Moving Guide
Tips and tricks for moving home or offices
Two to Four Weeks Before Your Move
Packing
- If you’re planning on doing your own packing, we advise you start two weeks before your move.
- Use this opportunity to de-clutter and get rid of items you don’t need or use anymore. You can find more info on where you can take your unwanted goods to be recycled or reused on our Unwanted Items page.
- Label your cardboard boxes as you pack them, including the location or room where they need to go. Try not to overfill boxes or pack too many heavy items in one box. You can find more tips and information about getting your belongings ready to move in our Guide to Packing.
Bills and Suppliers
To help your relocation go smoothly, it’s worth thinking about who you need to notify about your change of address in advance. Here’s a quick checklist for some of the most important people or organisations you’ll need to contact:
- Your utility suppliers - Gas, Electric, phone and broadband.
- Your Bank, Insurance, pension and credit card providers.
- Stocks and Shares, Savings and Loan Companies.
- Council Tax and Electoral Roll.
- Subscriptions e.g. magazines – contact any companies have subscriptions with and let them know you’re moving.
- Doctor/Dentist/Optician – make sure you de-register if you’re moving out of the area and find an alternative surgery nearer to your new address.
- Inland Revenue – You’ll need to give them your reference number which (you can find this on your P60, payslip or coding notification).
- DVLA Driving Licence – Change your address online.
- Vehicle Licence – send the appropriate section of your Vehicle Registration Document to the Vehicle Licensing Centre, Swansea, SA99 1AB.
- Royal Mail – Arrange to redirect your mail online .
- TV Licence – Update your details online.
Other things to consider
- Pets – if you have any pets you may need to book them into kennels/cattery or arrange for them to be looked after by friends or family during your move. You’ll also need to find a new vet and arrange for the transfer of your pet’s records.
- Hotels – if you need to stay in a hotel during your move, we advise that you book your hotel well in advance, especially over the busy summer months.
One Week Before your Move
Suppliers
- Water – for disconnection and reconnection of water you need to give at least 48hrs notice.
- Update your delivery address for online Retailers and food delivery services.
- Library – if you’ve borrowed any books, make sure you take these back before you leave.
- Milk/papers – settle any outstanding balances and cancel the service.
- Dry cleaning – don’t forget to pick up anything that you’ve taken to get dry cleaned.
General
- Arrange to have children and pets looked after by relatives, friends or neighbours to give you time to prepare for your move.
- Put safety first and arrange for appliances such as gas cookers to be disconnected by a professional if you’ll be taking them with you.
- Try to use up any food left in your freezer that may not survive the journey. You could have a leaving party to use everything up.
- Email you friends and family with your moving date and new address details.
Three Days Before your Move
- It’s a good idea to pack an overnight bag around this time – make sure that you include clean clothes, towels, toiletries and any medication you’ll need.
- If you’ve got any furniture that needs dismantling before your move, make sure you keep any specialist tools you need handy.
- If you plan on putting your things into storage for a long time, remember to hold on to some clothes for different seasons.
- Gather up the keys to your current property including spares left with family or friends.
- Check that the keys to your new home will be available when you arrive, or arrange to pick them up en-route.
Two Days Before your Move
- If your belongings are being put into storage or you’re moving a long way, make sure you empty, defrost and dry out your fridge/freezer.
- Pack a box with a few kitchen essentials like plates, cutlery, a kettle and pans handy for when you first arrive at your new home.
- Pack valuables and documents and put them in a safe place – preferably in one of the boxes or bags that will go in your car.
- Consider you might be without broadband for a few days at your new property - Download important documents and some movies for the kids.
- Make sure there’s somewhere for the removal lorry to park outside your home. Ask your neighbours to help you keep a space about the same size as a double decker bus free.
The Day Before your Move
- Organise some refreshments for the next day – moving is hard work! It’s always a good idea to have basics such as tea, coffee, juice, fruit and biscuits easily accessible.
- Pack emergency supplies like toilet rolls and soap, a screwdriver (make sure it's charged up), pliers, paper towels and light bulbs in the boot of your car so they’re handy if you need them.
- Do last-minute laundry.
- Prepare plants for travel – bubble wrap can be useful to help protect them.
- Put your mobile on charge before you go to bed!
Moving day
Before the Crew Arrive
- If you’ve got children, make sure they’re settled with whoever’s looking after them while you’re busy with moving day preparations. Some older children like to be included and may well want their own special tasks, like packing a personal box.
- Strip the beds. We suggest packing the bed linen in a box that travels with you so you can pull it out for the first night.
When the Crew Arrive
- Our moving team with introduce themselves to you when they arrive. Show them around the house and make sure that they know exactly what you want, and if anything’s changed since you met with the surveyor.
- Once the van’s loaded, walk around the house to make sure everything that needs to be moved has been loaded up.
- Make sure you give the removal supervisor your mobile number – this is especially important if you’re travelling long distances.
When the Crew Have left
- If no-one’s moving into your old property immediately, remember to turn off the power at the mains and drain or turn off the water supply. Check the house is secure, and then hand the keys over to the agent.
- Read the gas,electricity and water meters.
At your New Address
- If you plan to deep clean start now before you unpack.
- If you’ve booked our unpacking service our moving team will unpack and unwrap everything at your new home and make sure it’s all put in the right place.
- Take metre readings and check utilities all up and running,.
- Check you have keys for the doors and windows.
- Check bin collection day
- STOP - take the night off and order a takeaway!