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ToggleIntroduction: What You Need For A Moving Houses Checklist
Hey there, fellow movers and shakers and welcome to our blog post on our moving houses checklist! Whether you’re about to embark on your very first move or you’re a seasoned pro at packing up and starting anew. We’re thrilled to welcome you to your ultimate moving houses checklist. So, why even bother with a moving houses checklist? To remove as much stress from the move as possible, all bases covered. Between the moving houses team we’ve all had a few moves, whether it’s to university, relocating, moving round the corner, between us, we’ve got a wealth of experience when it comes to moving houses and we’ve put that knowledge to the test to create this moving houses checklist.
We know firsthand just how overwhelming the process can be. But fear not, because with a bit of planning and organisation, you’ll be well on your way to settling into your new space with ease, with the help of our moving houses checklist!
In this comprehensive moving houses checklist, we’ll cover everything from the nitty-gritty details of planning and packing to the essential must haves for moving day. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, consider this your roadmap to a smooth transition. So grab your favourite pen, cosy up with a cup of coffee (or tea, no judgment here!), and let’s begin. Trust me, with the right tools and a positive mindset, you’ve got this!
Step 1: Organisations And Companies To Contact
The first thing on our moving houses checklist, is one of the more boring steps! Updating organisations and companies of your move. Although boring, it is really important to update companies and organisations of your house move.
Government Bodies
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA): Updating your address with the DVLA is super important for both your driving licence and vehicle registration. However, it’s advisable to only do this task once your move, as your driving licence may be required for identification and potential van hire purposes.
- Local Authority: Contact your local authority to request a final council tax statement. It’s worth noting that you may even be eligible for a refund, making this step particularly important! Fingers crossed for a refund.
- TV Licensing: Transferring your TV licence to your new address means you’ll get uninterrupted service. Additionally, updating your details on the electoral roll helps maintain accurate voter information.
- Let’s get these steps ticked off the moving houses checklist early!
Other Key Contacts Include
- Department for Work and Pensions: Informing the Department for Work and Pensions about your change of address ensures that any correspondence or benefits are sent to the correct address. Usually you can just let your work know, or whoever is responsible for the payroll and they’ll be able to get everything updated for you.
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC): Updating your address with HMRC is vital for tax-related communications and ensuring the accuracy of your records.
- Local Authority: In addition to council tax matters, your local authority may handle various administrative tasks related to your move.
By promptly notifying these government bodies and relevant authorities of your new address, you can ensure a smooth transition and avoid potential disruptions to essential services and communications. Boring? Yes. Essential part of the moving houses checklist? Yes.

Step 2: Insurance And Finances
Insurance
It’s crucial to inform your insurance providers about your change of address to ensure that your coverage remains up to date and valid. Be sure to notify the following insurance providers of your new address and get it ticked off your moving houses checklist:
- Contents Insurance: Notify your contents insurance provider about your move and inquire about coverage during the transition period. You may need to update your policy to reflect your new address and ensure that your belongings are adequately protected.
- Car Insurance: Another thing to get ticked off the moving houses checklist is to contact your car insurance provider to update your address details. This ensures that your insurance policy remains valid and that you receive important communications regarding your coverage. Depending if you’ve moved area your car insurance premiums could change, could be cheaper, could be more expensive depending on the area you are moving to.
- Home Insurance: If you have home insurance, inform your provider about your change of address to ensure that your home is adequately protected. Update your policy details to reflect your new address and ensure seamless communication with your insurance provider.
- Mobile Phone Insurance: If you have insurance coverage for your mobile phone, same goes for them too, notify your provider.
- Pet Insurance: If you have insurance coverage for your beloved pets, inform your pet insurance provider about your move and update your address details. This ensures that your pets are adequately protected, and you receive important communications regarding your policy.
- Other Insurances to check: Life insurance, Health insurance, any other insurances you have as well will most likely need notifying.
Finances
Updating your address with financial institutions is essential to ensure seamless communication and transaction processes during your moving houses checklist. Be sure to get the following on your moving houses checklist to notify them of your new address:
- Banking and Savings Account Providers: Let your bank and savings account providers know about your change of address to ensure that important correspondence and statements reach you promptly.
- Credit Card Companies: Contact your credit card companies to update your address details. This ensures that you receive your credit card statements and important notifications at your new address.
- Investment Funds: If you have investments or mutual funds, inform your investment provider about your new address to ensure that you receive important investment-related communications and statements.
- Loyalty Card Providers: Update your address with store loyalty card providers to ensure that you continue to receive rewards and notifications from your favourite stores.
- Pension Services: If you have a pension plan, notify your pension service provider of your change of address to ensure that you receive important updates and communications regarding your pension. As mentioned previously, your works payroll company may be able to sort all this for you. And that’s step 2 of the moving houses checklist complete!

Step 3: Utility Suppliers And Bills
The next part of your moving houses checklist is ensuring that your utility services and regular bills are updated with your new address. It is an essential step of the moving houses checklist and it’s vital for uninterrupted service and accurate billing. Here’s what you need to do:
Utility Suppliers
- Water Supplier: Contact your water supplier to notify them of your moving date and provide your new address details. It’s also important to arrange for final meter readings and bill settlements at your old address and set up services at your new location.
- Gas Provider: Notify your gas provider about your upcoming move and update your address details. Arrange for final meter readings and bill settlements at your current address, and ensure that services are activated at your new residence.
- Electricity Provider: Contact your electricity provider to inform them of your change of address and update your account details accordingly. Arrange for final meter readings and bill settlements at your old address and ensure that services are transferred to your new home seamlessly.
- If you are looking to make a switch to a new energy provider, click here for our energy provider comparison post.
Regular Bills
- Internet / Broadband: You don’t want to forget about this! Especially if you are working from home or use TV streaming services. So notify your broadband service provider about your change of address, if you are in a contract you will more than likely be able to stay with your provider and your internet services remain active.
- If the supplier you are currently with can’t supply you at your new address you may have to find a more suitable supplier
- TV Subscription Services: Inform your TV subscription service provider if you have one, (Sky / BT etc.) about your move to ensure that your services are transferred to your new address without interruption.
- Mobile Phone: Contact your mobile phone service provider to update your address details and ensure that your billing statements and communications are sent to your new address.
- Home Phone: No one really uses home phones any more, but if you do, make sure you let them know of the address change.
By proactively updating your utility suppliers and regular bills with your new address, you can avoid service disruptions and ensure accurate billing at your new residence. We’re really starting to fly through this moving houses checklist now, and promise it gets a bit more exciting!
Step 4: Health Services
The next step in the moving houses checklist is ensuring that your doctors and health services are updated with your new address so you still have access medical care in your new area. Here’s what you need to do:
- Local NHS Doctor’s Surgery: Register with a local NHS doctor’s surgery in your new area as soon as possible. This ensures that you have access to primary healthcare services and can receive medical treatment when needed. Contact the surgery to enquire about the registration process and the documentation required to register as a patient.
- Specialists: Notify any specialists you regularly visit, such as your dentist and optician, about your change of address. Update your address details in their records to ensure that you continue to receive appointment reminders and important communications regarding your healthcare needs.
Maintaining accurate records with your healthcare providers means you can access medical care and services promptly when needed. By updating your address with your local NHS doctor’s surgery and specialists, you have continuity of care and peace of mind in your new location.

Step 5: Work And Education Contacts
The next step in your moving houses checklist, is updating your address with your work, schools and other educational services. This is essential to make sure that important communications and notifications reach you at your new location. Here’s what you need to do:
- Employer: Notify your employer about your change of address and update your contact details in their records. This maybe an online portal you use, usually to request days off work. If you aren’t sure just message whoever sorts your company’s HR and payroll and they should be able to sort this for you. It’s important your payroll information, benefits enrolment, and company announcements are aware of the address change.
- Colleagues and Alumni Networks: Inform your colleagues and alumni networks about your new address to stay connected.
- Professional Associations: Update your address with any professional associations or organisations you belong to.
- Schools, Colleges, and Educational Institutions: If you have children attending school or are enrolled in educational programs, notify their schools or educational institutions about your change of address. Update your contact details to ensure that you receive important communications from the school administration and teachers.
By keeping your work and education contacts informed about your change of address, you can ensure seamless communication and stay connected with your professional and educational networks. Moving houses checklist 5 out of 5 done.
Step 6: Pet Microchip Databases
Maybe the most important step in this moving houses checklist! Don’t forget about your furry besties! If your pets have microchips, make sure to update their info with your new address. It’s crucial for keeping them safe and ensuring you can be reached if they ever wander off.

Step 7: Redirecting Your Mail And Calls
It’s almost impossible to remember everything you need to switch over, so another key part of the moving houses checklist is redirecting your mail and calls to your new address. Here’s what you need to do:
- Royal Mail Redirection Service: Consider using the Royal Mail’s redirection service to forward all your mail to your new address. This service can be set up for 3, 6, or 12 months, helping to prevent important mail from going astray during the transition period. Prices start from £36 for three months, and the service usually takes up to five working days to come into effect.
- Updating Your Phone Number: Not many people still use a landline, it’s all mobile phones now, but if you do use your landline and it’s used on some of your accounts remember to update it!
- Updating Online Shopping Accounts: Once you’ve moved, don’t forget to update your address on all your online shopping accounts. There’s nothing worse than being all excited about a few deliveries and when it doesn’t show up you’ve sent it to your old house!
By redirecting your mail and updating your contact information, you can stay connected and don’t miss out on important communications during your move. It’s really hard to remember every single account you need to update so redirecting your mail, even if it’s only 3 months is highly recommended. As always if you need any help contact us! 7 steps of the moving houses checklist complete, 4 to go!
Step 8: When To Start Packing
Packing can be overwhelming, but with a bit of planning and help from the moving houses checklist, it can be a breeze! Here’s a general timeline to help you get started:
- Two Weeks Before Moving Day: Begin packing non-essential items at least two weeks before your moving day. Any items that you won’t need immediate access to, such as seasonal clothing, decorations, and books.
- Order Packing Supplies: If you’re supplying your own packing boxes and materials, it’s a good idea to order them in advance. This ensures that you have everything you need when it’s time to start packing. Another money saving tips is just ask in any retail shops you go in if they have any cardboard boxes you can have, we’ve had success in loads of places such as Shoezone, independent retails, coffee shops, Pets At Home and more.
- Labelling Boxes: As you pack, be sure to label your boxes with the rooms they should go into in your new home. This makes the unpacking process much smoother and helps movers or friends know where to place each box.
- Clearing Out Unwanted Items: As you clear out your old home, take the opportunity to declutter and dispose of any items you no longer need or want to take with you. Consider donating, selling, or recycling items that are in good condition but no longer serve a purpose. Another tip when you’re not sure whether to get rid of an item, ask yourself if you’d purchase it now, if the answer is no, you don’t really want it do you!
Remember, starting early and tackling packing tasks gradually can help alleviate stress and ensure a smoother moving process. It starts off a fun task but you’ll be sick of it before getting to the next step of the moving houses checklist. Happy packing!

Step 9: How Are You Moving These Boxes?
When it comes to the moving houses checklist, you have three main options to consider for the actual move and it might require asking a few favours:
- Hiring a Removals Company: Obviously the most costly option but consider hiring a reputable removals company for a stress-free moving experience. Research trusted sources like Which? Trusted Traders to find companies with excellent track records and customer reviews. Obtain quotes from multiple companies to compare services and prices, and ensure they offer adequate insurance coverage for your belongings during transit.
- Getting Help from Friends and Family: Another option (and our favourite) is to enlist the help of friends and family members to assist with your move. While this option may save you money, it’s essential to consider factors like availability, reliability, and the physical demands of moving heavy furniture and boxes. Don’t injury yourself or family and friends, be careful! But getting help from your loved ones and everyone chipping in is great!
- Renting a Van: If you prefer a more hands-on approach, renting a van and handling the move yourself is a viable option. Research van rental companies in your area and book in advance to secure the vehicle for your moving day. Keep in mind that renting a van requires careful planning to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Consider your budget, time constraints, and personal preferences when deciding on the best moving method for your needs. Whether you opt for a removals company, assistance from friends and family, or renting a van, careful planning and preparation are key to a successful move and this step of the moving houses checklist.
Step 10: Preparing Your Old Home For The New Owner
As you prepare to move out of your old home and the moving houses checklist is nearly all ticked off. It’s essential to ensure that it’s ready for the new owner. Try leave the property how you’d like to find it if you were moving there. Here are some tips to help you leave a positive impression:
- Cleaning: Before handing over the keys, take the time to thoroughly clean and declutter your old home. This includes scrubbing surfaces, vacuuming carpets, and clearing out any unwanted items. Consider donating or disposing of items that you no longer need or want.
- Providing Instructions: Leave behind clear instructions on how to operate essential features of the home, such as the boiler, alarm system, and appliances. Maybe leave the instruction manuals for those items if you still have them. Include information about the location of meters, fuse box, and stopcock to help the new owner navigate their new space.
- Organising Keys: Label all keys to make it easier for the new owner to access different areas of the property. Don’t forget keys for windows, sheds, and garages, if applicable.
- Communicating Special Considerations: If there are any quirks or special considerations about the property, such as maintenance schedules or neighbourhood regulations, be sure to communicate these to the new owner. This helps them feel informed and confident about their new home.
By taking the time to prepare your old home for the new owner, you can ensure a smooth transition and leave behind a positive impression. It’s a thoughtful gesture that reflects your respect for the property and its future occupants, your moving houses checklist isn’t all about you! And of course, good karma is always welcome!

Step 11: Enjoying Your New Home
That’s it! The moving houses checklist is complete! Congratulations on your move! Now that you’re settled into your new home, it’s time to make the most of your fresh start. Here are some tips to help you navigate life in your new space:
- Unpacking and Organising: Dive into the exciting task of unpacking and organising your belongings in your new home. Take your time to arrange each room to your liking, creating a space that reflects your personality and style.
- Exploring Your Neighbourhood: Take advantage of your new surroundings by exploring your neighbourhood and discovering local amenities, parks, cafes, and shops. Embrace the opportunity to meet your new neighbours and become a part of your community.
- Settling into Routine: Establishing a routine can help you feel more at home in your new environment. Settle into a comfortable rhythm that incorporates daily activities, self-care rituals, and leisure pursuits.
- Making Memories: Create lasting memories in your new home by hosting housewarming gatherings, game nights, or movie marathons with friends and family. Cherish these moments as you embark on this exciting new chapter of your life.
- Reflecting on Your Journey: Maybe you don’t need to add this to your moving houses checklist, but take a moment to reflect on your moving journey and celebrate your accomplishments. Remember the challenges you overcame and the lessons you learned along the way. Your resilience and determination have brought you to this exciting new beginning.
That’s it the moving houses checklist is complete! As you embark on this new adventure, embrace the opportunities that await you and savour the excitement of creating a life in your new home. Here’s to many wonderful memories and experiences ahead! We hope you enjoyed the moving houses checklist! And remember, check out the rest of our blog posts. Even though you are moved in, we’re sure there’s more help and tips you can find in our blog.

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