Moving House Checklist at a Glance

Moving house involves far more than packing boxes. There are removals to arrange, addresses to change, utilities to organise, parking and access to consider, pets and children to think about and plenty of small jobs that are easy to forget.

This ultimate moving house checklist for York and Yorkshire takes you through the whole process, from 12 weeks before your move to your first week in your new home.

Use it as your master moving checklist and tick each job off as you go.

Your moving house timeline

12 weeks before

• Confirm your likely moving date
• Start planning your move
• Get removals quotes
• Start decluttering
• Consider storage
• Measure large furniture
• Check access at your new property

8 weeks before

• Book your removals company
• Order packing materials
• Start packing non-essential items
• Arrange storage if required
• Start your change of address list
• Make plans for children, pets or elderly relatives

6 weeks before

• Continue packing
• Start notifying organisations of your new address
• Arrange broadband and utilities
• Check parking and access arrangements
• Confirm any specialist removal requirements

4 weeks before

• Arrange Royal Mail redirection
• Notify your bank, insurers, employer and other important organisations
• Confirm council tax arrangements
• Arrange utility accounts
• Check your removal booking
• Start preparing for moving day

2 weeks before

• Finish most of your packing
• Confirm your removal company and arrival time
• Check parking and access
• Arrange childcare and pet care if necessary
• Prepare important documents and valuables
• Defrost and prepare appliances

Moving week

• Finish packing
• Label every box
• Prepare an essentials box
• Clean the property
• Confirm keys and completion arrangements
• Keep important paperwork and valuables with you

Moving day

• Take meter readings
• Keep keys and documents safe
• Check every room, cupboard, loft, garage and shed
• Make sure windows and doors are secure
• Complete your final property inspection

First night

• Find the essentials box
• Locate the fuse box, stopcock and boiler controls
• Make beds
• Get basic food and drinks
• Keep phones and chargers accessible

First week

• Register for council tax
• Finalise utility accounts
• Update remaining addresses
• Unpack the essentials first
• Check your new home and report any problems

12 Weeks Before Moving House

If you have around three months before your move, start getting organised now. The earlier you begin, the less you will have to deal with during the final few days.

Confirm Your Moving Date

If you’re buying or selling a property, your moving date may depend on exchange and completion. Once your date is confirmed, put it somewhere prominent and start working backwards from it.

Choose a Removals Company

Start getting quotes from reputable removal companies in York or your local area.

When comparing removal companies, don’t just look at the price. Check what is included, whether they provide boxes, whether packing is available, what insurance cover they have and whether they can deal with difficult access or specialist items.

If you’re moving during a particularly busy period, such as summer or around school holidays, booking early can give you more choice of dates.

Start Decluttering

Moving is a great opportunity to get rid of things you no longer need.

Work through the loft, garage, spare rooms, cupboards and garden storage.

Create four categories:

• Keep
• Sell
• Donate
• Dispose

There is little point paying a removal company to transport things you don’t want at your new home.

Think About Storage

Do you need somewhere to store furniture or boxes temporarily?

Storage can be useful if:

• There is a gap between moving out and moving in
• You’re downsizing
• Your new home is being renovated
• You’re moving in stages
• You need to clear your property before selling it

Arrange storage early if you think you’ll need it.

Measure Large Furniture

Measure sofas, wardrobes, beds, dining tables and other large items.

Also consider doorways, hallways, staircases, gates and access at the new property.

An item that fits perfectly in your current home may not fit through the entrance of your new one.

Check Access

Tell your removals company about anything that could make access difficult.

This might include:

• Narrow streets
• Restricted parking
• Steps
• Gates
• Long driveways
• Lifts
• Flats without direct vehicle access
• City-centre restrictions
• Narrow country lanes

This is particularly important when moving in and around York, where some properties can have restricted or difficult access.

Your 12-Week Checklist

☐ Confirm your moving date
☐ Get removals quotes
☐ Start decluttering
☐ Decide what you’re taking with you
☐ Consider storage
☐ Measure large furniture
☐ Check access at your new home
☐ Start a moving budget

8 Weeks Before Moving House

With two months to go, it’s time to turn your plans into action.

Book Your Removals Company

Once your moving date is confirmed, book your removals company.

Give them as much information as possible about both properties, including the number of bedrooms, large or unusual items, parking, stairs and access.

If you need a packing service, furniture dismantling, storage or specialist removals, arrange these at the same time.

Start Packing

Don’t leave everything until moving week.

Start with things you don’t use every day:

• Books
• Ornaments
• Seasonal clothing
• Christmas decorations
• Spare kitchen equipment
• Loft contents
• Garage contents
• Decorative items

Keep everyday essentials unpacked until much closer to moving day.

Label Every Box

Every box should have:

Room + contents

For example:

KITCHEN – MUGS & GLASSES

This is much more useful than simply writing “Kitchen” on every box.

If you want to make unpacking even easier, number your boxes and keep a simple list of what each number contains.

Start Your Change of Address List

Make a master list of everyone who needs to know you’re moving.

Don’t rely on memory. Add organisations to the list whenever you think of them.

Think About Children, Pets and Elderly Relatives

If you’re moving with children, pets or an elderly relative, start thinking about what they will need on moving day.

The move may be exciting, but a busy house full of boxes, furniture and people can also be unsettling.

Planning ahead can make the day much easier.

Your 8-Week Checklist

☐ Book your removals company
☐ Arrange packing services if required
☐ Order boxes and packing materials
☐ Start packing non-essential items
☐ Label boxes clearly
☐ Start your change of address list
☐ Consider arrangements for children
☐ Consider arrangements for pets
☐ Plan for elderly relatives if necessary
☐ Arrange storage if required

6 Weeks Before Moving House

You’re now getting closer to moving day. This is the point where the smaller jobs start becoming important.

Continue Packing

Keep working through the house a room at a time.

Try not to create piles of half-packed belongings everywhere. Pack complete groups of items and label the boxes clearly.

Arrange Your Utilities

Start making arrangements for the utilities at your new property.

This may include:

• Gas
• Electricity
• Water
• Broadband
• Telephone
• Other household services

Find out which suppliers currently serve the new property and what you need to do when you move in.

Don’t forget to take meter readings on moving day.

Arrange Broadband

If you need broadband at your new home, don’t leave this until the last minute.

Check availability and arrange installation or transfer as early as possible.

Start Changing Your Address

Work through your list and start updating your details.

Important organisations may include:

• Bank and building society
• Credit card providers
• Insurance companies
• Employer
• HMRC
• DVLA
• Pension providers
• GP and dentist
• School or nursery
• Subscriptions and memberships

Check Parking

Parking can be one of the most easily overlooked parts of a house move.

Check whether your removal vehicle will have somewhere suitable to park at both properties.

Think about:

• Parking restrictions
• Permit requirements
• Double yellow lines
• Narrow streets
• Residents’ parking
• City-centre restrictions
• Gates and driveways

Tell your removals company about any potential problems.

Your 6-Week Checklist

☐ Continue packing
☐ Arrange gas and electricity
☐ Arrange water
☐ Arrange broadband
☐ Start changing your address
☐ Check parking at both properties
☐ Tell your removals company about access restrictions
☐ Check arrangements for children, pets and elderly relatives

4 Weeks Before Moving House

One month to go. Your move should now be taking shape, but there are still plenty of important jobs to complete.

Change of Address Checklist

There are more organisations that may have your address than you might think.

Work through your list and notify:

• Bank and building society
• Credit card providers
• Insurance companies
• Employer
• HMRC
• DVLA
• Pension providers
• GP
• Dentist
• School or nursery
• Clubs and memberships
• Magazine and subscription services
• Online shopping accounts
• Friends and family

Arrange Royal Mail Redirection

Royal Mail redirection gives you an extra safety net by forwarding post from your old address to your new one.

Even if you’ve updated everyone you can think of, it’s easy to forget an organisation that still has your old address.

Council Tax

Make arrangements with the relevant council for both your old and new properties.

If you’re moving within York or elsewhere in Yorkshire, check the council responsible for your new address and make sure your account is updated when you move.

Keep confirmation of your old and new council tax arrangements.

Utilities

Make sure you know what you need to do with the utilities at your current and new properties.

Keep a note of:

• Supplier names
• Account numbers
• Contact details
• Meter locations
• Moving dates

Take photographs of your meter readings on moving day.

Check Your Removals Booking

Contact your removal company and confirm:

• Moving date
• Collection address
• Delivery address
• Number of rooms
• Large or specialist items
• Parking
• Access
• Packing requirements
• Storage requirements

If anything has changed since you received your quote, tell them now.

Your 4-Week Checklist

☐ Notify banks and financial providers
☐ Notify insurance companies
☐ Tell your employer
☐ Update HMRC if required
☐ Update DVLA
☐ Notify GP and dentist
☐ Notify schools or nurseries
☐ Update subscriptions
☐ Arrange Royal Mail redirection
☐ Arrange council tax
☐ Confirm utility arrangements
☐ Confirm your removals booking

2 Weeks Before Moving Day

Two weeks to go. The big decisions should now be made. Your priority is finishing the practical jobs and preparing for the move itself.

Finish Most of Your Packing

By now, most rooms should be packed apart from things you use every day.

Don’t forget:

• Loft
• Garage
• Shed
• Garden
• Cupboards
• Drawers
• Wardrobes
• Spare rooms

Confirm Your Removals Company

Speak to your removals company and confirm the final arrangements.

Check:

• Date
• Arrival time
• Collection address
• Delivery address
• Access
• Parking
• Number of items
• Any specialist furniture
• Packing arrangements
• Storage requirements

Prepare Appliances

If you’re taking appliances with you, make sure they’re properly prepared.

For example, washing machines normally need to be disconnected and secured for transportation according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Freezers should be defrosted in advance if they are being moved.

Keep Valuables With You

Do not put important documents and valuables into ordinary removal boxes.

Keep items such as:

• Passports
• Birth certificates
• Financial documents
• Jewellery
• Medication
• House paperwork
• Keys
• Important contracts

with you.

Arrange Pet Care

Moving day can be noisy and confusing for pets.

Doors may be open, strangers may be carrying furniture and there is an increased risk of a pet escaping.

If possible, arrange for dogs, cats or other pets to stay somewhere safe and familiar during the busiest part of the move.

Arrange Childcare

If you have young children, consider arranging childcare for moving day.

A house full of boxes, removal staff and open doors isn’t always the safest or easiest environment for young children.

Think About Elderly Relatives

If an elderly relative is moving with you, or is moving home themselves, allow extra time and plan around their needs.

Consider:

• Medication
• Important paperwork
• Favourite or familiar belongings
• Seating
• Food and drinks
• Accessibility
• Transport
• Where they will spend moving day

An elderly person’s move may require more preparation than a straightforward family house move.

A&M Removals offers a complete packing service…

Your 2-Week Checklist

☐ Finish most packing
☐ Confirm your removals company
☐ Confirm arrival time
☐ Check parking and access
☐ Prepare appliances
☐ Separate valuables and documents
☐ Arrange pet care
☐ Arrange childcare
☐ Plan for elderly relatives
☐ Defrost freezer if required

Moving Week

The final week is about keeping things organised and avoiding unnecessary last-minute jobs.

Pack Your Essentials Box

Prepare one box or bag that you can access immediately when you arrive.

Include:

• Tea and coffee
• Drinks
• Snacks
• Mugs
• Kettle
• Toilet roll
• Hand soap
• Towels
• Basic cleaning products
• Bin bags
• Phone chargers
• Basic tools
• Medication
• Children’s essentials
• Pet supplies

Write OPEN FIRST clearly on it.

Pack an Overnight Bag

Pack as though you’re staying away for one night.

Include:

• Pyjamas
• Change of clothes
• Toiletries
• Towels
• Medication
• Phone charger
• Important documents
• Anything children need
• Anything pets need

Keep this with you rather than putting it into the removal van.

Finish Cleaning

Clean rooms as they become empty.

Pay particular attention to:

• Floors
• Cupboards
• Kitchen surfaces
• Bathrooms
• Windowsills
• Appliances
• Loft
• Garage
• Shed

Confirm the Keys

Make sure you know when and how you’ll receive the keys to your new property.

If someone else is collecting keys for you, make sure everyone involved knows the arrangement.

Final Week Checklist

☐ Finish packing
☐ Prepare essentials box
☐ Pack overnight bags
☐ Keep medication with you
☐ Keep important documents with you
☐ Charge phones and power banks
☐ Clean empty rooms
☐ Confirm keys
☐ Confirm parking and access
☐ Check the removal company has your latest instructions

Let’s get ready to rumble!

Moving Day

It’s finally here!

Try to keep your important documents, valuables, medication, keys and essentials with you.

Before the Removal Team Arrives

Do a quick check that:

☐ Boxes are clearly labelled
☐ Essentials are separate
☐ Important documents are with you
☐ Pets and children are safely looked after
☐ Parking is available
☐ Keys are ready

Take Meter Readings

Take photographs of your gas, electricity and water meters where applicable.

Record the readings and keep the photographs somewhere safe.

Keep Your Phone Charged

You’ll probably need your phone throughout the day, so keep your charger or power bank accessible.

Final Property Inspection

Before leaving your old home, walk through every room.

Check:

☐ Cupboards
☐ Drawers
☐ Wardrobes
☐ Loft
☐ Garage
☐ Shed
☐ Garden
☐ Outbuildings
☐ Appliances
☐ Windows
☐ Doors

Take one final look behind doors and inside storage areas.

Secure the Property

Before leaving, make sure windows and doors are secure and that you know where the keys need to go.

Don’t forget any spare keys.

Your First Night in Your New Home

You don’t need to unpack the whole house on the first night.

Concentrate on the basics.

Find Your Essentials Box

Get your essentials box open first.

Make tea or coffee, get some food, make the beds and give yourself a chance to breathe.

Find the Important Controls

Before you settle down, find:

• Electricity meter
• Fuse box
• Gas meter if applicable
• Water stopcock
• Boiler controls
• Heating controls

You don’t want to be searching for the stopcock at 10pm when you have a plumbing problem.

Make the Beds

This sounds obvious, but it’s one of the most useful jobs you can do before you’re exhausted.

Make sure bedding is easily accessible rather than buried inside a box.

Keep It Simple

Your first night doesn’t have to involve a perfectly organised home.

Get everyone fed, make sure pets and children are settled, charge your phones and get some sleep.

Your First Week After Moving

Once the boxes are inside, the next stage begins.

Don’t feel that everything needs to be unpacked immediately.

Register for Council Tax

Make sure your new address is registered with the appropriate council and that your council tax arrangements are in place.

Finalise Utility Accounts

Provide your meter readings and make sure your new utility accounts are correctly set up.

Keep confirmation emails and account details.

Check Your New Home

Work through the property and check that everything is as expected.

Make a note of any problems that need reporting.

Unpack the Essentials First

Start with:

1. Bedroom
2. Bathroom
3. Kitchen
4. Children’s rooms
5. Living areas
6. Everything else

You don’t need to unpack every box on day one.

Finish Your Change of Address

If anything was missed before the move, update it now.

Pay particular attention to organisations that send important paperwork or bills.

Your First-Week Checklist

☐ Register for council tax
☐ Submit utility meter readings
☐ Finalise utility accounts
☐ Check heating and hot water
☐ Locate stopcock and fuse box
☐ Check the property for problems
☐ Unpack essential rooms
☐ Update any remaining addresses
☐ Settle children and pets
☐ Start organising the remaining boxes

Choosing a Removals Company

Choosing the right removal company is an important part of planning your move.

When getting quotes, ask:

• What is included?
• Is packing available?
• Are boxes supplied?
• What insurance cover is provided?
• Can they handle large or specialist items?
• Can they cope with difficult access?
• Is storage available if required?
• What happens if completion is delayed?
• Is the quotation fixed or subject to change?

Tell the removal company about anything unusual before moving day.

That includes pianos, large furniture, narrow access, stairs, long walks from the property to the vehicle or restricted parking.

A good removal company should have the information it needs to plan the move properly.