The Complete Moving House Checklist: What to Do and When
Moving house can feel like there is an endless list of things to organise. Between packing, paperwork, changing addresses and arranging your removals, it is easy for important jobs to get missed.
The easiest way to keep your move under control is to start early and work through everything in stages.
This moving house checklist takes you from around eight weeks before your move right through to moving day and settling into your new home.
Whether you are moving locally or relocating elsewhere in the UK, planning ahead can make the whole process much easier.
8 Weeks Before Moving: Start Planning Your Move
As soon as you know you are likely to be moving, start getting the basics organised.
Create a folder for quotes, contracts and important documents, then begin working out exactly what you plan to take with you. It is also a good time to make a note of larger furniture, think about whether you will need storage between properties, and decide whether you want to pack yourself or use a professional packing service.
You should also start identifying belongings you no longer need. Selling, donating or disposing of unwanted items early can make the rest of the move much easier.
If you already have a likely moving date, it is worth contacting removal companies at this stage rather than leaving arrangements until the last minute.
United Movers provides house removal services for moves ranging from smaller properties through to larger family homes.
6 Weeks Before Moving: Declutter Your Home
Moving is an ideal opportunity to get rid of belongings you no longer use.
There is little benefit in spending time packing and transporting things that will simply sit unused in your new home, so work through the property room by room and decide what you want to keep, sell, donate or dispose of.
Pay particular attention to garages, lofts, sheds, cupboards and spare rooms. These areas often contain far more belongings than people realise.
Decluttering at this stage will make packing easier and can also reduce the amount you need to transport on moving day.
Consider Whether You Need Storage
Sometimes the dates for leaving your old property and moving into your new one do not line up perfectly.
You may also be downsizing, renovating or simply want to move some belongings out of the way temporarily.
In these situations, storage can make the move considerably easier.
United Movers provides secure storage facilities for customers who need to store household belongings before, during or after a move.
4 Weeks Before Moving: Start Packing
If you are doing your own packing, now is a good time to start with belongings you are unlikely to use during the next few weeks.
Books, ornaments, pictures, seasonal clothes, spare bedding, decorations and items stored in your loft or garage are all sensible places to start.
Avoid trying to pack everything at once. Working through your home gradually makes the process much more manageable and means you can leave everyday belongings until nearer moving day.
Get the Right Packing Materials
Strong boxes and suitable packing materials will help protect your possessions during the move.
Depending on what you are packing, you may need double-walled removal boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape and protective wrapping.
United Movers can provide the packing materials you need as part of your move, or you can use its dedicated packing supplies service.
Clearly label every box with both its contents and the room it needs to go into at your new property. This can save a considerable amount of time when unloading.
For particularly important boxes, consider numbering them so you can quickly check that everything has arrived.
Don’t Want to Pack Everything Yourself?
Packing an entire home can take much longer than people expect, particularly if you have fragile possessions, artwork, mirrors, books or a large amount of furniture.
United Movers can handle the packing for you as part of a complete moving service.
Its full packing service can include the packing materials as well as the physical packing of your belongings, helping take another major job off your list.
This can be particularly useful if you are short on time, moving a larger household or simply want the move handled from start to finish.
3 Weeks Before Moving: Start Updating Your Address
There are a surprising number of organisations that need to know when you move.
Start preparing a list so you can update them either shortly before or immediately after your move. This may include your bank, insurance providers, employer, GP, dentist, DVLA, electoral register, schools, pension providers, subscription services and mobile phone provider.
You should also arrange for your post to be redirected if required.
Keeping a simple record of who you have contacted makes it much easier to keep track and reduces the chance of missing something important.
2 Weeks Before Moving: Arrange Utilities and Services
Contact the relevant utility providers for your current and new properties.
You will usually need to deal with gas, electricity, water, broadband, telephone and TV services, as well as council tax.
Confirm when services need to stop at your existing address and when they should begin at your new property.
For broadband in particular, it can be worth arranging installation well in advance if an engineer visit is required.
Confirm Your Removals Arrangements
As your moving date approaches, make sure the details of your house move are confirmed.
Check the moving date, collection address, destination address and expected access times, and make sure your removals company knows about any parking restrictions, narrow roads, stairs or other access issues.
You should also confirm whether you need help with packing, whether anything will need to go into storage, and whether any large pieces of furniture will need dismantling before they can be moved.
The more information your removals company has in advance, the easier it is to plan the move properly.
Furniture Dismantling and Reassembly
Large items of furniture can sometimes be difficult or impossible to move safely in one piece.
United Movers can dismantle and reassemble furniture as part of your house move, including larger items such as beds, wardrobes, tables and other furniture where required.
If you know certain items will need taking apart, mention them when requesting your quote so the team can plan for them in advance.
1 Week Before Moving: Finish Most of Your Packing
By the final week, the majority of your belongings should ideally be packed.
At this stage, focus on the things you still use every day and make sure anything already boxed is clearly labelled and ready to move.
It is also worth checking each room again for items you may have missed, particularly cupboards, loft spaces, garages and sheds.
Pack an Essentials Box
One of the most useful things you can do is prepare a box or bag that travels with you rather than being packed away with everything else.
Consider including:
- Kettle
- Tea and coffee
- Mugs
- Snacks
- Bottled water
- Phone chargers
- Toilet roll
- Soap
- Towels
- Basic cleaning supplies
- Medication
- Important documents
- A change of clothes
- Basic tools
- Pet supplies
- Children’s essentials
After a full day of moving, you probably will not want to search through dozens of boxes just to find your kettle or phone charger.
Keep Important Documents Separate
Keep documents such as passports, property paperwork, insurance details and identification somewhere secure and easily accessible.
Do not place important documents in a random removal box.
Common Moving House Mistakes to Avoid
Even a well-planned move can become stressful if a few basic jobs are overlooked.
Leaving Packing Until the Last Minute
Packing nearly always takes longer than expected. Starting early means you can work through the house gradually rather than trying to pack everything during the final few days.
Overfilling Boxes
Heavy boxes are harder to carry and more likely to split.
Spread heavier items across several boxes where possible and use smaller boxes for things such as books.
Not Labelling Boxes Properly
Writing “miscellaneous” on every box is not particularly helpful when you arrive at your new home.
Label boxes by room and include a short description of what is inside.
Forgetting About Parking and Access
The removal vehicle needs somewhere practical to load and unload.
If parking or access is limited at either property, make arrangements in advance and let the removals team know.
Leaving Loft, Garage or Shed Contents Until the End
These areas are easy to overlook and can contain a surprisingly large amount.
Include them in your packing plan from the beginning.
Not Flagging Large Furniture in Advance
Beds, wardrobes and other larger furniture may need dismantling before they can be moved safely.
Tell your removals company about these items in advance rather than discovering the problem on moving day.
Packing Your Essentials With Everything Else
Keep documents, medication, chargers, basic toiletries and other essentials with you.
You do not want to be opening boxes late at night trying to find something you need immediately.
The Day Before Moving
There should be relatively little left to pack by this stage.
Use the final day to finish packing everyday items, charge mobile phones, defrost your freezer if required, empty bins and check cupboards, lofts, garages and sheds.
Put keys somewhere safe, make sure your essentials box is separate and keep valuables and important documents with you.
You should also make sure there is clear access for the removal team when they arrive.
Moving Day Checklist
Moving day has finally arrived.
Before leaving your old property, work methodically through the house rather than rushing.
Take final meter readings and photograph them if possible, then do one last walk-through of the property.
Check:
- Cupboards
- Wardrobes
- Drawers
- Loft
- Garage
- Shed
- Utility room
- Garden storage areas
It is surprisingly easy to leave things behind in cupboards or storage areas.
Keep keys, important documents, medicines, phones, chargers and valuables with you throughout the move.
At Your New Property
When you arrive at your new home, take meter readings and check that the property is secure.
Let the removals team know where furniture should be positioned and direct labelled boxes to the correct rooms.
Once everything has been unloaded, check that the utilities are working and locate your essentials box before you start opening anything else.
Clearly labelled boxes make a major difference at this stage.
What Should You Unpack First?
There is no need to unpack your entire house immediately.
Start with the rooms and belongings you need first. Beds and bedding are usually the priority, followed by bathroom essentials, basic kitchen items, children’s belongings, everyday clothes and anything you need for work.
Getting beds made early is particularly useful. After a long moving day, the last thing you want to do late at night is search for bedding.
After You’ve Moved
Once you are settled into your new property, there are still a few jobs to complete.
Make sure your address has been updated everywhere necessary, your post is being redirected, your electoral registration has been changed and your utility accounts have been closed or transferred correctly.
You should also check that your insurance covers the new property, confirm that all belongings have arrived and make sure any remaining storage arrangements are in place.
Once the essential admin is complete, you can unpack the remaining rooms at your own pace.
When Should You Book a Removal Company?
It is sensible to start looking for a removals company as soon as you have a reasonable idea of when you expect to move.
Popular dates can become busy, particularly around weekends and common completion periods.
Even if your exact moving date has not yet been confirmed, contacting a removal company early allows you to discuss your requirements and get an initial quotation.
United Movers handles house moves from Coventry and the surrounding area to destinations throughout the UK.
What Happens When You Request a Quote From United Movers?
If you are planning a move, you can submit your details through the United Movers quotation form.
Provide as much information as possible about your current property, destination, belongings and any additional services you require.
Once your enquiry has been received, a member of the United Movers team will be in touch to discuss your move and the next steps.
You can request a house removals quote here.
What Can United Movers Help With?
United Movers can support different parts of the moving process depending on how much help you need.
Alongside its house removals service, the team can provide full packing services, packing supplies and storage facilities.
Furniture dismantling and reassembly can also be included where required.
This means you can arrange anything from the move itself through to a more complete service covering packing, materials, furniture preparation and storage.
Moving House FAQs
How early should I start packing for a house move?
For most moves, it helps to begin with non-essential items several weeks beforehand.
You can then gradually work towards everyday belongings as moving day approaches.
Starting early prevents you from having to pack your entire property during the final few days.
What should I pack last when moving house?
Keep everyday essentials until last, including toiletries, medication, chargers, basic kitchen items and clothes you will need immediately.
These should either go into clearly marked boxes or travel with you separately.
How should I label moving boxes?
Label each box with the room it belongs in and a brief description of its contents.
For example:
Kitchen – pans and baking trays
This makes unloading much easier and means boxes can be taken directly to the correct room.
Should I use a packing service?
It depends on how much time you have and how much you need to move.
A professional packing service can be particularly useful for larger properties, busy households, fragile belongings or anyone who wants to reduce the workload leading up to moving day.
United Movers offers a full packing service which can include both the packing materials and packing itself.
Can United Movers dismantle and reassemble furniture?
Yes. Furniture can be dismantled and reassembled as part of your move where required.
If you have beds, wardrobes, tables or other large items that may need taking apart, include them when discussing your requirements with the team.
What happens if I need storage during my move?
Storage can be useful when moving dates do not match, when downsizing or when your new property is not ready for all of your belongings.
United Movers offers storage facilities for customers needing temporary storage as part of their move.
Can United Movers provide moving boxes?
Yes. Packing materials can be supplied as part of the overall moving service.
United Movers also has a dedicated packing supplies service for removal boxes and other packing materials.
Planning a House Move? Speak to United Movers
A well-planned move is much easier to manage, and arranging your removals early means there is one less thing to worry about as moving day approaches.
United Movers can help with everything from the move itself through to packing, packing materials, furniture dismantling and reassembly, and storage.
If you are planning a house move, tell the team what you need and they will be in touch to discuss the details.
Call United Movers on 02477 752715 or request a free house removals quote online.