When moving house, the last thing you want is to lose sentimental items in the chaos or experience delays on your moving day. Arriving late at night to find tomorrow’s clothes lost in one of a hundred boxes is a terrible feeling, and it’s only made worse by the lack of furniture to sink into and cry.
To help you make your move as smooth as possible, we’ve compiled a checklist of moving tips so that you can get from point A to point B with your sanity intact.
1. Book a removal company
Once your moving date is set, the first thing you need to do is book your removal company. The earlier you do this, the better! If you leave it to the last minute, you may not be able to book your first choice of company to help you move.
When booking a removal company, keep in mind that you’ll need to hand your entire household inventory over to them on moving day. Book with a company you can trust - check for reviews on Google, TrustPilot and in local Facebook groups to make sure that you won’t run into any delays or breakages during the move.
2. Create a notification list
Once you’ve booked your removal van, focus on the paperwork. Preparing your notification list in advance will spare you the trouble of trying to manage it while busy with unpacking. Voter registration, utility companies and the bank should all be on your priority list - most utility companies recommend that you inform them of your move at least 2 days in advance so that you can receive your final bill without delays.
You should also notify:
- The Post Office: So that any mail sent to your previous address is redirected. This is important for paper bills!
- Your New Council: Let your new council know that you’ll be moving to the area so that they can change your council tax to your new address. You can also contact the council to register to vote in your new area.
- Utility Companies: notify utility companies about your moving date and your new address. They’ll transfer your bill to your new address on your moving day, and make sure that your water and electricity are switched on.
- TV Licencing: If you have a TV licence, move it across to your new address. Watching TV without one can have consequences, even if it’s for a couple of days.
- Satellite, Broadband and Phone: A router is always going to take a while to be set up at your new address, so it’s important to inform your broadband company at least two weeks in advance.
- Financial Services: Your employer, bank, building society, pension provider, credit card company, insurance providers, subscriptions, regular deliveries, and the tax office all need to know about your move. List every financial service you use to make it easy to keep track.
- Car Services: Your breakdown cover company, your car registration, and the DVLA should all be informed about your move. Don’t forget to change the address on your driver’s licence, or you won’t be able to use it.
- Key Services: Schools, GPs, vets, and your pharmacy should all be informed about your move. Sometimes you can do this simply by registering with the service at your new location.
- Personal Contacts: Don’t forget to let your friends and neighbours know that you’re moving!
4. Clear your fridge and freezer
When you move, your fridge and freezer will both need time to settle before you can turn them back on. While some items can be kept in a cooler bag for a day or two, doing so for frozen food and dairy might not be ideal. Make sure that you minimise your grocery shops and try to get through as many perishables as possible in the weeks leading up to your move.
5. Do some charity runs
More stuff means more boxes, more packing, and less van space, so moving can be the perfect time to clear out the clutter. Go through your storage room, clothes and bookshelves and separate what you need to throw away and what can go to charity. Knowing that you’re only taking what you want to keep can do wonders for your stress levels on moving day!
6. Organise items by room
This might read as obvious, but your belongings may be located in rooms they’re not meant to be in, especially if you have kids. Before your moving van arrives, you’ll want to make sure that everything is in its rightful place - toiletries in the bathroom, pet bowls in the kitchen, paperwork in the office and toys in the kids’ rooms. This will help you prevent items from ending up in the wrong rooms of your new home. It can be frustrating to unpack a box of bedsheets and find mugs and bowls tucked in at the bottom!
Plan out which items are going to be packed together and create clear labels for each box, stating which room they need to be placed into in the new house. Remember that these labels are for everyone - the moving company doesn’t need to know what ‘Tom’s Dinosaur Collection’ is, but they do need to know that it goes in a bedroom. There’s no need to be official, but don’t be unnecessarily cryptic, either.
7. Pack methodically
Now that you have everything where it needs to be, it’s time to start packing. All nonessential items should be packed in advance to limit the hassle on the week of your move. Clothes, ornaments, books, and garden equipment can all be packed into boxes well before your moving date, leaving you with just enough to stay afloat for the next couple of weeks. While you’re doing this, make sure that you keep on top of the chores - pack laundry straight out of the dryer and kitchenware off the drying rack. This narrows down the pool of items that can get dirty again before your moving date.
8. Pack for the first week
While you’re packing the rest of your items, you should be thinking about the things you’ll need during the first week in your new home. If you have suitcases, set them aside and fill them with the clothing you wear frequently. Pack as though you’re going on holiday - if there are delays with the moving company, these items will keep you afloat for the first few days. Toiletries are also useful to set aside.
9. Load necessary items last
When the removal van arrives, it’s time to plan ahead. The first items to go into the van should be things that you need the least, and the most important boxes should be packed last. That way you can carry the important items to wherever they need to go while everything else gets unloaded. The last boxes should include bedding, clothes, kitchen equipment, toiletries and some food and drinks.
10. Unpack methodically
When it comes to unpacking, it can feel overwhelming to be confronted with so many boxes at once. If you’ve followed the previous steps, however, it doesn’t have to be hard! Prioritise boxes in each room and unpack the most important things first. Toiletries, clothes, and kitchenware should be put away before you even open the ornament boxes. Take a holistic approach rather than perfecting each room: one or two boxes unpacked per room is better than unpacking the whole living room and running out of energy before you step foot in the kitchen. If you have kids, letting them unpack their own boxes can be as exciting as Christmas for them, and can give you a bit of a break.
Moving can be one of the most overwhelming experiences of your life. With careful planning and a good moving home checklist, however, you can turn your dread into excitement and get settled into your new home much more quickly!
