Moving home checklist

Four weeks before you move

• Finalise your moving date.
• To ensure you get the date and the company you want, book your removals as soon as possible. Fridays and Saturdays can be more expensive and get booked up well in advance.
• Check your home contents insurance policy to see what cover you have regarding moving home. Your removal company may be able to provide this if you are not covered.
• Arrange for parking of the removal van outside your current and new addresses. This may involve parking bay suspension requests from your local council. Removal companies can arrange this but may charge for it.

Three weeks before you move

• Order boxes, bubble wrap and packing materials so you can start packing in good time and not leave everything to the last minute. Ordering online will save you money.
• Let your broadband supplier know as soon as possible that you are moving to ensure you are not penalised for shutting down your account. You can compare deals available at you new address online to help you decide if you want to take your supplier with you or change for a better deal.
• Order change of address cards to send out to friends and family.
• If you are moving out of the local area you will have to de-register with your doctor, dentist and optician and register with new ones in your new area.

Two weeks before you move

• See who offers the best deal on gas and electricity at your new home. The size and postcode of your new home will affect your bills so it is worth investigating all the options.
• Inform your credit cards, store cards and insurance companies of your change of address.
• Book pets into kennels/cattery etc, for moving day.
• If possible arrange childcare on moving day or set aside an area of the house for them to play in with some of their toys.
• Inform your cable/satellite operator of your moving date or if you wish to start up this service check to see if they are available in your area.
• When you move home you are required to register your change of address to be eligible to vote.
• Inform the DVLA of your change of address. Failure to do so is an offence and you could be fined £1000.
• Start to empty your freezer and throw out any out of date tins and jars in your kitchen cupboards.
• Review the security arrangements at your new home. At the very least we recommend that you change the locks on all your outside doors as you don’t know who may have had access to the keys.

One week before you move

• Notify your local councils (current and new) of your change of address. Council tax is calculated on a daily basis so you could be due a refund.
• Call your home phone company to transfer your account. Remember to have your account number to hand when you call. Request that they disconnect your current phone as late as possible on moving day.
• Contact your bank/building society with your change of address.
• Inform TV licensing of your change of address. Keep hold of your current licence as you will not be issued a new one until your existing one expires.
• Contact your mobile phone network to let them know your change of address. The simplest way is to call them from your phone as they do not charge for the call.
• Arrange to have your mail forwarded to your new address with a Royal Mail redirection service.
• Do not water any plants a week before moving.
• Shut down and set up your water accounts.
• Settle all outstanding accounts with your milkman and newsagent and cancel subscriptions.
• Check with the agent when the keys to your new home will be available on the day of your move and what you should do with your own keys. Spare keys should be labelled and left in a secure place in the house.
• Arrange a locksmith to meet you at the new address and change your locks – it’s the only way to be sure who has a set of keys to your house.
• Make sure that you return all the books that you have on loan from the library.
• Collect any remaining items from your dry cleaners.
• Pack a box for use in the new home to include kettle, milk, tea bags/coffee, light bulbs, toilet rolls, candles, screwdriver, matches, cash and a note of important telephone numbers. Put this in your car.
• Empty, disconnect and drain the pipes of your dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer. Remember to secure the drum with travel brackets.
• Empty your fridge and freezer of any unwanted food.

Moving day

• Please remember to take final meter readings for gas, electricity and water. You can e-mail these to your supplier online.
• Keep refreshments flowing – moving is physically demanding work.
• Remove all bedding and clearly label the box for immediate unpacking for the first night at your new home.
• Identify to the removers anything that is not to go to the new home.
• Once the van is loaded, do one last check around the house to ensure all items have been packed.

Day one in your new home

• Contact your old gas and electricity companies to give them your first meter readings.
• Surrender any parking permits from your old address and apply for a new one if applicable.
• Consider fitting a new alarm in your new home. You can get alarm quotes online from reputable suppliers.

Information supplied by Move Me.