Moving between homes is right at the top of the list when it comes to stressful situations, and it is often coupled with other life changing situations such as changing job, bereavement or relationship breakdown which just adds to the stress.

We’ve compiled a list to help make the transition from one home to another as smooth as possible.  Being prepared for every eventuality can help make the process feel less stressful.

Whether this is your first move, or you are a seasoned house mover, having a checklist to hand will ensure that nothing gets overlooked.

Timescales and Making Preparations

As far as timescales go, it is a good idea to start making preparations at least 2 months before the actual moving day.  This may seem a lot but unless you live a very minimalist lifestyle, you’ll be amazed how much stuff you have to sort through and now will be an ideal time to declutter and get rid of unwanted items.

You’ll also need to choose and book a removal company if you are not intending to do the move yourself and they usually have a lead time. Likewise, if you need storage facilities to store items between moves, these often need to be booked in advance so the sooner you can tick these off the list the better.

If you are renting your landlord will require 1 or 2 months’ notice of your leaving date, so check your contract to ensure that you don’t have any issues there as this could be costly.

Sit down and make a list of everyone that you need to inform of your change of address.  The obvious ones are;

Banks (and any other money providers such as loans or store cards)

Your local Council for council tax

Doctor

Dentist

Opticians

Insurance providers

Utilities such as phone, electric, gas etc (don’t forget mobile phone contracts)

TV license

DVLA

Employer

Pension providers (if applicable)

Schools

Vets (and Pet ID services)

Remembering the Random Ones

However, there will be a surprising number of other random people that you will need to notify, such as subscriptions and online shopping channels like Amazon, so we suggest you keep this list handy so that you can add them in as they occur.

It’s a good idea to begin packing your little used items as soon as possible and clean areas as you clear them, it will save precious time on your moving day.  As the moving day gets nearer you should aim to get the bulk of your packing done, leaving out only essential day to day items.

Clearly labelling everything and sorting them into rooms will save you lots of time when you get to the unpacking stage in your new home and will ensure that whoever moves your boxes knows which room to put them in the new house.

Keeping Things Handy for Moving Day

You’ll want to have a stash of essential items for your first day/night in your new home, these are usually the last items to be packed as they are likely to be in constant use, but a stash of clean clothes, clean bedding, towels and toiletries put aside prior to moving day would be a good idea. If you have children and pets make sure that their essential items are not forgotten, you don’t need a frantic search for that favourite bedtime toy, the cat’s litter, or the dog’s lead.

Make sure that the packaging for your essential items is clearly marked and that everyone, from the friend or family members you’ve roped in to help to the removal men, know that they are your immediate essentials.  You really don’t want to get to the new house only to find someone has buried the box with that all important kettle in at the bottom of a large pile.

Try to empty the house a day or two before handing over the keys if possible. This will take the pressure off getting the cleaning done.

Don’t forget to check little used places such as in the attic, or the garage or shed.  It sounds daft but we know of people who have had to go back to old houses because the new occupants have found the attic full of forgotten things.

Using a Local Removal Company

If you are using a removal company, check that they have the necessary access to get near to both your old and new properties. Likewise, if you are going down the DIY route, you’ll need to be able to get the van as near as you can to the properties to save you struggling.

One the day itself, make sure that you leave all the relevant keys in the old house, and you have all the keys you need for the new one.  Take meter readings at both properties and notify the relevant providers.

You’ll still have quite a bit to sort out but once you are all your belongings are safely ensconced in your new home you will be able to relax a bit, safe in the knowledge that you’ve got through the worst bit and can start to enjoy life.