Moving House Checklist

There’s a lot to remember when you’re moving home. Use our handy moving house checklist to make sure you don't miss a thing.

Angela Kerr Director, Editor

Moving house checklist

Your moving house checklist can be broken down into three main areas:

1. What you need to do after an offer has been accepted,
2. What to do between exchange and completion, and
3. What you need to do on moving day.

You can also download our printable Moving House Checklist here to print out and tick things off as you go.

1. What to do once an offer has been accepted

When you’re moving house, getting from an offer being accepted to the finish line of completion day can be hard work. You can plan for the costs of moving with our cost of moving calculator and make these items on your moving house checklist your priority:

Sort the legal side

You’ll need a conveyancing solicitor to handle the legal side of buying and selling a house. If you haven’t instructed a conveyancer yet, do it ASAP. Find the right conveyancing solicitor for you – compare quotes & ratings instantly. But if you have instructed your conveyancer, do everything you can to avoid unnecessary delays by reading our guide How to speed up conveyancing.

Book your survey

Speed is of the essence in all aspects of your purchase so arrange your survey promptly. Read our guides on House survey types and How much a survey costs. Depending on what the survey reveals, you may want to renegotiate the price. The quicker you can do this the better. Read our guide What to do after a bad house survey report for advice on this.

Arrange your mortgage

Once you’ve had your offer accepted on a house, complete your full mortgage application without delay. Find the best mortgage for your needs with fee free mortgage brokers L&C.

Consider Home Buyer’s Protection Insurance

Home Buyer’s Protection Insurance, can protect you in the event of being gazumped, or if the seller changes their mind. It can enable you to claim back some of your conveyancing fees, survey costs/mortgage valuation fees and mortgage/lender fees in the event of the purchase falling through. Protect yourself with Home Buyers Protection Insurance for just £69.

Compare buildings insurance quotes

You’ll need to get buildings insurance in place from exchange of contracts, so add compare home insurance quotes to your moving house checklist. Buildings insurance covers the repair or rebuilding of your house, in case there is major damage, such as a fire or falling trees and its usually a requirement of your mortgage. However, if you’re buying a leasehold property, your freeholder will typically arrange this and you’ll pay for it in your service charge but contents insurance is still a consideration when insuring a flat. Read more in our guide Home Insurance: What type do I need?

Declutter

There’s no point moving items you no longer need.  Donate them to a charity shop or if they’re valuable, try selling them online, at an auction or sell to a second-hand furniture dealer.  If you’re looking to have items safely and conveniently disposed of, take a look at our rubbish removal partner LoveJunk. 

Research removals companies

Getting removal quotes 4-6 weeks before you hope to move is an important thing to tick off your moving day checklist. You should ask at least two removal firms to do an at-home survey so you can get accurate quotes. Check if any packing materials are included in the quote, if not ask about the costs and compare this with cost of buying them elsewhere. See our advice guide on questions to ask and how to Find the right removals company. Bear in mind moving house on a Friday, on a Bank Holiday weekend and in the school holidays is always busier.

Get instant quotes from quality removal companies in your local area now

2. Moving house checklist between exchange and completion

Once you exchange contracts, your completion day is fixed. So here’s what you need to tick off your moving day checklist at this point.

Confirm your removals

Contact your chosen removals company and book them in asap. And make sure your possessions will be insured during the moving process. Find out more in our guide Insurance when moving house.

Sort your utilities

• Energy suppliers: Tell your existing energy supplier that you’re moving home; give at least 48 hours’ notice and your new address. Check who your new energy supplier will be so you’ll know who to contact as soon as you move in. This information should be in the TA6 form you get from the sellers.
• Water supplier: You’ll need to tell your water company when you’re planning to move out and your new address. If you have a water meter, give at least 5 working days’ notice so they can arrange a final meter reading.
• Council tax: You’ll need to tell the council at the address you’re leaving and register for council tax at your new address.
• Sort your broadband: Moving home can be a good time to review your service if you are considering a change. See our guide on broadband and moving house, as well as, broadband speed, what to consider and the best providers for more advice. But don’t book your broadband switch until you exchange contracts and your completion day is fixed.

Find out more on all of these in our guide How to take over utilities when moving house.

Start packing

Unless you’re using a packing service this can be a major job so start early. It’s a good idea to keep a box of essentials for when you move in with kettle, cups, milk etc so you can at least have a cup of tea when you get there. For more advice on how to pack for moving house, see our guide.

Your moving house checklist should also include:

• Arranging your contents insurance for your new home and ensuring you have the right level of cover so that it starts as soon as you move in.
• Collecting all the keys to your home, including those left with neighbours, nannies and relatives, and give them to your solicitor or estate agent.
• Organising your post redirection. You can use the Royal Mail’s redirection service when you move house to any UK or overseas address for up to 3, 6 or 12 months from £39.50.
• Cancel any milk, subscription boxes and newspapers deliveries.
• If you are moving to a different area, notify your GP and register with a new one.
• Give your house a thorough clean ahead of the move.

Get ready for moving day. Get instant quotes from quality removal companies in your local area now.

3. Moving day checklist

On completion day, which is also typically moving day, your conveyancing solicitor confirms the transaction, deals with paperwork and deeds, and (if you’re the seller) signs off mortgage completion statements.

On moving day, your checklist should include:

• Taking meter readings and submitting them to your old energy supplier. Also, take readings at your new house.
• Once your furniture and belongings have been removed, it’s likely that your old home could benefit from another clean before you leave.
• Have a final walk around your house to check you’ve left nothing behind.
• Collect the keys for your new house from the estate agent
• Travel with the removals company or make sure someone will be there with the keys to let them in.
• Ensure that all items that were included in the sale listed on the TA10 fixtures and fittings form such as carpets, curtains and any white goods are there. If there is anything missing, contact your solicitor.
• If you notice any serious faults in your new home that were missed in the original survey, alert your surveyor immediately.
• Check that the phone, security alarm, smoke alarm, electricity, gas, central heating and water all work.
• It’s advisable to get the locks changed on your new property – you never know who the previous owners may have given spare keys to.

Change of address checklist

There is a long list of people and organisations you’ll need to inform of your new address – so be sure to add this to your checklist.

Your change of address checklist may include:

• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)
• Electoral roll This is important so you don’t lose your right but also for your credit rating.
• TV Licensing
• Subscriptions including TV packages
• Online shops
• Employers
• The schools your children attend
• Friends, family and colleagues
• Insurance providers, including life insurance
• GP & dentist

Frequently Asked Questions