Moving House Checklist
Moving house can be one of the most stressful things you’ll ever have to go through. Between choosing the perfect place to live, ensuring that all your goods are packed safely for moving day and organising logistics, it is definitely no easy feat! Luckily for you, Douglas & Gordon has created an essential moving house checklist to take (some) of the worry out of moving.
6 weeks before
-Decide on a moving company.
-Confirm moving date.
-If you’re renting, notify your landlord of your moving date.
-Book extra storage space if you need it.
-Notify utility companies of your move.
-Make a keep/donate/sell list for all your items. Moving is a great way to purge yourself of unnecessary clutter. Assess your items room by room.
-Consider extra insurance coverage you may need for your move. Ask your moving company what insurance they include.
4 weeks before
-Start donating, chucking or selling your unwanted clothing and items.
-Start using up food from the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. Try to keep your grocery shopping to a minimum for the next month to avoid wasting food when you move.
-Buy moving supplies such as boxes, packing material, tape, labels, and box cutters.
-If you feel like you need it, schedule some annual leave around your move to give you time to sort everything out properly.
-Order any new furniture and arrange for it to be delivered when you move in.
-If you have kids, work with their current and future schools to transfer records.
-Start packing items that you know you won’t use before moving day such as books and seasonal items.
2 weeks before
-Visit the post office and arrange for your post to be forwarded to your new address.
-If you have pets or kids, arrange for someone to look after them on moving day.
-Finalise details with your moving company.
-Pack all non-essentials, ready for moving day.
-Be sure to label each box with its contents and which room it’s destined for.
Top Tip: Keep working away at your packing. You will not be able to pack everything in one go and you don’t want to have to rush. Try creating a packing schedule to ensure you’re on track.
1 week before
-Arrange a time to collect keys from your agent.
-Notify the bank of any changes to direct debits and standing orders. Remember to also let your employer’s HR department know, or anyone else who may need to be informed.
-Keep valuables such as jewellery and important documents separate to be moved personally by you.
-Check in with your moving company one last time and confirm that everyone is on the same page. Reconfirm the moving-day arrival time as well as mobile numbers and last-minute details.
Day before
-Pack up any last essentials and clearly mark them for easy access.
-Pack a ‘last minute box’ complete with spare packets, scissors, tape, a marker and other essentials for packing your final bits and bobs or things you forgot.
-Clearly mark and set aside anything you don’t want to be loaded on the moving van.
-Brace yourself for a busy tomorrow.
Moving day
-Make sure that you have your mover’s mobile number and they have yours.
-Compare your mover’s inventory list with yours to ensure nothing gets lost in the process.
-Once everything has been removed from your home, do a final sweep and go through each room to make sure nothing has been left behind.
-Give your old house a final clean, ready for the new owners.
-Turn off the boiler and turn down the thermostat in your old house.
-Say goodbye!
-Once you reach your new house, have a quick check to see if anything is broken or missing.
Top Tip: The first night in your new home will probably see all your goods still packed away. Be sure to pack a ‘first night’ bag or box that includes things like a toothbrush, pyjamas and clothing for the next day.
Things you might need on your first day:
Toiletries
Utensils and plates
Pet leashes and food bowls
Phone chargers
Medication
Thinking of moving and looking for a house to rent in London? Be sure to contact one of our local offices to find out more.