Moving house checklist

Moving to your new house after completing the contract exchange and sorting out your mortgage in the UK seems like the easiest process compared to working on your mortgage application. However, moving out can be overwhelming, especially when you’re not well-prepared about the dos and don’ts of moving house. 

Preparing a moving house checklist is important to ensure you won’t overlook the essentials when it’s closer to your moving day. But what do you need to have on your moving house checklist? What can you do to make sure that your moving process will be smooth? 

In this post, we will share the ultimate moving house checklist in the UK, so you won’t miss out on anything important when preparing to move to your new house. 

Bottom Line Up Front

Moving to a new place can be stressful, especially if it’s your first time moving out. Whether you decide to make a DIY move or hire a house removal company, there are some essential items that you need to prepare before planning out your moving day. 

We have compiled a moving house checklist that you can use to guide your moving process in the UK. The article will be split into two sections, including things you need to do before moving house and what you need to prepare for the D-day of moving out. 

This essential moving house checklist in the UK will include calculating the timeline until the D-day of your move, the utility companies you need to contact before moving out to your new house in the UK, and the essential things to consider when deciding whether it’s best to do a DIY moving house or hire a professional house removal company when you move to a new house. 

What You Need to Do Before Moving House

Moving house requires detailed planning in advance, as relocating your belongings can be daunting. Depending on how many things you need to pack from your old place to the new house, sometimes you even need to split the moving process into a few batches when necessary. 

This section will cover some of the things you need to do before moving house, from creating a moving timeline to some efficient ways to pack your belongings to ensure that you have all the necessary things before your moving day. 

#1 Create a timeline for your house removal process

Knowing your moving date will help you plan your house removal process more efficiently. By making sure of the moving date, it will be easier for you to make a moving house checklist with an exact timeline to follow through. 

Typically, you can move in as soon as you complete the property purchase. However, you can also check with your house seller to calculate your moving plan accordingly. 

Once you find out when you can move to your new house, it will be easier to create a timeline where you can plan the moving process. When can you start packing to move out to the new place? Do you have any commitments with your current landlords before moving out? Will you need to settle any previous bills at your old place? 

The last thing you want to do is get overwhelmed when you realise that there are way too many things to do at the last minute when you need to move out. All things considered, it’s always better to keep it organised by knowing the specific timeline before moving to your new house!

#2 Hand in the notice to your landlord or estate agent

Check the break clause in your rental contract to see how long you have to give your landlord notice before ending your tenancy at your old place. It is best to give the notice as soon as you confirm the moving date, so you can avoid paying for both rent and a mortgage simultaneously. 

Talk to your landlord if you need to move out early to avoid misunderstandings. In any case, they may charge you a fee for early termination if you have to move out before the minimum period. 

However, it’s important to keep in mind that maintaining a good relationship with your landlord will help you in your moving process. If you rent a new place, your potential landlord may need a reference from your current landlord, so having a great relationship with them is essential to securing the new rent. 

If you purchase a new house, giving the notice to your landlord will ensure you get your deposit back. Moving house can be expensive, and you can increase your moving budget as soon as your landlord returns your tenancy deposit. 

#3 Contact the utility companies

When you move into a new house, there’s a chance that you need to transfer or even cancel your subscription to the utility companies at your old place. 

The last thing you want to do is get billed twice for utilities when moving to the new place, so make sure to contact your utility providers to discuss the best way to settle your subscription before moving out. Some of the utility companies that you may need to contact before moving house include: 

• Water and gas company
• Electricity provider
• Home phone or internet provider
• Cable TV company
• Mobile provider

If your new house is located in the same area as your old one, chances are you’ll be able to transfer the subscription and change the billing address without hassle. Otherwise, you may need to double-check whether the coverage of their services includes your home area. If it doesn’t, cancel your subscription so you can find a replacement available in the new area for the next billing cycle. 

#4 Get a ballpark pricing for house removal services

Setting a budget for your moving process is also crucial when planning your move to the new house. Moving house isn’t cheap, and the last thing you want to do is spend over the budget for your moving plan. 

 

Consider getting a ballpark figure for house removal services from a few mover companies to find one that fits your budget. You can also explore the idea of making a do-it-yourself moving plan if you have enough time and energy to plan your moving process from A to Z. On paper, the latter should be cheaper. However, more often than not, hiring a professional mover will also give you some peace of mind and ease the stress when planning your move. 

 

List the pros and cons if you weigh between booking a moving service company or planning a DIY moving house. Take into account some essentials for your moving process, including: 

• Storage containers and packing supplies.
• Storage rental if you need a space to keep your stuff.
• Extra assistance from your friends or family. 
• Truck rental if you need one. 

 

#5 Start decluttering your belongings

Buying a house is a new milestone in your life, and what better way to do it than by starting fresh when moving to your new house? One of the easiest ways to do it is by sorting your belongings and decluttering items that no longer serve you. 

If you decide to get through the moving process on your own, you don’t want to be stressed about moving junk that you no longer use and taking up some space in your new place. Meanwhile, hiring a moving company can be expensive if you have too many items to pack for your move. 

When you start your moving plan, do it as efficiently as possible, whether you do it yourself  or get a house removal service to help you with your move. Getting rid of some memorable mementos can be difficult, especially if you’ve had them for so long. 

Prepare three boxes for each room and sort them accordingly for the stuff you want to keep and move with you to the new place, things you need to throw away, and other items you can donate or resell. If you have enough time, you can host a garage sale to ensure that your belongings will go to the person who needs them while getting some cash to add to your moving funds!

#6 Start packing and labelling each moving box accordingly

Once you sort your belongings and decide which ones you need to keep, you can start preparing to pack far ahead before your moving date. Packing can be stressful and time-consuming, even after you declutter your stuff. If you have to do it alone, make sure to have your friends or family assist you so you won’t overlook any essential items to pack before you move out.  

Essentially, you only need a few packing tools and equipment, including:

• Moving boxes to pack all your stuff. 
• Bubble wrap to secure your belongings, especially for fragile items like china and mirror. 
• Packing tapes and scissors to seal boxes. 
• Permanent marker to label the boxes. 

You can sort the box for fragile and regular items for each room accordingly, and don’t forget to also pack an essential item box to prepare the items you will need on the last few days of staying at your place and the first days at your new house before you start unpacking your moving boxes. 

The Best Way to Moving House in the UK: DIY Moving House vs. Hiring a Moving Company 

Now that you know the sequence of your moving process and you’ve already got the ballpark figure for the budget you can prepare to move, the next question will remain: is it better to do a DIY moving house, or will it make more sense if you hire a moving company? 

When you make the decision to move out, you may have some priorities based on your needs and budget. If you prefer convenience and budget is not an issue, hiring a mover company can be the best way to move house in the UK. Alternatively, you can also manage your moving plan on your own if you have some time to spare before moving into your new home.

In this section, we will outline the pros and cons of DIY moving house and hiring a house removal company so you can decide which is the best for moving house in the UK!

Hiring a House Removal Company

The most convenient way to move house is if you can find the best house removal company in the UK with a reasonable budget and excellent service as a professional. 

Some house removal companies offer various services you can opt for according to your needs and budget. Whether you prefer the full moving service that covers packing service, loading, and transportation to ship your stuff from your old place to the new house, or you prefer hiring them from one of the services they offer, hiring a professional mover will take so much from your plate as moving house can be stressful!

The downside of hiring a house removal company may be in the budget area since it can be super expensive. However, if you prefer convenience and peace of mind so that you can focus on other important aspects of your move, hiring a moving company can save you time and energy!

Pick a few local moving companies and get multiple quotes for each of their services to compare. Most house removal companies can give you a ballpark figure based on various factors. 

While some professional movers charge by the hour for their service, some moving companies usually share their average price based on the distance from your old place to the new house and how many bedrooms there are. On average, moving to a 2-bedroom house in the UK will cost you around £600. The cost will vary depending on where you live and how far the distance is between your old place and your new house.

Pros: 

• Hiring a house removal company when you move house is more convenient, as you will have a professional to take care of the stressful part about moving: packing and loading your belongings!
• The professional moving company usually includes liability moving coverage for their service so that you can hold them accountable for any incident that may happen during the moving process.
• A credible house removal company will guarantee a safe delivery from point to point, so you don’t have to worry about driving long distances or spending extra for renting a truck company. 

Cons: 

• The fee for a full-service moving company can be super expensive, and you will have to compare the pros and cons of each company to ensure that you pick the most suitable one for your budget and moving plan.

 

DIY Moving House

At first glance, a DIY moving house sounds like the cheapest and easiest way to plan your moving process. You don’t have to spend extra to hire a moving company, and you get to take care of your belongings on your own without worrying someone else will break them in the process. What’s better than that? 

While it is true, the catch is that doing a DIY moving house is physically demanding. You still have other important things to do before moving out. The mundane, little things like transferring your utility subscriptions or registering for a new GP in your new house are often essential before you move in for good. 

Unless you have plenty of time and energy to plan out your moving process, choosing a DIY moving house can be overwhelming. Not to mention that it may come with unnecessary hidden costs that you don’t have to spend if you hire a professional to help you when you move house in the UK. 

If you have enough time to calculate the budget in detail, a DIY moving house can be cheaper than hiring a moving company. However, without detailed preparation in advance, people often spend more money when moving house alone.  

Pros: 

• You are in full control of your possessions and can sort your belongings any way you like. Whether you want to sort the moving boxes based on the room where you want to display them or do things the other way, it’s up to you!
• You can schedule your moving plan whenever you like without worrying about spending money for the extra charge from the moving company if the moving process takes longer than your original plan. 
• You can also rent storage to move things in a few batches if you don’t have a suitable vehicle to move things all at once. 
• When you do a DIY moving house, your moving plan can be more flexible as well. Whether you need to stop somewhere for lunch or have a slight delay due to an emergency, you can adjust your plan accordingly!

Cons: 

• DIY moving house is exhausting, especially if you don’t have anyone you can rely on to help pack, load your moving boxes, or disassemble your furniture. 
• You need to factor every necessary item into account, from moving tools and equipment to the cost of petrol for vehicles.

 

4 Things to Consider Before Deciding to Do a DIY Moving House or Hire a Moving Company

After knowing the pros and cons of doing a DIY moving house and hiring a moving company, you need to consider a few factors to decide which moving method is best for you. 

So, what do you need to consider to decide the best way to move house in the UK? 

#1 Your moving timeline

Do you have enough time to prepare everything by yourself? Or do you have a deadline to finish your moving process to avoid getting billed for both the rent and mortgage? 

If you have a flexible time, it means you will have some time to plan out your moving process, and it should be easy to make a DIY moving plan according to your timeline and schedule. However, if you move to a new house due to a new commitment to a job or simply to avoid paying double for both rent and mortgage, you may have to do a last-minute move, which could be stressful if you do it on your own. 

Once you know your moving timeline, you can calculate whether it’s feasible to take care of the moving process on your own. Otherwise, it’s probably the best time to start researching moving companies in the UK that can provide the house removal services.

#2 Your availability and capability

Packing, loading, and unloading your belongings, including the furniture, are physically demanding. Do you think you’re physically capable of doing all these things on your own? Do you have any family or friends who can help you with it? 

If you have the energy to do a DIY moving house and you can get an extra hand from your friends and family, then moving out yourself sounds like a more efficient option. Otherwise, you will need to consider all the extra efforts that you need to make when moving out since it’s not always about the money you spend on hiring a moving company. 

You need to factor in the time you spend decluttering, packing your stuff, disassembling your furniture, and even cleaning your old and new house during the process. 

While it may be minimal, there’s always a risk of injury or damage to your stuff if you do it on your own. So if you have an extra budget, hiring a house removal company seems more practical and safer, as they come with insurance coverage for all the risks that come with it. 

#3 The number of your belongings

Hiring a house removal company can be pricey if you have numerous items to pack when you move out. However, a DIY moving house can be an alternative if you don’t have many things to bring with you when you move to the new house. 

If you have bulky furniture, hiring professional movers can help you pack them quickly without any hassle so you can focus more on other things that matter about moving to a new house in the UK. Alternatively, you can consider selling the big furniture and upgrading it to the new ones when you move into your new place. 

With its marketplace and local groups, Facebook can be a great platform for finding buyers who are interested in your old stuff so you can declutter easily and faster. After all, starting fresh with minimalism can be a great way to move to a new house!

#4 The distance between your old place and the new house

A DIY moving plan will be easier to do if you move locally, as you can easily drop off some moving boxes in a few batches to complete your move, even if you have minimal help in the process. On the other hand, long-distance moving may be easier if you hire a professional moving service to ensure safety and timely delivery. 

Professional movers are usually more experienced in what you need for long-distance moving. If there are any administrative requirements if you move across countries or overseas, a moving company can take care of them. 

The decision of whether it’s better to move yourself or hire movers is all yours to make because the best way to move to your new house is subjective and it all depends on the budget you set for the move, the time and availability you have to pack and start your moving plan. 

FAQ About Moving House in the UK

Who do I need to notify when I move to a new house in the UK?

When you move to a new house in the UK, you need to notify a few companies to update your address or cancel your subscription if necessary. These include: 

• Insurance company to update your personal details. If you move to a different area, upgrading your insurance plan may be necessary. If you don’t update your address for your insurance, there’s a possibility that your current policy is no longer valid. 
• Water, electricity, and internet providers. Typically, you can transfer your accounts to the new address. Otherwise, you can cancel your accounts to avoid double payments.
• Healthcare provider. Whether you need to update the new address or it’s easier to find a new one, don’t forget to contact your healthcare provider to get it updated!
• The local council in your new house. It is your legal responsibility as a resident to notify the council when you move into a new house in the UK. Registering with your local council is necessary to ensure you’ll get billed correctly for communal services such as social care, rubbish collection, and general safety issues. 
• DVLA, so you can update your driver’s license address. Updating it will ensure that any important correspondence, such as tax reminders, will be sent correctly to your valid address. 
• HMRC, your employer and pension provider, so you can update your address for tax and payroll purposes. 
• Banks and building societies to avoid any fraudulent activities with your name. 

Other than that, you also need to notify your friends and family just in case of an emergency. In addition to that, it’s always wise to update your new address in advance for your online subscription or e-commerce service to avoid getting your package sent to the wrong address!

What documents do I need when moving to a new house in the UK? 

There are some documents that you need to update when you move to a new house, which include: 

• Royal Mail redirection to update your correspondence address. The good news is that now you can redirect your address online via Royal Mai’s website. 
• Official notice from the academic institution. If your kids need to move schools, you will need to register an official notice from their school to ensure a spot in their new school. 
• The electoral roll, so you can make sure that you will get the right to vote in the next election. 
• Updating your V5C vehicle logbook if you have a car. Failing to do this on time, you can get fined up to £1,000!

How much is the average cost of moving to a new house in the UK?

The average cost of moving house in the UK increased to £11,777, although the actual cost may be less than that depending on which part of the UK you live in. 

The most expensive aspect of moving to a new home in the UK is the tax, especially if you buy a new property. When you buy a house in England or Northern Ireland, you will be required to pay stamp duty. The latter is payable for any property with a price higher than £250,000. 

Meanwhile, correspondence tax will be applied if you buy a house in Scotland or Wales. You will have to pay 31% of your tax revenue for properties in Scotland, while it’s 20% in Wales. 

Conclusion

When we talk about a moving house checklist in the UK, it is so much more than just deciding whether you want to do it yourself or hire a mover company instead. It is also important to consider which institutions you need to notify to avoid any implications that may affect you as a resident. 

Preparing a moving house plan can be tedious, but as long as you know what to do and how to do it, you can always streamline the process so that it won’t be too stressful. 

Now that you have this moving house checklist in the UK, it’s time to decide the next step to take and prepare for your moving date. Apex Removals offers an enjoyable and stress-free moving experience by providing services from packing and house removal to storage solutions. You can get free instant ballpark pricing for your moving plan here, so you can start budgeting for your next move.