Planning your removals: Your ultimate house moving checklist

Moving into a new home is an exciting time. However it’s easy to go into complete panic mode with so much to do! The key is to start planning your move and removals well in advance, so moving day can run as smoothly as possible.

Here’s everything you need to consider when planning your removals for the big day.

Moving house checklist: pre-steps

Planning your removals is a super busy time! But the best way to plan your house move is with a moving house checklist – well before you get the keys to your new pad.

With so many shifting elements, having a way to make sure you haven’t missed anything will save you stress further down the line.

Here, we’ll cover what steps you need to take from your house exchange to the moment you step into your new home.

1) Confirm your moving date

You’ll need to get the date of your house move confirmed by your conveyancer and the house sellers.

If you’re renting, you may be able to spread your house move over a few days, to reduce the stress of moving.

2) Notify your landlord (if relevant)

If you’re currently renting, be sure to give your landlord plenty of advance notice that you’re moving.

If possible, try to time the move with the end of your lease so you’re not left paying rent and a mortgage at the same time.

3) Book a removal company

If you don’t own much furniture and you’re able to spread your move out over a few days, you may be able to handle this yourself.

However, most of the time, planning your removals will be much easier and less stressful if you hire a removal company to pack up and move your belongings for you.

4) Order boxes, bubble wrap, tissue paper and packing tape

Some removal companies will provide packing materials for you. This is usually the case if you hire them to pack your belongings (as well as to move your belongings between homes), but may even be the case either way. If not, be sure to order packing materials within plenty of time.

5) Book off any time you need from work

Remember to book your moving date off work. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a tricky situation!

6) Sell old furniture and buy new

There’s no point in transferring old furniture from your old house to your new one if you plan on getting rid of it anyway. You might as well sell your furniture while you’re still in your old house and then order any new furniture to arrive at your new house after the move.

7) Hire a cleaning firm to do a deep clean

If you’re currently renting, leaving your old property clean will usually be a requirement of your lease. But either way, it’s courteous to leave your property clean for the new inhabitants. You’ll likely want to arrange for a deep clean of your new home too, as there’s nothing worse than moving into a grimey property.

8) Get in touch with your utility providers

Your electricity, gas, internet and phone suppliers will all need to know that you’re moving.

You’ll probably be taking your phone and internet contracts with you to your new property, so give them as much advance warning as possible to give them time to sort out the transfer.

9) Arrange to have your post redirected

Arranging a redirection with the Royal Mail will make sure that your post continues to reach you at your new home while you get your address updated in all the important places.

10) Get your buildings and contents insurance in place

You’ll need to arrange for buildings and contents insurance in your new property. You may be able to transfer your existing policy to your new address, so contact your existing provider to see how this would work.

11) Get ahead on cleaning and clear-outs

Take this opportunity to get ahead on cleaning and clear-outs, such as your garden, shed or spare rooms. This will give you less to worry about during the rush of the move itself.

12) Consider storage options

Think about whether you need to hire a storage unit for any surplus items or to hold your belongings during any gap between moving out and moving in.

Take a look at our guide to storage costs.

13) Plan for repairs and renovations

Take a good look at the results of your house survey and start to consider how you plan to tackle any necessary repairs and renovations. You may even be able to put feelers out with tradespeople to see what their timelines are.

Find out the average cost to move house.

Planning your removals

Research removal companies and compare quotes early on to make your house move as easy and efficient as possible.

Here are some questions to think about when planning your removals.

Why should I hire a removal company?

Unless you live in a small house or flat, it’s always worth hiring a professional removals company to help you move. Although shifting your stuff may not sound that difficult, there’s an art to packing fragile items so that they’re properly protected.

Removal workers will also know how much weight they can carry and do it safely.

While you can organise the logistics yourself, hiring a professional house removal service in your area will certainly take some of the stress out of the move.

Reasons to hire a removal company:

• House movers have the manpower and vehicles to make the move efficient, quick, and as easy as possible
• They can help move all your boxes and furniture either a short way or longer distances
• Professional movers know how to move heavy and bulky furniture safely
• Removal companies can safely transport specialist and fragile antiques
• House movers are also experts if you have furniture that needs to be dismantled

What level of house removal support do you need?

Loading and transporting your belongings are the most common services offered by house removal companies.

But if you don’t want to do the time-consuming job of packing and unpacking yourself, professional movers can offer this service at an extra cost.

If you need some items stored for a while, some companies offer a storage service too.

Start now planning your removals and make moving-in day a breeze.

How to find the right removal company

If the house removal companies you’ve contacted all offer the same service and the removal quotes are similar, how to decide which one to hire?

Here are ten questions to ask before hiring to help you decide.

1. How long have you been in business?

Experienced house removal companies have usually outlasted or been able to compete with other services. That means they are more likely to deliver a good quality service at a reasonable price—and people like them.

2. How much do you charge?

Ask about payment upfront. Find out exactly how much the move will cost you and what you get for the price.

It’s also important to find out when to pay. Some removal companies ask for a deposit; some don’t expect payment until the job is complete.

3. What removal vehicles do you have?

Most removal services have a small fleet of vans. Before you hire them, ask for their opinion to ensure that all of your belongings will fit into their vehicles.

4. How long will it take?

When planning your removals, you’ll need to know how long a company will take to move your furniture and possessions to your new home.

This will vary depending on the following:

• How many items need to be moved
• Whether your items need packing and unpacking
• The distance to the new property
• Whether you have any big, awkward, or fragile items (such as a piano) that may need special attention

However, experienced house removal companies in your area can give you a rough estimate so that you can plan around them.

5. Is there anything you won’t move?

Find out if there’s a list of things that house movers won’t move. This could be due to the size of their vans or their team on the job.

• Check if the company has weight restrictions in place
• House movers won’t usually relocate pets, live animals, or perishable items
• Removal companies won’t move hazardous materials such as chemicals, flammable materials, anything containing asbestos, unsealed paint tins, creosote, or gas bottles

If you have anything that you’re unsure about, ask. It’s better to know ahead of time.

6. When will you carry out a survey?

A home removal survey is the company’s chance to look at what the job requires and to plan things for the new house. They can work out what needs doing and what items might be tricky or need special equipment.

Ask when a house removal company is going to carry out the survey so you can make sure everything is in place.

7. Do you offer storage?

Perhaps you need storage for specific items if you are moving into a property that isn’t finished or you’re planning renovation works straight away.

Most removal companies offer temporary or more permanent storage if you have items that can’t go into your new home just yet. Remember to find out how much storage will cost.

8. Do you supply packing materials?

If you opt for a packing and unpacking service, find out if the removal company supplies packing boxes, tape, and packing materials. You don’t want to spend money on boxes and crates to find they are unsuitable.

Some companies will provide packing materials or sell you packing sets that contain everything you need to pack for your move. This will likely come at an extra cost, so make sure this is factored into the final bill to avoid unexpected costs.

9. What about removal insurance?

Reputable removal companies will all have some type of insurance. But do be aware that it might not cover everything.

Some insurance companies don’t cover precious goods while in transit, and some will not carry anything worth more than a certain amount.

Be completely upfront with what you have, and make sure their insurance adequately covers it.

10. Do I need to help on the day?

Finally, it’s crucial to ask the movers if they’re happy to do the move on their own or if they expect your help in some way.

This will help plan for the big day’s removals and reduce unnecessary stress.

Briefing a removals company

Once you’ve chosen a firm, it’s helpful to send them a briefing sheet, including:

• Any items needing special packing, such as pictures, antiques and valuable objects
• Difficult-to-move items, such as pianos, require specialist removal companies to make sure valuable instruments aren’t damaged (these are likely to cost more, though)
• Wardrobes or other large furniture that may need to be dismantled
• Any carpets and curtains that are going with you
• Items that you’re moving yourself
• A floor plan of the new property so that they can put boxes in the correct rooms when unloading

Planning your removals: what to do during the move

So, now you’ve got the basics sorted, what are the essentials when it comes to the physical act of moving house?

Use the checklist below to get sorted:

Pack

Start packing as soon as you can. Begin with items you don’t need on a day-to-day basis, such as spare bedding or books.

Label your boxes, wrap any fragile items with tissue paper or bubble wrap, and disassemble your furniture to make it easier to load into the moving van. Most removal companies also offer a packing service, so you could get them to undertake this task for you.

Consider an inventory so you don’t lose track of your items, and take photos of all your belongings in case anything goes missing.

Put aside your important documents and items

Pack your important documents and items separately and keep them safe so you don’t lose them during the move. These include passports, bills, birth certificates, medications, phone numbers, chargers, toolboxes, and valuables.

Direct your removal company

Experienced removal companies will make moving house a lot less stressful – after all, they’ve done it all before! However, we’d always recommend being around in case they have questions. It’s also helpful to provide them with instructions and moving directions.

Give your old property a deep clean

This includes defrosting the freezer, disconnecting the dishwasher, and generally giving the property a thorough clean (or, to save you stress, leave the cleaning to a professional cleaner).

Use or throw out perishables

Use or throw out any perishables and pack longer-life items so they don’t spill or spoil.

Make good

Fill any holes from pictures or shelves using something like Polyfilla – or get a handyperson in to do this for you.

Take meter readings

Take meter readings and double check that your utility suppliers know what date you’re moving.

Swap your keys

Once you’ve completely moved out of your old property, it’s time to say goodbye and drop the keys off with your estate agent or landlord.

Then, pick up your new keys. If you’re moving out of a rental property, you might have a period where you have both the old and new keys, which is ideal if you want to make a few trips between properties.

Clean your new property

Before unpacking, give your new property a deep clean – or enjoy letting a professional cleaner do it for you.

Moving into a new house checklist

Now you’re in your new home, there are several things to get sorted. Here’s a handy moving house checklist to help make your new house a home.

Start unpacking

Your removal company will usually place your boxes and belongings in the rooms you ask them to, but they won’t unpack for you.

Unpack the essentials first, such as your kettle, mugs, cleaning products, loo roll, bedding, and TV/radio. Starting with the kitchen will also mean you can make a cup of tea and have a snack whilst you unpack!

While you still have people helping you move, utilise them where possible, such as setting up the fridge or building furniture.

Learn where everything is

You’ll need to learn where everything is in your new home, such as your stopcock, gas and electricity meter, thermostat, and fuse boxes.

Test your utilities

Test your utilities, such as your water, heating, and washing machine to make sure they’re all in good working order and take meter readings.

Set up your bills

Make sure you’ve paid any bills and set up new ones. This can take a while, especially if you end up having to wait for a new internet connection to be set up at your property, In this case, you can try turning your phone into a mobile hotspot just to help you keep on top of things until a longer-term solution is in place.

Register for council tax

Your council tax responsibilities begin the day you move to your new house. Make sure to register with the local council as soon as you move, otherwise they’ll backdate any payments.

Check your bin schedule

Find out when the bins need to be taken out. The house sellers might leave you a note letting you know. If not, you’ll often be able to find your bin days on your local council’s website.

Unpack room by room

Once you’ve unpacked the essentials, you can make your way around the house methodically unpacking room by room.

Consider your use of storage, including smart options to maximise space and intuitive unpacking methods to create a holistic or ergonomic space (for example, how far away your mugs are from the kettle!).

Change your address

Update your address – and, if necessary, your telephone number – with all your providers. This includes your bank, credit card/s, investments, loyalty cards, pension schemes, the DVLA, insurance providers, GP surgery, broadband, and mobile.

Change your locks

Finding a locksmith near you to change your locks is wise for security purposes. You could even get the locks upgraded for added peace of mind.

Make a to-do list

Go around your property and note anything that needs repairing or redecorating. Make sure to check our new home job checklist too, to price up any work that may need doing.

Once you’re in, it’s time to find your local takeaway and order a well-deserved treat for all your hard work. Then, make a plan for how to tackle that to-do list, and find a local handyperson to help you make a dent!

Get planning your removals off to a great start by finding house moving companies near you. Enter your postcode in the box below to see who comes highly rated in your area.