16 Top Tips for Moving House

Moving home is an exciting time, and with careful planning and organisation, you can take the stress out of it, from packing early to having a helpful moving checklist. Here are 16 top tips to ensure your house move is as smooth and stress-free as possible:

1. Keep Asking for Updates to Decide a Moving Date

If you choose a good conveyancer, they should keep you updated with potential dates for moving. Regularly communicate with your solicitor, estate agent, and conveyancer for updates on the property transaction. This information will help you determine a realistic moving date and be made aware of any potential delays at the earliest opportunity.

2. Choosing a Moving Date

Select a moving date that aligns with your schedule and allows enough time for preparations. Consider factors like holidays, work commitments, family availability, and the logistics of the move. When selecting a moving date, consider the following things:

• How it fits in with work and school. Perhaps a weekend or school holiday would work better if that is an option
• Take into account the other buyer or seller. They may also have requirements to meet, so try to negotiate a date that works well for both
• Agree to a provisional date as early as possible so all parties have a timescale to work towards, but be flexible and remember that delays happen, which may mean you have to adjust dates later on
• Run dates by your coneyancer and removal company to check the dates work for them. Make sure your conveyancer doesn’t have any holidays booked that will affect your completion date, and check with your removal company that if dates do change, if there are any excess charges that you will have to pay

3. Measure Furniture to Check It Will Fit

Measure large furniture items to ensure they fit through doorways and into your new rooms. This reduces the risk of potential challenges in making the items fit on moving day. If the furniture doesn’t fit, it will give you time to plan whether you need to deconstruct it before moving.

4. Declutter

Before packing, set some time aside to declutter your belongings. This gives you a chance to dispose of or donate items you no longer need, reducing the number of things to pack and transport and making unpacking on the other end a lot easier.

5. Contact Utility Companies

Along with an exciting move, comes life administration tasks. Be sure to notify your existing utility companies (water, phone, electricity, gas, broadband) at your current address that you will be moving and set up any new accounts for your new addresses in advance. The utility companies can then arrange for the disconnection of services at your old home and the activation at the new one. Usually, you will need to give at least 48 hours’ notice to an energy supplier when you are moving home, but some will let you start the transfer process up to 28 days before.

6. Get Quotes on Removal Costs

Research and obtain quotes from reputable removal companies. If possible, get recommendations from friends or family and get several quotes. Many offer additional services such as packing, so be sure to compare costs and services to choose the removal company that best fits your needs and budget, when considering all other moving costs. Make sure any company you choose is a member of the British Association of Removers.

7. Start Packing Early

Begin packing non-essential items early to avoid a last-minute rush. Start room by room and gradually work your way to everyday essentials and then the things you most need and use most frequently, such as laptops and cooking items. Tackle one room at a time, keeping the process manageable and organised. For more ways to plan your packing, check out our packing tips.

8. Pack an Essentials Box

Keep things you will need to access easily on moving day in a separate box. Things such as the kettle, tea and coffee, wash items, bin bags, chargers and a first aid kit should go in this box.

9. Label Boxes Clearly

Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. You can use sticky labels, make your own with paper/card and tape or even use colour-coded labels to mark items clearly. Clear labelling helps movers place boxes in the correct areas and makes unpacking items in your new home more efficient.

10. Keep a Checklist of Tasks

The key to staying organised is maintaining a detailed checklist of tasks, including administrative, packing, cleaning and moving tasks. This ensures nothing is overlooked during the moving process and that each task can be done in the right order and on time.

11. Get Insurance

You can start to consider insurance options to protect your belongings well ahead of the move.  Building insurance is a type of insurance that covers you for having to rebuild your property. It is usually required for mortgage purposes. Contents insurance covers your belongings and is optional, but there is also the option to purchase both policies together. If you have an insurance policy, speak with your current provider for an updated quote. You can also use online comparison sites if you are looking to take out a new policy.

12. Book Internet Installation

Schedule the installation of internet services at your new home well in advance, especially if you work from home and rely on a stable internet connection. This ensures you have a seamless transition in terms of connectivity and limit any inconvenience.

13. Deconstruct Furniture

Disassemble furniture to make it easier to transport, especially large items that may be difficult to transport into your new space. Tape screws and small parts to the bottom of each piece to avoid them being misplaced during the move.

14. Enlist Help of Family and Friends

Don’t be scared to ask your family and friends for help with packing and moving day, but be sure to give them plenty of notice of a move. Having an extra set of hands makes the process smoother and can help reduce stress levels by making the moving day more fun and enjoyable. If you are moving with pets, it is a good idea to get them looked after so they don’t get caught up with the logistics of the move.

15. Make Your Bedroom Up First

It is likely that you will be living in a sea of boxes, so try to prioritise setting up your bedroom first. This provides a comfortable and familiar space to retreat to after a long day of moving, getting away from the chaos!

16. Change Your Address

Once you move in, don’t forget to update your address with relevant companies, including banks, the DVLA, and subscription services. Use our address change checklist for easy reference. Ensure that important mail is redirected to your new home.

Implementing these top tips will help you to stay organised, which will streamline your moving process, making it a positive and fun experience.