2 – 4 weeks before you move :
Packing
- Clear out unwanted items (This takes much longer than you might think)
- Order boxes, labels packing material
- Shed
- Garage
- Attic
- Spare Room
- Storge cupboard(s)
When packing take the extra time to label each box with as much detail about the contents as you can. This will save endless hours of rummaging once you have move into your new home.
Utilities
Notify Utility Companies & service providers.
Many will allow you to do this over the phone – (but many banks/building societies will still want it in writing)
Give the utility Companies as much notice as possible (2 weeks +) to come and take final reading.
- Gas
- Electric
- Water
- Telephone
- Council tax (you might be due for a rebate)
- Local parking authorities (Find out how to obtain parking permit for your new property as being clamped/ towed on your first day in a new house is unbelievably stressful and expensive.
- If you require parking bay(s) to be supended/reserved for your removal van to park then you need to ask Local Parking Authority to do this (they usually require at least 3 weeks notice)
- Cable / Sky
- TV Hire company
- TV Licensing
- Credit Cards / Store Cards
- Car Insurance
- DVLA
- Health club / gym
- Subscriptions to newspapers / magazine
- Charities that you donate to
- Post Office for re-direction of mail (this takes at least a week to come into force)
- Private healthcare provider
- Dentist
- Optician
- Work
- Friends and family (including distant family)
- Start to empty the freezer of food
- Order/buy Change of address cards
- Get the car serviced – a broken down car on moving day is one extra big problem you can do without.
- If you are taking the gas cooker with you it will require professional disconnection (most likely to be 2 weeks notice)
- Breakdown cover
- Bank
- Building society
- Loans
- Inland revenue
- Accountant
- Pension provider
- Passport Office
- Doctor
- Private healthcare provider
- Dentist
- Optician
1 week before you move :
- Try to contact current occupants of the new property to find out what they plan to do about the transfer of utilities
- Then confirm arrangements the major utilities (Electric, Gas and water), just to check they are doing what you have asked them for both your current and future properties.
- Make arrangements for childcare or pets (little “helpers get bored quickly, perhaps moving day would be a good time for them to spend a day or two with Granny & Grandpa?).
- Send out change of address cards (although some people do like to wait until sale is actually completed before sending these out.
Notify your local service providers.
- Milk
- Newspapers
- Library
- Empty, defrost, dry and air the freezer as a damp warm freezer smells really bad
2 to 3 days before you move :
- Ensure keys are available for new house & alarm details if required.
- Consider changing the locks at the new property as you never know who might still have keys to your new home.
- Pack valuables and important documents in a safe place – but dont forget that if you hire a car you will need to produce your driving license when you go to pick up the vehicle. Pack a seperate bag containing equipment such as:
- Toilet rolls
- Toothbrush & Paste
- Mobile phone charger
- Cleaning materials and cleaning cloths
- Rubbish
- Screwdrivers
- Lightbulbs
- Other basic tools (hammer, pliers, duct tape etc)
- Kettle, tea/coffee, sugar,milk and mugs
- “Emergency rations” (Chocolate bar and other high energy snacks)
- Enough cash to cover takeaways, petrol and other unforseen expenses
- A bottle of Chapagne to celebrate Moving Day with!!
- Label all for the keys existing property and put aside user manuals for appliances that are remaining (inc heating) if at all possible (unless you want the new occupants phoning you at 3am to ask!).
- Get mobile numbers for Estate agents / Solicitor / Mortgage advisor to help overcome any last minute hitches
- Take details of all meter readings, take note of the last telephone call made (time and number) ensure all windows are locked
- Dont worry about cooking the first night you move in – a takeaway is by far the best solution.
