Moving house is less one big job than a hundred small ones, each with a deadline. The trick is getting them out of one person’s head and into a plan everyone can see. Here’s a checklist to split between everyone who is moving.
Before you start: split it up
If more than one of you is moving, decide early who owns which part. One person handles the paperwork and the address changes. Another books the van and plans the day. Someone else leads the packing. When every job has a name, nothing gets left to the last weekend.
Moving alone? Rope in a friend or family member for moving day itself, and give them a clear job: driving, carrying, or minding the kids or the pets.
6–8 weeks before
- Give notice to your landlord, or confirm your completion date
- Get quotes from removal firms, or book a van
- Start clearing out: sell, donate or bin what you won’t take
- Collect boxes, tape and marker pens
- Book time off work for moving day
3–4 weeks before
- Tell your bank, employer and doctor about your new address
- Arrange post redirection
- Book internet at the new place (it can take weeks)
- Start packing the things you use least
- Plan who looks after pets or kids on the day
1 week before
- Tell electricity, gas and water suppliers your moving date
- Pack everything except a “first night” box
- Defrost the freezer
- Confirm times with the removal firm
- Label boxes by room
Moving day
- Take meter readings at both homes, with photos
- Check every room and cupboard before you leave
- Hand over or collect keys
- Unpack the first night box: kettle, mugs, bedding, chargers, toilet roll
After you move
- Update your address everywhere else: subscriptions, insurance, online shops
- Register with a new doctor and dentist if you need to
- Find out bin collection days
- Meet the neighbours