Moving House Checklist — Everything You Need
Moving house is consistently ranked as one of life's most stressful events. This week-by-week checklist keeps everything on track so you don't miss critical deadlines or forget important tasks.
8+ Weeks Before
- Instruct a solicitor/conveyancer (get 3 quotes)
- Arrange your mortgage offer (if not already done)
- Book a surveyor — don't skip this
- Start decluttering room by room
- Get removal company quotes (at least 3)
- Start a moving folder — keep all paperwork together
- Notify your landlord if you're currently renting (check notice period)
4-6 Weeks Before
- Confirm removal company and date
- Start packing non-essential items (books, ornaments, off-season clothes)
- Arrange mail redirection with Royal Mail (£36 for 3 months)
- Notify utilities — gas, electric, water, broadband
- Arrange broadband at new property (installation can take 2+ weeks)
- Update address with: bank, employer, DVLA, doctor, dentist, subscriptions
- Arrange insurance for new property (buildings from exchange, contents from move day)
1-2 Weeks Before
- Confirm exchange and completion dates with solicitor
- Pack room by room — label every box with contents AND destination room
- Defrost freezer (takes 24 hours)
- Arrange parking for removal van at both ends
- Pack a "first night" box: kettle, mugs, toilet roll, phone chargers, snacks, bedding, towels
- Take final meter readings at current property
- Disassemble furniture that won't fit through doors
Moving Day
- Take meter readings at both properties and photograph them
- Do a final check of every room, cupboard, loft, shed, and garage
- Hand keys to estate agent or buyer
- Collect keys from estate agent for new property
- Check everything works: heating, hot water, electrics, toilets
- Photograph any existing damage before moving furniture in
- Unpack the first-night box and make beds before doing anything else
First Week
- Register with new doctor and dentist
- Update electoral roll (affects credit score)
- Update council tax
- Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
- Locate stopcock, fuse box, and boiler controls
- Change locks (you don't know who has previous keys)
- Introduce yourself to neighbours
Costs to Budget For
Stamp duty (use our CalcPad calculator), solicitor fees (£1,000-2,000), survey (£400-1,500), removal company (£500-2,000), mail redirection (£36-66), new locks (£100-200), and the inevitable first-week emergency Ikea trip.