Moving home is consistently rated as one of the most stressful life events — not because any individual task is particularly difficult, but because there are so many tasks happening simultaneously, under financial and emotional pressure, with a fixed deadline. A good checklist removes much of the stress by ensuring nothing is missed.
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Start researching and getting quotes from removal companies — prices vary significantly and good firms get booked up weeks in advance. Begin the declutter: anything you have not used in two years and do not need should be donated, sold, or disposed of before moving — not boxed up and transported. Inform your children's schools of the move and start researching schools near the new address if needed. If you have pets, arrange their transport separately.
Four weeks before moving
Book your removal company with a confirmed date. Begin the serious packing of non-essential items — books, seasonal clothing, decorative items, anything you will not need before the move. Source quality packing boxes and materials: book boxes (small and double-walled for heavy items), picture boxes, wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes. Start notifying companies of your change of address: DVLA (driving licence and V5C), HMRC, National Insurance, pension providers, banks and financial institutions, subscriptions.
The change of address notifications most commonly forgotten are the DVLA (driving licence and vehicle registration), HMRC, and pension providers. These can cause significant administrative problems months later if left unresolved.
— Money Saving Expert
One week before moving
Confirm the time and details with your removal company. Pack everything except the essentials you will need on moving day. Clean out the fridge and freezer. Prepare an essentials box that travels with you (not in the removal van) containing: kettle, tea and coffee, toilet roll, phone chargers, basic tools (screwdriver, measuring tape), children's items if relevant, a change of clothes, and important documents.
Moving day
Take meter readings at your old property (gas, electricity, water) before you leave — photograph the meters with a timestamp. Do the same at your new property when you arrive. Obtain a forwarding address service from Royal Mail (typically £33.99 for 3 months, £44.99 for 6 months) — some mail will inevitably be sent to your old address for months after moving. Check every room, cupboard, loft, and outbuilding at the old property before the removal van leaves.
At the new property
Locate the consumer unit (fusebox), gas meter, water stop cock, and boiler before anything else — you may need them quickly. Test that the boiler and hot water work. Check that all windows and doors lock properly. Note any issues with the property and photograph them before you have been in long — this is important for your conveyancing solicitor's file and for any future disputes.
- Book removal company 6-8 weeks in advance
- Declutter before packing — not during or after
- Prepare an essentials box that travels separately from the van
- Photograph meters at old and new property on moving day
- Register Royal Mail redirection before you move
- Locate stop cock, consumer unit, and gas meter on arrival