Recently bought a new home? Congratulations! Buying a new home is one of life’s biggest milestones and can feel both exciting and overwhelming.
From sorting through old items to buying new furniture and even selling things you can’t take with you, moving house is incredibly time-consuming, and it’s hard to know where to start.
According to Estate Agent Today, 66% of people said moving home was the most demanding moment in their lives. So to help relieve that stress, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how best to prepare for moving house.
From what to do in the run-up, to the night before, and the moving day itself, this guide will ensure your house move is as simple and as stress-free as possible.
The best way to prepare for moving house is having a moving home checklist.
How To Prepare For Moving House
Preparing to move house can feel like you’re in limbo – your offer has been accepted, but maybe you’re waiting for everything to go through, or you’re waiting in a chain. It’s a whirlwind of emotions.
The best way to prepare is having a moving home checklist. Whether that’s having a clear-out, putting things in boxes or, depending on how far along in the process you are (already completed), notifying people about your change of address.
Here are our top three things you can do in the run-up to moving house.
1. Getting Key Dates In The Diary
As well as the more obvious dates such as exchange of contracts, completion day, and moving day. There are lots of other key dates to get in the diary. The first one is booking a date for your removals company.
Contacting a removal company early on in the process is key. Even if you don’t have your completion date yet, giving them a provisional moving day will give you time to gather and compare quotes, and get them booked in advance before it gets busy.
Additionally, you may want to book time off work. Whether that be on moving day or even the day after for unpacking. Moving house is a very busy time, so the more time you have, the less time spent worried that you don’t have enough time.
Other dates you may also want to consider are notice periods. This can be for things like broadband, gym memberships, or even scheduled deliveries. Staying organised will make your life a whole lot easier and can save you time and money.
2. Make A Room-by-Room Inventory
Labelling boxes can feel like a chore, but it can also serve as a record for insurance. If you decide to use a removals company, making a room-by-room inventory is proof of what you own and evidence of the condition, especially if anything gets damaged in transit – this is important if you have fragile possessions or antiques.
At Falconer Removals, we are fully insured, allowing for extra peace of mind when handling high-value items. By visiting your home prior to the move, we can discuss your moving requirements, noting anything that requires extra special care.
Making a room inventory helps you and the removals company estimate the volume of house contents, which in turn affects the quote and size of the van. Plus the earlier you sort through and declutter, the less you have to unpack at the other end.
Top Tip: Pack your tea, coffee machine or kettle last, mark as urgent and open first – you’ll thank us later!
3. Notify About Your Change Of Address
When you’ve completed on the house, it’s important to make sure you notify people about your change of address. If you don’t notify them, things like bank statements, cards, tax letters, or even legal documents will keep going to your old address.
It’s not about missing important information; it’s about keeping your personal information safe, as post sitting in a stranger’s hallway is a genuine security problem for things like fraud and identity theft.
To make it easy, we’ve listed the key people you need to notify below:
- Utilities: Gas, electricity, water (take meter readings on moving day)
- Essentials: Broadband and phone
- Financial: banks, building societies, insurers (buildings and contents, and tell them your moving date so cover isn’t broken), pension and any credit providers
- Government/official: local council (council tax at both addresses), DVLA (which is a legal requirement), HMRC, and electoral roll
- Health: GP, dentist, opticians etc.
Top Tip: Royal Mail can redirect your mail in case you forget anything, such as subscriptions or online-shopping accounts.
Prepare for the big day, from animal and childcare to ensuring easy access to the property.
The Night Before Moving House
It’s the night before you move house; you’re excited, you can’t sleep, and you’ve got a big day ahead of you.
Here are some key things you might want to consider to further prepare you for the big day, from animal and childcare to ensuring easy access to the property. Lets explore in more detail.
1. Animals
Animals can become distressed by the house removals process, especially cats. When moving house, we recommend that you create a dedicated space for your pet, or consider booking a pet sitter, kennels or cattery.
In doing so, you know your pet is safe and won’t be disturbed throughout the day, which will help to keep them calm. Giving yourself plenty of time to research and book will give you peace of mind. Read this guide for more information on moving house with pets.
2. Children
If your moving house with children, we recommend either getting childcare, (if they are really young) or safely involving them in the process. It is unlikely that babies and toddlers will remember or need to be part of moving day, so asking a close relative or trusted friend to look after them in advance is highly recommended.
If the child is old enough, not involving them could be counterproductive and they may feel confused about leaving one home and coming back to another. Bellway says let children be part of the moving process where practically possible, as this can make the process a more fun and memorable experience.
3. Access
Easy access to both your new and old property is essential. Access issues might include problems getting a vehicle on the driveway, near the property, or even shared access, so letting your removal company know far in advance can help them plan ahead and avoid any delays. Read our guide on preparing for our arrival.
It’s also courteous to notify your neighbours in both properties that you’re moving. With the potential presence of removal trucks, letting your neighbours know beforehand will minimise disruptions and any unwanted complaints.
What To Do During The Move
Today’s the day, and all hands on deck, including you!
When booking a removals company, its expected that you will be available on the day of the move. This helps if there are any last-minute changes, requests, or questions around items to be taken from the old house to the new house (this is why labeling and making an inventory list is super helpful).
When loading is complete, we recommend you conduct a full inspection of the old property to make sure nothing’s been left behind. If your removal company has to make a second trip as a result of items being left in error, you may face additional charges.
Once everything’s been moved in, all that’s left to do is sit back, order a takeaway and cheers to new beginnings.
Move house with the UK’s longest-established removals and storage company.
Need Help Moving House?
At Falconer Removals and Storage, we take the stress out of moving house.
As the UK’s longest-established removals and storage company, we ensure a seamless move that delivers everything to your destination, all in one piece.
Our removals team will visit your home free of charge to discuss your moving requirements. You’ll then receive a detailed, fixed-price quote which is valid for 28 days to give you time to decide.
Whether you want us to deliver boxes to your door or you want to save time with our packing service, we’re here to help.
Get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss your next move, or contact us via email for a quote.
What To Do Before Moving House FAQs
How do we let the removals company know what furniture is staying in the property?
Label any items of furniture that is staying in the old property DO NOT MOVE using post-it notes.
What do you do with the keys to the old property?
Place all keys, manuals (boilers, cooker etc.) in an envelope marked DO NOT MOVE and store in a prominent place such as the kitchen counter.
What can you not transport in a moving van?
You cannot take any paints, flammable liquids, solvents, fireworks, firearms, or ammunition, so think about how you plan to transport or dispose of these items before moving. Read our guide on what removal companies will not move.
What to do with the boxes after moving house?
When you have finished unpacking, flatten the boxes and keep them somewhere dry and safe, and contact us to arrange collection.
Can you dispose of unwanted items?
Unwanted furniture can be disposed of/recycled in some cases, so ask the team as part of your moving requirements, or let them know as early as possible.