, and decide if you’re going to send out an email or Moving Home cards.
- Stock up on supplies for the big move. Check with your removal company first to see what they will supplying.
- Supplies you’ll need include boxes, bubble wrap or packing material, tape, marker pens and labels. A tape dispenser will make the job easier.
- You may also need wardrobe boxes and mattress bags if your mover is not supplying them.
- A labelling system will make it easier to find things at the other end. Number each box as you pack it and set up a spreadsheet or keep check in a notebook. Colour coded labels for each room can also help to find the box you want more easily.
- To avoid the hassle of packing for yourself, you could ask your moving company to do the packing for you. This will add a little extra to the cost of moving, but save you time and stress!
One month before
- Confirm arrangements with your chosen moving company and make sure that you have insurance cover in place.
- Register with the Royal Mail to have your post redirected to your new address.
- Contact the list of businesses and services you identified earlier, and notify them of your new address details.
- Book holiday from work for a few days around your moving date. If you have kids or pets, it can be a good idea to arrange for someone to look after them on moving day.
- Gather together any valuables, important paperwork and anything of particular sentimental value. Pack these separately and transport them by hand or by a separate courier with insurance.
- Alternatively you could ask a trusted friend or relative to store them during the removal process.
- Make a note of any high value items and take photographs of serial numbers etc. Also take note of any existing damage to furniture and take photos if necessary.
- If you have a newspaper delivered, don’t forget to notify them that you’re moving.
- Check any furniture that needs to be disassembled and make sure that you have the tools necessary.
Two weeks before
- Keep identifying items that you won’t need before the move, and pack them away as you go.
- Don’t leave all the packing to the last minute – little and often will make it more manageable.
- Tie up loose ends. Confirm that you’ve changed addresses, have all the proper moving insurance in place, and are ready to make your move.
- Put together an info pack for the people who will be moving into your old home. Add things like the recycling arrangments, when the bins are collected and instructions for any appliances. Make sure you include any relevant instruction booklets as well.
- Take a photo of the wires at the back of TVs and any other electronic equipment, to help you set them up more easily in your new home.
- If anyone needs medication, it’s a good idea to check that they have enough for the first week or two in the new home. It’s one less thing to organise while you’re settling in.
- Plan time for a good spring clean, or book professional cleaners to do it for you.
- If you are taking a chest freezer with you, now is a good time to defrost and clean it.
- If you are taking gas appliances with you, you will need to book a professional to disconnect them.
One week before
- Make one final check with your moving company to confirm when they will be arriving and any last-minute details.
- Check that utility providers at both properties are aware of your moving date.
- By now you may have accumulated more items to be donated to the charity shop, so do one final run before you leave.
- Back up computers before you go, and check that you have a way to get online in the new house.
- Get each family member to pack a bag as if they are going away for a long weekend so that they have the essentials to hand. Remember to include medication, toiletries and comfy clothes for unpacking.
- Pack a ‘survival box’ with the things you will need first. This may include box cutters, loo roll, cleaning supplies, bin bags, some cutlery and of course everything you’ll need for a cuppa!
- Double check where and when you will be able to receive the keys for your new home.
The day before the move
- Keep your document folder handy with any documentation that you may need over the next couple of days.
- Deal with transportation for valuables or take them to a trusted friend or relative for safekeeping.
- Disassemble any furniture that you need to do before the movers arrive.
- Pack up computers, printers and any other electronics that you’ve been using so far.
- Defrost the fridge/freezer, clean it well and allow it to dry before moving.
- Charge up any electronics that you may need tomorrow – make sure your phone is fully charged.
- Set aside one empty room (eg the dining room) and leave everything that has to go in your car in that room. This way, it won’t be at risk in your car overnight, but you can easily load it up the following morning.
- Make up some sandwiches and snacks for moving day.
The day of the move
- Make sure that important documents and valuables are handy.
- With people coming and going, and doors left wide open, moving day can be a security risk. Either get someone to keep watch by the front door, or make sure that any valuables are secured well out of view.
- Take children or pets to the babysitter for the day if you have arranged one.
- Accept any offers of help you have on moving day. It’s a stressful time but having a good team around you will help keep things running smoothly.
- Unpack your survival box and put the kettle on as soon as possible. The unpacking can wait a few minutes and it will help you to feel calm, and even a bit organised.
- Don’t plan to do much cooking on your first day in your new home. Either heat up something quick, or even better call out for takeaway!