The Top 10 Moving Checklist Tips to Make The Process Less Stressful
Posted by Rebecca Evans on
Moving is a major life event that some people experience more than once in their lifetime. It’s seen as an overwhelming event, not only because of the physical work involved but also because it is often an emotional process.
A checklist is good to have because it will help you organize all the things you need to do to prepare you ahead of your move, so you can have a smooth transition. They are designed to be resourceful so you can keep track of the tasks that you will be needing to complete and this is the most useful way to make sure that nothing gets left behind!
Did you know that many apps can create a checklist? It’s always useful to have one on hand!
My Personal Experience With Moving Checklists
I have always been the type of person who is a stickler for details and I know that many people are in the same boat. We all want to do things right and worry about the consequences if we don’t.
I guess that’s why I created this checklist to make sure you don’t forget any of the important steps when you start your move. The checklist below will provide you with details about how to prepare, what to pack, what documents you need, and what to expect during your move.
10 Actionable Steps for Achieving Your Ideal Move
Moving can be a time-consuming and difficult process that can be stressful, especially if it is your first time moving somewhere! There are so many steps to consider that make it easier to prepare for your big moving day. Here are ten top tips to help you have a stress-free move!
1. Confirm the date of your move
When you first look into moving, the first thing that is best to do is confirm the moving date so you can plan all around it. If you’re looking to hire a professional removal company, it’s a good idea to let them know in advance because it will ensure that your move is completed on time and without any problems.
2. Give notice to your landlord (if you're renting)
If this isn’t your first property and you are renting, it’s always important to let your landlord know the exact date that you are planning to move out so they can look for tenants.
Hopefully, this will coincide with the end of your lease, as this will avoid you paying double the amount on rent.
3. Contact your utility suppliers
Before you move, you will need to let all of your utility supplies that you’re planning to move out - electric, gas, water, council tax, phone and broadband suppliers will all need to know when you are leaving the property.
The chances are that you will be moving your broadband and phone across to your new property. It’s best to give your supplier as much notice as possible, as moving services may take several weeks to connect to your new address.
If you do find yourself without an internet connection, it would be better to make sure to download anything important that you might need, like appliance instructions, directions and those films you’ve been meaning to watch. If you do find yourself without internet when you move in, try turning your phone into a mobile hotspot. It’s not a long term solution, but it will keep you help in the meantime.
Finally, before you do move out, you need to take a final meter reading on your property and pass them on to the right suppliers. If you take a picture of your meter it may help as the photo will have a record of the date that it was taken.
We have a Moving Home Assistant service that will be able to take care of all of this for you so that your move is stress-free.
4. Get quotes on your removal costs
When it comes to moving and looking for a removal company, it all depends on what your ideal budget is and the size of your property, if for example, you are looking to move into a small property, you probably won’t require a large van, it would just be cheaper to gather a few friends and rent a van. However, that can also become more stressful when your moving day is approaching, so you just need to make sure you are making the right decision!
If you would much prefer to use a professional removal service, we are partnered with Help2Compare that will compare you with several different removal companies in your local area that will be able to suit your needs.
5. Have a big clear out before you move
Ahead of your big move, it’s always the perfect time to go through your old things and decide what is and isn’t worth keeping. Before you start to box everything up, go through your old clothes, electronics, and furniture. It’s always good to get rid of the clutter that you don’t need!
It’ll save you a lot of time, effort and backache if you cut down on the number of things you need to move to your new home.
There are several removal companies that offer house clearances so you will be able to get rid of things that are no longer wanted or needed.
6. Make sure where you know where everything is?
It’s important to make sure that you know where everything is in your house before you move in, did you know that majority of people wait until there’s a gushing radiator before they work out how to switch the water off. You want to make sure that this doesn’t happen to you!
It’s always good to ask the sellers of your new property exactly where the following items are: stopcock (valve for controlling the main water supply), instructions for appliances, gas and electric meter, thermostat and fuse box.
It’s also good that if you are selling your home, make sure you make a list of all the important things that are in your home and leave it for the people that are moving in. They'll appreciate you going the extra mile, and it may come in handy if you need to ask them for a favour (like posting those shoes you bought online and sent to the wrong address).
7. Pack everything and label boxes
When it comes to packing, hopefully, if you’ve had a clear out, this should be easier to do. The one piece of advice I would give to anyone when it comes to moving is to make sure that you label your boxes so that you know where everything is. This will save you the stress of looking through several different boxes just to find that one singular item that you need!
It might be wise to make a list so you know what exactly is in each box when it arrives at your new property.
We can offer you a various range of different boxes, including moving kits to accommodate your personal moving experience to make it that much simpler!
8. Pay for bills, let friends and family know you're moving
One good thing to do before you move is to make sure that all of your bills are up to date and paid. The last thing you want is any old bills coming back to haunt you when you have settled into your new place.
There are several people that you will need to let know when you’re changing your address; your work, your bank, the council, TV Licensing, doctor, dentist and DVLA.
Again, we can provide you with a service that can take care of the change over of the majority of your bills. Just register your details and let the experts take care of it for you!
It’s important to keep your family and friends up to date with your new address, so don’t forget to let them know either. You don’t want anything going to your old address!
9. Grab the essential for moving day
When you move, it’s always good to have a box of essentials that you will need for your first night in your new property. The last thing you want is to go through all of your boxes when it’s not needed.
Another thing that would be useful to have is a separate box that is labelled with your important documents such as your passport and any utility bill paperwork so if you require it then it’s easy to find!
10. Move into your new home
Eventually, on the day of your move, all that is left to do on the day is move into your new home. This would be the easiest time to scrub the tiles or clean the carpet before you put any furniture down.
From there, you can begin to unpack all of the boxes that you have labelled in the appropriate rooms. This will save you time and effort!
It’s worth mentioning that just because a checklist is in this list does not mean it is the only one you can use in your move.
The conclusion in a process of moving checklist would be a time to recap what has been done in the past steps and what needs to be done from now on. This will help keep you focused and make sure you don't miss anything.
We hope that this blog will help you create the perfect moving checklist so you have an easy and hassle-free move! If you would like to read more of our blogs, you check them out here!