Your Moving Home Checklist

You’ve found your dream home, received a mortgage offer, and are waiting for your completion date. So, you’re probably thinking about getting ready to move.

You’d be surprised to find a number of tasks and jobs that are ahead of someone who is moving house, and when you leave it to the last minute can turn all too stressful. The team at Leonard Solicitors have compiled a list of things for you to consider, to help make your move stress and worry-free.

1. Confirm the date of your move

First things first, you’ll need to get your moving date officially confirmed by your conveyancers and the house sellers.

If you’re renting, you may be able to spread moving out and moving in across several days. This way, you can get into your new home and get any work done, like cleaning carpets and painting, without all your belongings getting in the way.

If you happen to be at the end of the chain, you may find yourself waiting some time for all the other transactions to go through. Find out your place in the chain, and plan accordingly in case things take longer than expected.

2. If you are renting – Give notice to your landlord

If you are renting, you’ll need to let your landlord know the exact date you’re moving out. Hopefully, this will coincide with the end of your lease, as this avoids paying for both rent and your mortgage at the same time.

Typically, Landlords require a months’ notice, however, you should be able to find out your notice period in your tenancy agreement.

3. Contact your utility suppliers

Let all your utility suppliers know that you’re planning to move out – electricity, gas, phone and broadband suppliers will all need to know when you’re leaving the property. Take a final meter reading from the gas and electricity meters in your property and pass them on to the right suppliers. Taking a picture of the meter might help, as the photo will have a timestamp, proving exactly what the meter reading was when the photo was taken.

If you are moving your phone and broadband across to your new property, give your supplier as much notice as possible, as moving service may take a few weeks. You may have to wait for your internet connection to be set up at your new property, so make sure you download anything important you might need, like appliance instructions, directions, and any films you’ve been meaning to watch. If you find yourself without internet when you move in, try turning your phone into a mobile hotspot (like portable Wi-Fi). It’s not a long-term solution, but it will help you keep on top of things.

4. Get quotes on your removal costs

When it comes to removals, it all depends on what’s practical for your budget and the size of your property.

If you’re moving into a small property, or if cost is a large factor, it’ll probably be cheaper to rent a van or get a few friends to help.

If you would prefer a professional service, visit the British Association of Removers to get a quote online. The British Association of Removers have an established code of practice and are monitored by the Trading Standards Institute.

Regardless of which service you pick, ensure you have got all your valuables and personal documents stored safely; keep them on you during the move to avoid them getting lost.

5. Have a clear out before you move

This is the perfect time to go through your old things and decide what is and isn’t worth keeping. Before you start boxing everything up, go through your old clothes, electronics, and furniture. Decide what’s worth keeping and what can be dropped off at the local charity shop.

It will save you a lot of time, effort, and a backache if you cut down on the number of things you need to move to your new home.

6. Make a list of where everything is in your new home

Most people don’t think of finding out where the water mains are until there is an accident, which can sometimes leave you soaked.

Ask the sellers of your new property exactly where the following things are:

If you’re selling your property, make a list of where all the important things are in your home, and leave it for the people moving in.

They will really appreciate you going the extra mile, and it may come in handy if you need to ask them for a favour (like posting the shoes you bought online and had sent to your old address).

7. Pack everything and label boxes

When you’re packing everything up, try and label all the boxes. If you’re extra organised, why not make a list so you know exactly what is inside each box after the journey, that way you don’t have to root around whenever you’re trying to find something.

There are plenty of good mobile applications out there to help with this. For example, the Evernote app is found on the Android and iPhone app stores. Alternatively, you could use the good old-fashioned pen and paper.

8. Pay for bills, and let friends and family know you’re moving

For peace of mind, try and settle any outstanding bills and council tax on your current property; you may find it confusing with more than one account number to keep hold of.

Contact the following to let them know you’re changing your address:

When that’s done, send out a message to your friends and family to let them know your new address, especially if your birthday is around the corner.

9. Grab the essentials for moving day

You’ll need the essentials for the first night in your new place, so it’s best to make a box or two with the following things to hand:

We recommend keeping your important documents, like your passport, mortgage paperwork and completion statement together in a safe place where you can easily find them. You may need them to hand in later on.

10. Move into your new home

Some people like to give their new home a good clean before moving in. If you’re one of these people, you may want to consider starting before your belongings arrive, that way you won’t have any obstacles in the way.

We recommend:

Finally, take the rest of the night off. Find a local takeaway, order something delicious and put your feet up – you’ve earned it.

If you would like to find out more about our property services, click here for information from landlord and tenant disputes to conveyancing services. Alternatively, if you’re looking to buy or sell a property, why not visit our online conveyancing calculator for a quick, no-obligation conveyancing quote. 

Disclaimer: Information on this webpage is not intended for legal purposes or advice. If you require any legal advice or services you should seek a professional legal practitioner. To get in touch, visit our contact page or call 023 8023 4433 to get started.