Moving Planner & Checklist

Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents Moving Planner & Checklist

First things first: The key to a stress-free move is to start planning early and know what to do first. Use our move planner to help ensure a perfectly organised moving experience!

One month before D-Day: • Order boxes and packing materials.

• Compare quotes from several removal companies and book. Remember to check their insurance provision and terms of service carefully.

• Tell your bank and credit card providers, building society, insurance companies and all other relevant companies about your new address, giving them plenty of time to update their records (some require a month).

• Don't forget your TV license, the Inland Revenue, DVLA, charities, and the delivery addresses given for any companies you regularly order from on the internet, like Amazon or grocery shopping sites, Sky needs 3 weeks notice.

Two weeks before D-Day: • Start eating the food in your freezer.

• Send change of address cards or emails to friends and family.

• If you think you will need to book storage space, organise that now.

• If you are going to have your house professionally cleaned, arrange it now.

• De-register from your doctor, dentist, optician etc if you are moving out of their catchment areas.

• Check you have insurance coverage for the move and make sure it is adequate for your needs.

• Prepare labels for each box or item of furniture so that removals know which room they are to go in.

• Prepare labels for each room so that removals know which room is which when they get to the new house.

One week before D-Day: • Arrange parking for the removal vans at the new house, introduce yourself to your new neighbours and give them your moving-in date.

• Organise your utilities to be switched off at your current house when you move out, have the meters read, and connected on your moving day at the new house. Don't forget your phone and internet service.

• Arrange the mail forwarding service through the Post Office.

• Make a list of all important phone numbers like estate agents, solicitors, removal companies, insurance, utilities along with any account numbers.

• Arrange babysitting for any young children, and pet-sitting if necessary. If any children may need a day off school, write a letter now.

• Find out your seller's solicitor's contact details, in case of difficulties at the house of the day of the move.

• Visit your doctor and arrange supplies of any medicines you regularly take, to keep you going until you can find a new doctor.

• Start running down your freezer, empty and clean and ready for it to be moved.

Two days before D-Day: • Begin throwing out anything you don't want. Divide rubbish, which can go to your local dump, and donations, which can go to a charity shop. Don't forget to clear your loft, shed and garage.

• Cancel your milk delivery and newspapers.

• Take down curtains and blinds; if you will be putting the curtains up at the new house, drop them in to a dry cleaner's near the new property (if practicable).

• Re-confirm arrangements with your moving company.

• Find out the locations of stopcocks and fuse-boxes at your new house.

• Call the local council and find out when the rubbish collection and recycling days in your new neighbourhood.

• Send an email to relevant people saying you'll be offline for a few days and pack up all computers; also pack up stereos and big electrical equipment.

• Pack up valuable, delicate or small items like jewellery and ornaments.

The day before D-Day: • Collect any medicines, inhalers etc that you will need over the next few days, along with paracetamol, plasters, contact lens solutions, glasses, razor, toothbrush and a change of clothes and add to your 'personal luggage'.

• Collect together your keys, paperwork, contract, insurance documents, important phone numbers, removals paperwork, utilities paperwork, a calculator, an alarm clock, your cheque book and credit cards, and add to your 'personal luggage'.

• Pack a box containing the kettle, mugs, teaspoons, sugar, teabags, coffee, snacks, takeaway menus, scissors, a torch, corkscrew/bottle opener, a radio, soap, toilet paper and towels and mark it clearly. Blue tac for labels for rooms at the new house.

• Pack school uniforms, school bags, PE kits and schoolwork in a separate box and mark it.

• Fill your car up with petrol and plan your route. Check for roadworks so you can avoid them.

• Pack a box of basic cleaning equipment for the new house, including a dustpan and brush, strong bin liners and a toolkit, and mark it clearly.

• Box up things like books and out-of-season clothes.

• Get cash out for last-minute emergencies, basic supplies and tips.

• Recharge your mobile phone and keep charges handy.

On the day: • Each person should keep their 'personal luggage' on them. Pile them by the door until you're ready to go - don't leave with boxes where movers may put them in the van.

• Strip beds, pack bedding separately and mark clearly whose is whose and which room it is to go in.

• The box containing the kettle, mugs etc should travel with someone in the van who should then ensure it's put in the new kitchen area.

• Leave a note with your contact details for the new occupants if necessary.

Printable Checklist Please print off and tick each company as you give them your new details

Financial

Ref No/Account No

Telephone

Tick

Bank or Building Society Home Insurance Building Insurance Inland Revenue Credit Cards Rental/Hire Purchase Pension Companies Savings/Bonds Life Policies Employer - Payroll Catalogue Companies National Insurance N.B Some phone companies require a months’ notice or you may get billed for that period.

Services

Ref No/Account No

Electoral Register Council Tax Gas Telephone Land Line Electric Mobile Cable/Satellite/ Internet Services Club CardsBoots/Tesco/Sainsbury etc TV Licence Water Post Office - redirection

Motoring Vehicle Registration- DVLA

Telephone

0844 800 6722

Ref No/Account No

Telephone 08702400010

Vehicle Insurance Driving License - DVLA Breakdown Services

Tick

0870 240 0009

Tick

Health

Ref No/Account No

Telephone

Doctor Dentist Optician Private Healthcare National Blood Bank

0845 7711711

Others

Telephone

Subscriptions School/Colleges/Nursery Library Milk Delivery Gym/Golf Club Newspapers Unions

Miscellaneous

Notes

Tick

Tick

Final preparations:

Task

Notes

By Whom

Done

Pets - make moving arrangements Moving Vehicles - arrange for neighbours to leave room for you at both ends Fridge & freezer - defrost two days before move List everyone who needs to receive a change of address card Make a 'Last out - First In' Box. NB: This box should be filled with the items you need most when you first arrive!

Contents Keys (car, home, etc) Money & Credit Cards Jewellery Kettle Tea Coffee Milk Mugs Snacks Basic cutlery & crockery (you may want to use plastic) Cork screw Bottle of Champagne First Aid Kit Towels Toilet Paper Hand Soap Toiletries Scissors Bedding Pen Small Radio Matches / lighter Basic Tools Shower Curtain Torch

Notes

Done