This month, Amy Matthews from Woodfines Solicitors shares their essential house move to-do list, ensuring you won’t miss any essentials or forget anything important in the run-up to the big day.
Get yourself prepared a few weeks before:
- Get some removal company quotes or look into hiring a van
- Have a clear out before you start boxing up – get rid of any items or furniture you don’t want/need anymore, and drop them off at charity shops or put up for sale
- Get quotes or make arrangements for any temporary storage – if needed
- Arrange child and pet care for your moving day
- Give friends and family enough notice if you need help
A few days before:
- Make your utility providers aware – electricity, gas, phone and broadband suppliers
- Settle up any outstanding bills e.g., council tax
- Label your boxes – make a checklist of what is in each box
- Set up a postal redirection service
- Gather together keys for your current property and label them up, don’t forget spares given to neighbours or friends
- Start to dismantle larger items
- Locate important documents and put somewhere safe, e.g. passports, Driving Licence, marriage certificates, birth certificates, tax paperwork etc.
The day before:
- Take final meter readings for utility providers
- Internet connection/WIFI may take time to be set up in your new home so make sure you have downloaded/printed anything important that you might need in the first few days
- Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged
- Make sure that your essential items are in a clearly marked box
- Confirm arrangements with your removal firm
- If driving on moving day, make sure you have petrol, confirm your route and make sure there are places to stop off in needed
- Try to move boxes downstairs or to a convenient location the night before
- Put together a mini-toolkit including a sharp knife for opening boxes on arrival – screwdriver/hammer/pliers/scissors
- Leave out any manuals and paperwork that may be useful to your buyer
- Make sure fridge/freezer and other perishables are cleared out
- Pack your bag for the first night in your new home.
On the day:
- Check over your house one final time – check all rooms and don’t forget sheds/greenhouses/garages/cupboards
- Check the lights, water and heating work when you arrive at your new property
- Make sure you have keys to every door, window and cupboard
- Do a clean of the property before you start unpacking if necessary, while the property is
- empty
- Unpack room by room – it is often best to start with the kitchen
- Take the rest of the night off! Find a local takeaway and relax in your new home!
Moving day essentials checklist – for you:
- Duvet/bedding and towels
- Toilet paper and kitchen roll
- Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, soap)
- Pyjamas and/or work clothes
- First aid kit
- Cleaning products, plus vacuum cleaner and bin bags
- Phone and laptop chargers, Television or radio, extension cables
- Temporary furniture – deck chairs etc
- Pen and paper
- Torch/lightbulbs
- Paper plates/cups/basic cutlery
- Dinner (or takeaway menu!), breakfast items, snacks, Kettle (with tea/coffee, mugs, milk)
- Corkscrew/bottle opener/something bubbly!
Moving day essentials checklist – for the kids:
- Bedding/travel cot
- Favourite toy if necessary
- Change of clothes
- Entertainment: iPad/laptop/charger, headphones, crayons/colouring book, few toys
- Night light
Moving day essentials checklist – for your pets:
- Pet food
- Lead/collar
- Toys
- Food and water bowls
- Litter box/waste bags
- Crate
- Any medication
Things to consider once you are in your new home:
- You may want to consider changing the locks
- Explore your new area so you know the important things – food shops, petrol
- station, local transport, post box, bus stop etc.
- Find out what day the bins are collected
- Consider drafting a new will, especially if don’t have one!
Who to notify of your change of address:
- Work, banks, insurance companies, DLVA and government organisations etc.
- New dentist/doctor/optician etc?
- Cancel or update any subscriptions i.e., Amazon, magazines, online shopping,
- cleaners etc.
- Register to vote at your new address
- Children’s school
Paid partnership with Woodfines Solicitors
