Buyer guide
The complete moving house checklist (UK)
Moving house is not one task but dozens, and the reason it feels overwhelming is that they are usually presented as one long undifferentiated list. This checklist is organised by moment instead, so you do each thing when it actually matters. Work through it in order and nothing important gets left until it is too late. If you would rather have it personalised to your own completion date and postcode, the free Movers Pack does exactly that.
As soon as your offer is accepted
Instruct a conveyancer and get your mortgage application moving on the same day, because both take time and run in parallel. Book a survey once the mortgage valuation is arranged. Start a single folder, paper or digital, for every document, quote, and reference number so nothing gets lost. If you are renting, check your notice period now, since giving notice too late can leave you paying for two homes at once, and giving it too early can leave you with nowhere to live between moves.
Once your sale and purchase are progressing
Get buildings insurance quoted and ready to start from your exchange date, not completion, because the risk passes to you at exchange. Begin comparing removal firms and get at least three quotes, as good firms book up weeks ahead, especially around month end and bank holidays. Decide whether you are packing yourself or paying for a packing service. If you have children or pets, start thinking about arrangements for moving day itself, when the house will be at its most chaotic.
About four weeks before completion
Confirm your removal booking in writing. Order packing materials or ask your remover to supply them. Start decluttering room by room, because you do not want to pay to move things you will only throw away. Register to vote at the new address. Book time off work for moving day and ideally the day after. If you have young children, arrange care for the day of the move so you can give it your full attention.
About two weeks before
Begin telling everyone your address is changing. Set up mail redirection with Royal Mail so nothing important goes to the old address. Notify your bank, employer, GP and dentist, the DVLA for your driving licence and vehicle registration, your car and home insurers, the council for council tax and the electoral roll, HMRC, your pension provider, and any subscriptions. Arrange utilities at the new home and plan to take final meter readings at both ends. Start packing the rooms you use least.
The final week
Confirm completion timings with your solicitor and the exact key handover arrangements with the agent. Pack everything except a clearly labelled essentials box for the first night: chargers, medication, kettle, mugs, toilet roll, a change of clothes, basic tools, and anything the children or pets need. Defrost the fridge and freezer. If you are leaving a rented home, photograph its condition and the meters. Confirm parking and access for the removal van at both properties.
Moving day
Take final meter readings and photograph them. Do a last walk through every room and cupboard before you leave. Keep your phone, keys, documents, and essentials box with you rather than on the van. When you arrive, take meter readings at the new home straight away and photograph the property's condition. Check items off the removal inventory as they come off the van. Locate the stopcock, fuse box, and thermostat before the removers leave, while you still have help to hand.
The first week in your new home
Confirm your utilities are set up in your name and submit your opening meter readings. Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and change batteries if needed. Find the water stopcock and the consumer unit if you have not already. Update your address on anything you missed, and keep the mail redirection running for a few months to catch what you forgot. Introduce yourself to the neighbours. Once the essentials are working, unpack at a pace that suits you rather than trying to finish in a single weekend.
Common questions
When should I start planning a house move?
Start the moment your offer is accepted. Instructing a conveyancer and getting your mortgage moving on day one shortens the whole process, and booking a removal firm early matters because good ones fill up weeks in advance.
Who do I need to tell when I move house?
Royal Mail for redirection, your bank, employer, GP and dentist, the DVLA, your insurers, the council for council tax and the electoral roll, HMRC, your pension provider, utility companies, and any subscriptions. Setting up mail redirection catches anything you forget.
How far in advance should I book a removal company?
Aim for at least four weeks, and longer if you are moving at the end of a month or around a bank holiday when demand is highest. Get three quotes and confirm the booking in writing.
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