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03 · Plan

Moving house checklist

Eight weeks of moving prep in 24 tasks. Tick them off as you go — your progress saves automatically so you can come back anytime.

⏱ 5 min · progress auto-saves

Moving house checklist

Eight weeks of tasks, organised. Tick as you go — we'll remember everywhere you left off.
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● 8 weeks before

Plan & decide

Lock in the date, work out your budget, get the big admin started.
Set a moving date
Mid-week and mid-month are cheaper than Fridays and end-of-month.
Get 3 removal quotes
Ask at least three removal companies, ideally after a home or video survey. Compare like for like.
Book time off work
Two days minimum — the move day, and the day after to unpack.
Check school admissions
If moving with kids — councils have strict cut-off dates.
● 4 weeks before

Declutter & sort

Every box you don't move saves you money. Be ruthless now.
Declutter room-by-room
Keep / donate / sell / bin. One bin bag a day is plenty.
Book the removal company
Confirm the date, time, parking, lifts and stairs.
Order packing materials
Use our box calculator — boxes, tape, bubble wrap, marker pens.
Notify schools, nursery, GP
Get records ready to transfer — saves a panic on day one.
● 2 weeks before

Pack & notify

Pack out of the way. Tell everyone who needs to know.
Start packing non-essentials
Books, decor, off-season clothes, spare bedding. Label every box.
Update change of address
Use our tracker — DVLA, HMRC, banks, GP, utilities, subscriptions.
Arrange post redirection
Royal Mail redirection for 3, 6 or 12 months — check current prices on royalmail.com. Apply at least 5 working days before.
Sort utilities at both homes
Final readings, new account setup. Don't forget broadband transfer.
● 1 week before

Final packing

Most of the house should be boxed up now. Live out of one bag.
Pack everything except essentials
Leave out 1 week of clothes, basic kitchen, toiletries, chargers.
Confirm with the movers
Time, address, parking, lift access, payment method. Save the driver's number.
Defrost the fridge & freezer
48 hours before. Use up perishables — no shopping this week.
Pack an essentials box
Kettle, mugs, tea, loo roll, soap, towels, phone chargers, scissors.
● Moving day

Move day

Stay calm, stay caffeinated. The movers know what they're doing.
Final meter readings & photos
Gas, electric, water. Photo every meter, every room, every cupboard.
Walk the movers through the rooms
Flag fragile, point out what's not going. Show them the parking spot.
Hand over keys to old place
To estate agent, landlord, or new buyer. Get a signed receipt.
Make the beds before unpacking
Future you, exhausted at 11pm, will be very grateful.
● Week 1 after

Settle in

Don't try to do everything. Take it one room at a time.
Register with new GP & dentist
Postcode-based — usually a 5-minute online form.
Update electoral register
gov.uk/register-to-vote — takes about 5 minutes.
Test smoke & CO alarms
Replace batteries. Add one to every bedroom and the kitchen.
Meet the neighbours
Knock, smile, ask about bin day. Free intel on the area.