Moving house checklist

Published: 29 September 2021

Get organised for the big day with our simple guide!

Careful organisation and forward planning can minimise the stress of moving home. Here are some hints and tips to guide you through the process as seamlessly as possible.

Before you move

  • Move-in date and key collection – confirm the date of your completion and arrange a time to collect the keys from your SO Resi Sales Consultant.
  • Choose a removal company - if you have not already booked your removal company, now is the time to do it. If it is booked, double check that they have all the correct details, including your current and future address, your phone number and the time and date they are due to begin work. If you are not using a professional removal company, it might be helpful to ask some friends or family to help you move, to make the day less stressful.
  • Deep clean - you may want to consider arranging for professional cleaners to clean your new home before you begin moving in. And of course, you might want your current home professionally cleaned too for the new occupants.
  • Pack everything and label boxes clearly – make things easy and label your boxes with their contents and the room they are intended to be unpacked in. Begin to stack them together somewhere that will make it easier for them to be loaded into the removal van.
  • Pay bills - Make sure that your bills and council tax are all settled in your current home.
  • Let friends and family know you're moving and get your mail redirected - tell your friends and family your new address, and consider arranging for post to be forwarded to your new address by Royal Mail. Cancel any newspaper, magazine and other subscriptions, such as wine or regular food boxes. Cancel any regular milk or grocery deliveries, if you have these set up.
  • Notify service providers - alert all relevant companies of your change of address, including banks, utility companies, insurance and pension providers, HMRC, the local council, your children’s schools, your employer, subscriptions and any gardening, cleaning or other services you use. Take a look at our useful list.
  • Decorating - If there is a period of time between having access to your new home and having to vacate your existing home, you may want to decorate the new property as this will be easier whilst it is empty.
  • Food - run down the food in your freezer, as this can be hard to transfer. If there is any food you don’t want to keep, it might be nice to offer it to a local food bank.
  • Internet - make arrangements for internet access at the new property. If you leave this until you have moved in, you may have to wait several days or even weeks to enable internet access in the new property
  • Parking - apply for a car parking permit at your new address and cancel your current permit if appropriate.
  • Children and pets - If you have children or pets, you may find it easier if somebody is able to look after them during the move.
  • Insurance - ensure you have home and contents insurance in place for your new home. This should be in place from the date of the exchange.
  • Essentials kit - plan your essentials kit and identify the things you are likely to need on the day and the night of the move, such as bed linen, towels and a change of clothes. Pack this separately so you do not have to unpack everything immediately. Your essentials kit should also include your phone charger, toiletries and any medicines you may need.
  • Prepare your home for the new owner - put together a folder with manuals, warranties, passwords, codes, important information, etc. for the new occupants.
  • Have a good clear out - Moving house is a great time to declutter! Sort through and get rid of anything you do not need by throwing it out, recycling or taking it to a charity shop.

List of companies and organisations to contact

Government Bodies

  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • HMRC
  • DVLA - Driving licence and car registration documents (V5C)
  • Electoral roll
  • TV Licensing
  • Your local authority

Financial institutions

  • Banks and building societies 
  • Credit card companies
  • Investment funds 
  • Store loyalty card providers 
  • Pension providers

Utilities companies

  • Water
  • Gas
  • Electricity

Your regular bills

  • Home phone 
  • Broadband 
  • Cable TV
  • Mobile phone
  • Insurance including car insurance and buildings & contents
  • Council tax

Health Services

  • Doctor
  • Dentist
  • Optician
  • Vets
  • Other health services

Work and education

  • Your employers (and company pension fund)
  • Colleagues and alumni networks 
  • Professional associations 
  • Schools, colleges and educational institutions

Leisure and family:

  • Newspaper, magazine and newsletter subscriptions
  • Clubs, including sports teams or gym 
  • Charities you support 
  • Pet microchip databases
  • Milk and other services, such as veg box.

On the day - your old home

Moving day can be very exciting, but also long and exhausting. Take a look at our checklist to help you keep track of what needs to be done on the day that you move.

  • Double check - Carefully check your existing home before you leave for anything left behind. Check the attic, garage, shed and every cupboard in every room.
  • Removal company - If you are using one, double check the removal company has your two correct addresses and your phone number.
  • Shut down - Switch off all appliances and the heating
  • Meter readings - Make a note of your meter readings.
  • Help your new occupant - Leave a note for the new occupant welcoming them into their new home. Provide any instruction manuals you have for appliances you are leaving behind, together with your contact number and a forwarding address.
  • Keys - Lock up your old home and leave all the keys including keys for any windows or cupboards. Leave the keys wherever agreed with the new occupant.

On the day - your new home

  • Account for every box - Check with the removal company that each box, bag and item of furniture is unloaded and placed in the allocated room, and that nothing has been damaged in transit.
  • Removal van - Double check the removal vehicle before it leaves to make sure that nothing is left behind.
  • Power and water - Check all your utilities are working. Make sure you have electricity, gas and hot water.
  • Meter readings - Make a note of your meter readings.
  • Stock up on essentials - Put any food you have brought with you into the fridge or freezer, and make a trip to the local shop to stock up any essentials, such as milk and bread.
  • Take a logical approach - Get the larger items of furniture in place first, and focus on the most important tasks first, such as building your bed and getting children and pets settled.
  • Tidy as you go - Collapse boxes and stack them neatly as you empty them.
  • Meet the neighbours - Introduce yourself to any neighbours you see on the day. This will really help with becoming part of the community.
  • Change locks – you might want to consider changing locks for security purposes.
  • Insurance - Ensure you have home and contents insurance in place for your new home. This should have been in place from the date of the exchange.

Please accept analytic cookies to view this content.