Moving out

Once you have a completion date, it’s time to focus on your move. Lists can help to keep you on track, and you’ll feel like you have accomplished something as the list gets visibly shorter. With this in mind, we've prepared a useful checklist that you can tick off along the way.

Your preparation checklist

• Compile a list of people who you'll need to notify that you are moving, for example, utility companies, your doctor, phone bills, and TV licence.
• Cancel any services or subscriptions such as milk or newspapers.
• Think about your stocked-up food supply - you probably won't want to move with lots of frozen food. 
• Stock-up on tape, bubble wrap, marker pens and labels.
• Start packing anything you can ahead of time. Begin with the rooms you use the least as you won’t miss the items as much. Seasonal items such as clothes or decorations can be the first items to pack.
• Don’t overfill your boxes, someone still needs to be able to lift them.
• Be sure to label your boxes with rooms and/or contents to avoid confusion.
• If you have lots of items, renting a storage space for a brief period could be useful.
• Book a removal firm. When moving short distances, coping with moving items in small sections can be harder than you anticipate.
• If you’re relocating or travelling a significant distance, you may need to book a hotel for when you move.
• Get your laundry done – moving dirty washing isn’t ideal.
• Plan ahead, so that the bulk of your rubbish is ready for bin collection day and not hanging around.
• Take any meter readings at the last moment.

Moving Day

Moving day can be frantic, but the more prepared you are the better. Good labelling and planning will mean that you can unpack efficiently. Here are some useful things to think about:

• Does the removal company have the keys and can they get into the new property?
• Can someone look after your children or your pets on the day? They may make moving day more stressful.
• You will have your own plan, but unpacking large furniture means you can unpack around it, rather than moving boxes to fit the furniture in.
• Keep a bag of things readily accessible for when you move in:
      o    Tea, coffee and mugs
      o    Toothbrushes and toiletries
      o    Sleepwear
      o    Bed linen and towels
      o    A set of much-needed tools, such as allen keys and scissors
      o    Toys for children or pets - these can be comforting in their new surroundings
• When it comes to dinner, find the local takeaway in advance.