6–8 Weeks Before Moving

4 Weeks Before Moving: Change Your Address

About a month before moving day, start working through your change of address checklist. There are more organisations to notify than you might think, and doing it now means you’re less likely to forget something in the rush of moving week.

Who Should You Tell You’re Moving?

Make a list and work through it systematically:

• Bank and building society – update your correspondence address.
• Credit card providers – remember to update each card separately if necessary.
• Insurance companies – including home, car, life and other policies.
• Employer – make sure your payroll and employment records have your new address.
• HMRC – update your address if you’re registered for Self Assessment or other HMRC services.
• DVLA – update the address on your driving licence and vehicle records.
• GP and dentist – particularly important if you’re moving outside your current area.
• School or nursery – tell them about your new address and check whether anything else needs updating.
• Subscriptions – magazines, meal deliveries, memberships and other regular services.
• Online shopping accounts – update your default delivery address on sites you regularly use.
• Pension providers – make sure important correspondence continues to reach you.
• Friends and family – don’t forget to let the people who regularly send you post know where you’ve moved.

Arrange Royal Mail Redirection

Even if you’ve remembered to update everyone, it’s worth arranging Royal Mail redirection. It provides an extra safety net by forwarding post sent to your old address to your new one for the period you choose.

This is particularly useful because you may still receive letters from organisations you didn’t realise had your old address.

Tip: Keep a note of any post that is redirected. If something arrives at your new address with your old details, use it as a reminder to update that organisation.

Your 4-Week Address Checklist

☐ Bank and building society
☐ Credit card providers
☐ Insurance companies
☐ Employer
☐ HMRC
☐ DVLA
☐ GP
☐ Dentist
☐ School or nursery
☐ Subscriptions and memberships
☐ Online shopping accounts
☐ Pension providers
☐ Friends and family
☐ Arrange Royal Mail redirection

Don’t try to remember everything at once. Keep this list handy and tick each organisation off as you update your details.

With just two weeks to go, the big decisions should already be made. Now is the time to confirm the details, finish the majority of your packing and make sure there are no last-minute surprises.

Confirm Your Removal Company

Contact your removal company to confirm that everything is still booked and that they have the correct details for both properties. Let them know about any changes to your plans, furniture or access arrangements.

Confirm the Moving Date

Double-check your moving date, particularly if you’re buying or selling a property and your move depends on completion. If anything changes, let your removal company know as soon as possible.

Confirm the Arrival Time

Find out when your removal team is expected to arrive and make sure you know how you’ll be contacted if there are any delays or changes on the day.

Check Parking and Access

Make sure there is suitable access for the removal vehicle at both properties. Consider parking restrictions, narrow roads, permits, gates, stairs and any other potential problems.

If necessary, arrange parking or contact the relevant local authority about permits or restrictions well before moving day.

Finish Most of Your Packing

By two weeks before the move, most non-essential items should be packed. Leave out only the things you still need for everyday life.

Don’t forget less obvious areas such as:

• Loft
• Garage
• Shed
• Garden
• Spare rooms
• Cupboards and drawers

Tip: Clearly label every box with the room it belongs in and a brief description of what’s inside. This will make unpacking much easier.

Dispose of Unwanted Items

Don’t move things you no longer want. Use these final two weeks to sell, donate, recycle or dispose of anything you’ve decided not to take with you.

This is also a good time to arrange collection of larger unwanted items rather than leaving everything until moving day.

Defrost the Freezer

If you’re taking your freezer with you, arrange to defrost it before moving day. Ideally, empty it and allow enough time for it to fully defrost and dry.

Wash and Dry Appliances

Clean and dry washing machines, dishwashers and other appliances before they’re moved. Make sure appliances are properly disconnected and prepared for transportation.

For washing machines, remember to fit the transit bolts if required by the manufacturer.

Separate Valuables and Important Documents

Keep passports, birth certificates, financial documents, jewellery, medication, keys and other valuable or important items separate from your removal boxes.

Ideally, these should travel with you rather than going into the removal vehicle.

Arrange Pet Care if Necessary

Moving day can be noisy and busy, with doors opening and closing and furniture being carried around. If possible, arrange for pets to stay with family, friends or a suitable pet-care provider during the move.

This keeps them safe and reduces the risk of them becoming stressed or escaping.

Arrange Childcare if Necessary

If you have young children, consider arranging childcare for moving day. A busy house full of boxes, furniture and people coming in and out can be difficult to manage safely.

Having children looked after for the day can make the move easier for everyone.

Your 2-Week Moving Checklist

☐ Confirm your removal company
☐ Confirm the moving date
☐ Confirm the removal team’s arrival time
☐ Check parking and access at both properties
☐ Finish most of your packing
☐ Clear out unwanted items
☐ Defrost the freezer
☐ Wash and dry appliances
☐ Separate valuables and important documents
☐ Arrange pet care if necessary
☐ Arrange childcare if necessary

You’re nearly there! Once these jobs are ticked off, you’ll be able to concentrate on the final preparations and getting ready for moving day.

The final week is here! By now, most of the big jobs should be done. This week is about finishing the packing, keeping the things you’ll need close at hand and making sure all the practical details are ready for moving day.

Pack an Essentials Box

Put together a box or bag containing everything you’ll need as soon as you arrive at your new home. Keep it somewhere easily accessible rather than packing it deep inside the removal van.

Include things such as:

• Tea, coffee and drinks
• Snacks
• Mugs and basic kitchen items
• Toilet roll
• Hand soap
• Towels
• Basic cleaning products
• Bin bags
• Phone chargers
• Basic tools
• Children’s essentials
• Pet supplies

Tip: Clearly label it “OPEN FIRST” so you can find it immediately.

Pack an Overnight Bag

Prepare an overnight bag as though you’re staying away for a night. Include a change of clothes, toiletries, pyjamas and anything else you’ll need for the first evening and following morning.

If you have children, pack a separate bag for each child with their clothes, toiletries and favourite comfort items.

Keep Medication Accessible

Don’t pack medication into a removal box. Keep prescriptions and any essential medication with you so they’re available throughout the journey and when you arrive.

Charge Phones and Power Banks

Moving day can involve a lot of calls, messages and coordination, so make sure everyone’s phones are fully charged. Charge any power banks too and keep chargers somewhere easy to find.

Keep Important Documents Together

Keep passports, property documents, insurance paperwork, financial documents, driving licences and other important paperwork together in one secure place.

Take these with you rather than putting them into the removal van.

Finish Packing

Aim to have almost everything packed by the end of the week. Leave out only the items you’ll need for the final few days.

Don’t forget to check:

☐ Kitchen cupboards and drawers
☐ Wardrobes
☐ Loft
☐ Garage
☐ Shed
☐ Garden
☐ Spare rooms

Label boxes clearly with the room and contents to make unpacking easier.

Clean as Rooms Become Empty

Cleaning as you finish each room is much easier than leaving the whole house until the last minute. Give empty rooms, cupboards and floors a final clean once they’re cleared.

You may also want to arrange cleaning at your new property before your belongings are fully unpacked, if possible.

Make Sure the Keys Are Available

Confirm how and when you’ll receive the keys to your new property. If you’re selling your current home, make sure you know where the keys need to be left or handed over.

If someone else is collecting or handing over keys on your behalf, make sure everyone knows exactly what has been agreed.

Check Access and Parking Arrangements

Do one final check of access at both properties.

Make sure your removal company knows about:

• Parking restrictions
• Permits
• Narrow roads
• Gates
• Stairs
• Lifts
• Long driveways
• Any difficult or restricted access

If anything has changed since you received your removal quote, tell the removal company now rather than waiting until moving day.

Your 1-Week Moving Checklist

☐ Pack an essentials box
☐ Pack an overnight bag
☐ Keep medication accessible
☐ Charge phones and power banks
☐ Keep important documents together
☐ Finish packing
☐ Clean as rooms become empty
☐ Make sure keys are available
☐ Check access and parking arrangements

You’re almost ready! Keep the final few days as simple as possible and avoid leaving major jobs until moving day itself. The more organised you are now, the smoother your move is likely to be.