When should I start a moving house checklist?

Around eight weeks before your expected completion date. That gives you time to get removal quotes, declutter and give notice to suppliers who ask for two weeks or more.

How long does packing a house take?

A three bedroom house takes most families around twenty hours spread over two or three weeks. A professional packing team usually completes the same house in one day.

What should I pack in a first night box?

Bedding, towels, toiletries, phone chargers, a kettle with mugs and tea, basic tools, toilet roll, medication and a change of clothes for everyone.

What will removal companies not move?

Petrol, gas bottles, paint, aerosols, fireworks and other flammables are excluded for safety. Plants, frozen food, pets, cash and important documents should travel with you.

Who do I need to tell when I move house?

Your council, energy and water suppliers, broadband provider, bank, insurers, DVLA, HMRC, employer, GP and schools. Royal Mail redirection catches anything you miss.

What time do removals usually start?

Most crews arrive between 7.30am and 8.30am. On a same day completion you will normally load in the morning and unload once the keys are released in the early afternoon.

Moving House Checklist UK 2026 | Free Printable Week by Week List

8 weeks to go

Eight weeks before you move

This is the planning stretch. Nothing is urgent yet so use the time to get quotes and cut down how much you actually have to carry.

Book removal surveys with two or three companies and ask for the price in writing
Check what your buildings and contents insurance covers while the goods are in transit
Read your tenancy or lease for the notice you have to give
Start a room by room declutter and book a charity collection for anything bulky
Measure large furniture against doorways and stairs at the new property
Ask your solicitor for a realistic completion window so you can pencil in dates

6 weeks to go

Six weeks before you move

Decisions get made here. Confirm who is doing the packing and start the paperwork that takes other people time to process.

Confirm your removal company and whether you want a full pack or fragile only pack
Order boxes, tape, wrap and wardrobe cartons so packing can start any evening
Book storage if there is a gap between your completion dates
Arrange time off work for moving day and the day after
Register children at the new school and request records to be transferred
Book a vet appointment if pets need microchip details or travel advice updated

4 weeks to go

Four weeks before you move

The notifying stage. Most organisations want a couple of weeks warning so getting this done now avoids chasing on moving week.

Set up Royal Mail redirection from your moving date
Tell your council you are leaving and register for council tax at the new address
Give your energy, water and broadband suppliers your move date
Update your bank, employer, insurers, DVLA and GP or dentist
Cancel or transfer gym memberships, subscriptions and regular deliveries
Start packing anything you will not use before the move such as books and out of season clothes

2 weeks to go

Two weeks before you move

Tidy up the practical details while you still have the space to think. Access and parking cause more delays on the day than packing ever does.

Confirm parking, permits, loading bays or lift bookings at both addresses
Ask the removal team about items they cannot legally carry such as fuel, paint and aerosols
Run down the freezer and the food cupboards
Arrange care for children or pets on moving day
Service or empty the lawn mower and any garden machinery
Book a cleaner or plan a cleaning slot for the empty property

1 week to go

One week before you move

Almost everything should be boxed by the end of this week apart from the things you use daily.

Label every box with the room it belongs in at the new house
Pack a first night box with bedding, towels, chargers, kettle, mugs and a tool kit
Keep passports, deeds, keys, jewellery and medication with you rather than on the lorry
Defrost and dry the freezer
Disassemble flat pack furniture if your crew is not doing it and bag the fittings
Confirm the arrival time with your removal company and share both contact numbers

The day before

The day before completion

Short list, but these are the ones people forget and end up phoning about a week later.

Take photographs of meter readings for gas, electricity and water
Charge your phone, a power bank and any door entry fobs
Withdraw a little cash for parking or a thank you for the crew
Clear the hallways and the route from the front door to the vehicle
Put all keys, fobs and manuals in one labelled bag for the new owner
Get an early night because moving day starts sooner than you expect

Moving day

On moving day

Your job is to make decisions quickly and let the crew work. Everything else is already in place if you have worked through the list.

Walk each room with the crew leader and point out fragile or high value items
Keep the essentials box and your documents in your own car
Check lofts, sheds, the garage, the airing cupboard and behind doors before the lorry leaves
Take final meter readings and photograph the empty rooms
Hand keys to the agent and collect the keys for the new property
At the new house direct boxes room by room and check the inventory before signing off

First week in

Your first week in the new home

Unpacking can wait a few days. Safety, security and the bits that cost money if they slip cannot.

Take opening meter readings and send them to your suppliers
Locate the stopcock, fuse box, gas valve and alarm panel
Change the locks or have the barrels replaced
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
Register with a local GP, dentist and vet
Update the electoral roll and your driving licence and vehicle logbook

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