Everything you need to know about moving home

Moving house is a big milestone, especially if it’s your first time. However, with a little bit of know-how and a clear plan of action, you can make the transition a lot less daunting, and a lot more streamline…

• Pack as early as possible to avoid stress.
• Make a list of things you need to buy to avoid last minute costs.
• Remember to note down everywhere you need to change your address.
• Our guide will provide you with the ultimate moving home checklist, so you have one less thing to worry about!

Shifting all your possessions from one place to another can be stressful, so you’ll want to get on top of it before it’s too late. With your move-in date in mind, start thinking about how to best tackle the process. Some things to consider when moving:

• Create a timeline of when things need to be packed and moved.
• Start sourcing storage boxes.
• Research moving companies.

Depending on the size of your house, give yourself  one to two weeks to pack up your belongings.You don’t want to leave it to the last minute, but there’s also no need to start so early that you’re living among cardboard boxes.

Make sure to label each box with the room it’ll need to go into, and what’s inside to save time when unpacking.

Another good tip, give everything a good clean before you pack it up. It’ll save you another job in your new home, allowing you to settle in quicker.

In most cases, you’ll be able to take most of your furniture with you. If you’re a new buyer or renter, or moving into an unfurnished property, you may have a lot to buy. It’s a good idea to make a list for each room in the house and note down what you need, to avoid overspending. This is also a good time to look into your contents insurance and buildings insurance plans to make sure you’re covered.

Don’t feel like you need to get everything as soon as you move in, sometimes it’s good to feel the space and collect items over time. Consider these few essentials when moving house:

• Bed: You’ll need somewhere to sleep.
• Sofa (or bean bags!): To relax after a day of unpacking.
• Kettle: For that first cup of tea or coffee.
• Kitchen essentials: The essentials to cook, eat and drink with.
• Curtains: You’ll want a decent night's sleep from day one.
• Toolkit: Useful for building furniture or any repairs - hammers, screwdrivers, nails etc.
• Cleaning supplies: While some properties come fully cleaned, it’s always best to have supplies on hand.
• Electrics: Make sure you’ve got the batteries, extension leads and chargers.
• Toilet paper: There’s nothing worse than forgetting this.

There are a few different organisations you’ll need to notify when your address is changing:

• Banks and building societies.
• Gas, electric, and water providers.
• Wi-Fi and broadband companies.
• Insurance providers (house, car, health, etc).
• The DVLA.
• The local council.
• Your employer.
• Your doctor.
• Update the electoral roll.

For service providers, you won’t need to cancel your current plans. Simply let them know two to three weeks before you're due to move and tell them a date you want to be connected by. The same goes for banks and other organisations, as they will need to update your address.

If you’ve got children, make sure you get in touch with their school as soon as possible in case you fall out of the school zone and need to look for a new one.

This is also a good time to take a look at your home insurance or renters insurance policies. If you’re a new buyer or renter, you’ll need to make this a priority before moving into your new home. If you’re renting, you’ll need to discuss with your landlord what you’re liable for in terms of damages and repairs. Check the inventory from when you first moved in -if there are any damages not already listed, these will need to be fixed before the move out date to guarantee you get your full deposit back.

We’ve made it easy for you to update your home insurance policy if you’re moving house.

There are a few final things you need to tick off of your checklist before making the final move:

• Clear out perishable food: Eat, give away, or throw away as much as you can.
• Fully defrost your fridge and freezer: This will help prevent any water spillage.
• Set aside a few days’ worth of clothing: You don’t want to be rummaging through your perfectly packed boxes in search of an outfit.
• Clean your house before you leave: The estate agent and new tenants will be very grateful for this added touch.

Buying and selling your home can be daunting but it doesn’t have to be. Keep yourself covered and stress free by following our guide.