As we know, moving home is one of the most exciting (sometimes stressful) experiences we can go through. Usually, thinking about how we can be more organised isn’t at the top of our to-do list. And that’s fair enough. A checklist isn’t always the first thing we think of before moving, but using a good moving house checklist can be a Godsend.

So, in this article we will cover the key things you need to tick off your list when moving.

Without further-ado, let’s jump in!

Know the Dates

According to Government statistics, in the UK alone there are hundreds of thousands of people that move home every single month. And when we look at those home-moves, we must wonder what the most significant piece of information is. And it all comes down to the dates. When you’re leaving your home and when you’re moving into your new place.

Hopefully they will be on the same day, but if you’re not careful you can give rise to a circumstance in which you find yourself effectively homeless for a few days or weeks.

As soon as the dates become available, either from your Solicitor or new landlord, mark that date in bold in the diary.

A Stitch in Time

We’re all probably familiar with the old expression ‘a stitch in time saves nine’. Effectively it’s saying making a small investment earlier will save you having to make a much larger investment later to get the same results. And the exact same thing is true with moving home.

So, when approaching the home move there are a few items and tasks you can complete in advance to make the home move go much more smoothly.

Firstly, start packing as early as possible. Standard practice is to leave packing until the very last moment. This creates a lot of stress and time-pressure during the move. The move can and should be a fun experience. If you start the packing process up to 3 months before you move (yes, you read that correctly) you can save yourself hours of time later. Start by packing the items you know you’re not going to need over the coming months. And when you’re packing them away, be sure to label the boxes of the room they are supposed to go into to save you time later.

Secondly, commence the largest clean you’ve seen. Whether you’re selling your home or handing it back to the landlord for other tenants your home will need to be clean. Once again, the earlier you start this process the easier your life will be when you move out. Standard practice is to start completing deep cleans up to a month before moving-out. Then, once you leave it will all be light-touch.

Tell Everyone You’re Moving Home

Previously we’d have listed the 20-30 companies you’d need to contact about your change of address, but fortunately this is the 21^st Century. If you’re in the US you can use a company such as Updater. Or in the UK, you can use SlothMove where you can actually update your address across all of your accounts at the same time as well as setting-up your new home. This includes TV Licence change of address, telling your councils, loyalty cards and many more.

Don’t Forget About The Small Things

So, you’ve told everybody that you’re moving, you’ve packed everything you need and you’ve cleaned your old place. What’s next? Here is a list of small tasks you need to make sure you cross-off during the home move

1. Find a new Doctors (if applicable)
2. Find a new Dentist (if applicable)
3. Submit any outstanding meter readings for your gas and electricity
4. Ensure that you have paid any outstanding arrears with any companies
5. Collect any deposit or overpaid rent you might be owed

The Author

This post was written in proud collaboration with SlothMove, an online moving home platform in which complete a change of address online and set-up your new home. Their mission is to make the home move as simple, transparent and low-cost as it should be.