Once you decide to move house

Create a ‘move file’ to keep track of estimates, receipts, and other important information.

Decide on a moving date as soon as contracts have been exchanged. Try to avoid Fridays and bank holidays, when removal firms are in high demand and may be stretched.

Call your local Guild or BAR removal companies to get three free estimation visits in order to obtain three written quotations.

When you receive all of the quotations, compare them, in detail, and choose your removals company.

Make sure you only consider the removal companies who are willing to come in and view the job before giving you a quotation: this prevents last minute surprises.

Start decluttering – decide which items can be taken to a charity shop, sold at a car boot sale, or offered to your friends.

 

Once you have a moving date

Call your removals company and book them for your moving date, and ask them what size lorry/lorries they will be using for your move.

Unless you have a private driveway or you live in a quiet road, contact your local council to suspend parking bays, in front of both addresses, for the removal trucks.

If you’re packing your own goods, ask your removals company for a free loan of boxes. We recommend you then follow our videos for a complete guide to household packing.

Call other companies you may be using for different purposes on the moving day, and give them the date you are moving home i.e. cleaning companies, locksmith, carpet cleaning companies.

Visit the post office and redirect your mail to the new address from the date you will be moving to your new home.

Call your insurance companies and notify them about your change of address; home insurance, health insurance, car insurance etc.

Contact your GP, your dentist, and the vet and notify them about your change of address. Make sure you change your address on all medical records.

If you have pets and they are micro-chipped, be sure to call the company they are registered with, to notify them of your change of address.

Contact utility companies and give them the new address and the date you are moving in.

Send your driving licence and your car registration document to the DVLA to change the address on them.

Notify your bank, building society, and credit card companies of your change of address.

Contact the TV licensing office and transfer your TV licence to the new address. Visit  www.tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0844 800 6722.

Use change of address cards to notify friends and family about your change of address.

If it’s an office move you’re undertaking, contact HMRC. Visit www.hmrc.gov.uk for more information.

 

One week before the moving date

Make arrangements for someone to look after the children on the moving day. The same applies to pets, or it may be better to book them into a kennel/cattery for the day of the move.

Round up all the keys to your home, including those left with neighbours and relatives.

Make a clear and simple floor plan for the new house and decide which rooms belong to which members of the family.

 

The day before moving

Make sure you leave certain things where they can be easily accessed, such as; wallets, purses, house keys and documents for the new owners, pairs of shoes, some outdoor clothes for the day, and – most importantly – tea, coffee, and chocolate biscuits for the movers.