Checklist For
Moving House
Buying or selling a house is no easy feat, but our checklist can help to make the process much smoother with little stress.
Here, we provide a comprehensive guide to the stages of moving home. We've included a timeline with all the different tasks you need to remember, as well as a range of tools on our site to help keep costs down during your move. You can use these tools to get quotes for removal services, find the best conveyancing specialist, and understand fees associated with buying a house.
Table of Contents
- Government Bodies
- Financial Institutions
- Insurance Providers
- Utility Suppliers
- Regular Bills
- Health Services
- Work and Education Contacts
- Leisure and Family Activities
- Redirecting your Mail and calls
- When to Start Packing to Move Home
- Choosing a Removal Company
- Preparing your Home for the New Owner
- What do I need to do after I've moved?
List of organisations and companies to contact before you move
Government bodies
Ensure that you update both your driving licence and vehicle registration with the DVLA when you move to a new address. Postponing this may result in needing your driving license for identification purposes or van hire.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to contact other government organizations such as HMRC or the Department for Work and Pensions.
Lastly, don't overlook to update your information on the electoral roll. You will need to request a final council tax statement from your local authority, and you might even receive a refund.
Finacial Institutions
You will need to notify your bank and credit card providers of your new address.
Your account and credit card providers use your address as part of their security checks to verify your identity, so it's especially important that you keep your information updated.
You should get in contact with banking and savings account providers, credit card companies, investment funds and pension services.
Insurance Providers
Contact your contents insurance provider to let them know of your impending move, as well as its date and location. Ask about what is and is not covered by your current policy during the move, since you might need to procure extra insurance from either them or the removals company.
Contact any companies you have insurance with, including, car insurance (and any breakdown services provider), home insurance, mobile phone insurance, life insurance and health insurance.
Utility Suppliers
Your utility providers need to know your moving date so they can give you an accurate estimate. Take meter readings and photos of the meters on both days—moving day and the day after you're settled in.
When you're settling in, don't forget to shop around for the best deal. There are numerous compare sites you can use to find a deal that suits you.
Regular Bills
If you have a service that requires you to pay recurrent bills - such as a cell phone or telecommunications company - they will also need to be updated about your change of address.
Health Services
Be sure to sign up with a local GP as soon as possible after moving, since you may have to wait for treatment otherwise.
Contact your local NHS doctor's surgery and specialists, such as your dentist and optician.
Work and Education Contacts
Your employer and your child's school will need your address details so that they can reach you in case of an emergency.
Contact, your employer (and company pension fund), colleagues and alumni networks, professional associations, schools, colleges and educational institutions.
Leisure and Family Activities
Keep your subscription information current, and provide your mailing address to other organisations that might need to contact you. Regularly update your microchipped pet's information with their database companies.
Redirecting your Mail and Calls
After you move, you need to update your contact information with everyone from the utility company to your family.
The Royal Mail's redirection service can make your move much less stressful by redirecting all of your mail to your new address within five working days.
Once you move into your new home, you can keep this service for 3, 6, or 12 months to make sure none of your mail gets lost. Prices start at £33.99 for three months' redirection (£41.99 for a couple).
If you are also changing your phone number, arranged with your telephone company, they may be able to automatically inform callers of your new number for a few weeks following the switchover date.
When to Start Packing to Move Home
Start packing as early as possible for the smoothest move-in experience. A few weeks before the big day, pack up items you can do without and make a plan for where everything will go in your new place. This way, on moving day, you can focus on essentials and won't have to worry about last-minute decisions regarding what to bring with you. In addition to packing boxes, you may need to buy curtains and carpets for your new place.
Choosing a Removal Company
Choose a removal company that you can trust to ensure a successful moving process. Read reviews and listen to recommendations to select the best removal company in your area.
Preparing your Home for the New Owner
Creating a briefing sheet for the new owner with all relevant and important information about the property is key. This should include where to find and how to operate the boiler and alarm, as well as other notable locations such as meters and fuse boxes.
Its a good idea to label all your keys, or if you're buying a new house, that the person you're purchasing it from does the same. This way, you won't forget which key is for what lock - whether its for your shed, garage, or windows.
What do I need to do after I've moved?
A new house is a thrilling time, but there are always a few details that need to be handled after the move.
You have 30 days to pay your stamp duty bill if your property is worth more than £250,000 (or £425,000 as a first-time buyer). Your conveyancer will calculate and ideally pay this for you.
Furthermore, hire a locksmith to replace the locks so that your home has its own individual set of keys.
