Moving House Checklist: Everything You Need to Organise

Moving house without losing your mind

Moving is up there with the most stressful things people do. It does not need to be. Most of the stress comes from leaving things to the last minute or forgetting something that then becomes urgent at the worst possible time. A decent checklist, started early enough, sorts most of that.

We have helped hundreds of families through house moves over the years. Here is the checklist we wish everyone followed.

8 weeks before moving day

Book your removal company. Good removal firms get booked up, especially on Fridays and at the end of the month (which are the most popular completion days). Get quotes from two or three companies and book your preferred one as soon as you have a rough completion date. We have a partnership with Browns Removals, who cover the greater Belfast area and beyond. Ask us for details.

Start decluttering. This is the single best thing you can do before a move. Go room by room and be ruthless. If you have not used something in a year, you probably do not need to pack it and carry it to a new house. Sell, donate, or bin. You will save on removal costs and make unpacking far easier.

Set up mail redirection. Royal Mail will redirect your post to your new address for 3, 6, or 12 months. It costs around £35 for three months. Do this early because it takes a few working days to set up, and you do not want important letters going to your old address after you move.

Start notifying people. Make a list of everyone who needs your new address: bank, employer, DVLA, GP surgery, dentist, insurance companies, HMRC, any subscriptions or deliveries. You do not need to do them all at once, but chip away at the list over the coming weeks.

Research broadband. If you need internet on day one (and most people do), order your new broadband connection now. Some providers need two to three weeks' notice, and there may be an installation visit required.

4 weeks before moving day

Start packing, room by room. Begin with the rooms and items you use least: spare bedrooms, loft, garage, bookshelves. Label every box with its contents and the room it is going to in the new house. Your removal team will thank you.

Confirm your completion date with your solicitor. By this point, you should have a firm date. Confirm it and let your removal company know.

Arrange key handover. Agree with your estate agent and solicitor how keys will be exchanged on completion day. In most cases, the agent holds the keys and releases them once the solicitor confirms funds have been received.

Notify utility companies. Contact your gas, electricity, oil, and water suppliers to let them know you are moving. Give them your move date and your new address. Ask about final bills and meter reading procedures.

Sort out council rates. Contact your local council to close your account at the old address and set up the new one. In Northern Ireland, domestic rates are handled by Land and Property Services (LPS).

Update your buildings and contents insurance. Your buildings insurance needs to cover the new property from the day of completion. Contents insurance should be updated for the move and the new address.

1 week before moving day

Take meter readings. Note down your gas, electric, and water meter readings. You will need these for your final bills at the old address and your first bills at the new one. Photograph the meters so you have a record.

Pack an essentials box. This is the box you open first. Kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, milk, toilet roll, hand soap, phone charger, basic tools, a change of clothes, bedding for the first night. Keep this box with you (not on the removal van) so you can find it immediately.

Defrost the freezer. Do this at least 24 hours before the move. Use up perishable food over the final week and plan easy meals or takeaways for the last couple of days.

Disassemble furniture if needed. If you have flat-pack wardrobes or bed frames that need taking apart, do it in advance rather than on moving morning. Keep the screws and bolts in labelled bags taped to the furniture.

Confirm everything. Ring the removal company to confirm the time and address. Check with your solicitor that everything is on track for completion. Make sure your broadband installation date is confirmed.

Moving day

Do a final walkthrough. Before the removal team finishes loading, check every room, every cupboard, the loft, the shed, the garage. It is easy to leave things behind, especially in less obvious spots.

Take final meter readings. Read the meters one last time and send the readings to your utility companies. Take photos as backup.

Hand over the keys. Once your solicitor confirms completion, hand the keys to the estate agent or directly to the buyer, as agreed. Leave any spare keys, garage remotes, alarm codes, or appliance manuals for the new owners.

Pick up the keys to your new home. Your solicitor or agent will let you know when the funds have cleared and the keys are available. In Northern Ireland, exchange and completion usually happen on the same day, so this should all happen within a few hours.

After you move in

Test the heating and hot water. Check that appliances work. Read the meters at the new property and send readings to your new suppliers. Unpack the essentials box first and get the kettle on. The rest can wait.

If there are any issues with the property that were not apparent during viewings, contact your solicitor or estate agent promptly.

A few extra tips from us

• If you have children, arrange childcare for moving day. It is much easier without small people underfoot.
• Pets are best kept with a friend or family member for the day, or confined to one empty room with food and water until the chaos settles.
• Tip your removal team. They are doing hard physical work and a bit of appreciation goes a long way.
• Accept that the first night will be chaotic. You will not find the corkscrew. That is fine.

If you are getting ready to sell and want to know what your home is worth, our guide to preparing your home for sale covers the practical steps. And our selling process guide walks you through what to expect from valuation to completion.

For removals, ask us about our partnership with Browns Removals, or visit our house removals page for more information. Thinking about selling? Learn about our sales service or book a free valuation.