Moving Home - Top Tips

Mortgage Quote Line

0845 108 0505

• Mortgages
• Credit Cards
• Loans
• Investments
• Life Insurance
• Home Insurance
• Insurance

Moving Home - Top Tips

Moving house is both exciting and daunting. Planning well, and using our moving calendar could make all the difference between a smooth transition and a frantic scramble. A new house is stressful enough, so make moving a pleasure.

What's more, we've got new guides to Council Tax and removal services, to ensure that you're informed of the costs and are clued up with what to expect when moving house.

Read our guides on:

• Council Tax
• Removal Services
• Freehold Property (including how to buy the freehold of your leasehold property)
• Leasehold Property

We’ve divided moving times up into the weeks preceding your move, please use this Mortgages.co.uk guide in conjunction with our moving services section to help you move house.

Six weeks before moving house

• Check out the area you are moving to. Researching all the features of your new area mean that when you move house you hit the ground with a head start. Check out your schools, restaurants, and shopping facilities, as well as green space and recreational facilities.
• Appoint a surveyor to check over your new property.
• Appoint a solicitor to take care of conveyancing. Shopping around and finding an online solicitor may save you time and money.
• Make a thorough plan of your new house, and decide which of your possessions go where, and what you need to buy for your new home. It’s quite likely that cash is tight, so don’t think your new house has to look like a show home from day one. Moving home is a great opportunity to de-clutter, whether your are selling items off on www.ebay.co.uk, giving them away on www.freecycle.org, or donate them to charity.
• At your new house, check what has been left behind, and dispose of anything unwanted.
• If you are super-prepared, check our local doctors and dentists.
  
  

Five weeks before moving house

• Make sure your transport is sorted for the moving date. Depending on how you are moving, make sure you have a removals company sorted, or have hired a van for your move. Have your car serviced if it plays an integral part in the move.
• Break your possessions up into those that are essential and those that are not. Pack up the non-essentials and clearly label their contents and destination.
  
  

Four weeks before moving house

• Make sure your calendar is clean before and after the big day. If you are not going to be able to move straight into your new house, arrange alternative accommodation.
• Book your removals as soon as possible if you have not already done so, and be aware that closer to the time and at peak times removals companies are usually more expensive.
• Is your move insured? Your home contents insurance may insure moving house, or your removal company may have this type of insurance in place.
• Have you thought about the logistics? Is the street or place you are moving to able to have a removals van parked outside for several hours?
  
  

Three weeks before moving house

• If you are moving without the assistance of a removals company, you’ll need materials for moving. These include sturdy cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, and packing materials. Don’t leave this until the last minute, and shop around for the best prices.
• Transfer your broadband or internet to your new house, as some providers charge for transfers or shutting down accounts.
• De-register with your optician, dentist and doctor and re-register with the new ones.
  
  

Two weeks before moving house

• Gas and electricity gets more expensive all the time, but you could save money by switching your account. The postcode and size of your new house will affect how much you pay for gas, but switching providers can be a genuine advantage.
• Inform all the relevant financial authorities of your new address. This includes banks, building societies, store cards, insurance companies, Paypal etc.
• Think about what you will do with pets and children on moving day.
• Register your change of address to enable you to vote.
• Inform the DVLA of your new address.
• Empty your freezer, and pack any more permanent items from your kitchen cupboards.
• Make sure your new home is secure.
  
  

1 week before moving house

• Let the local council know you have moved in, for Council tax purposes. Inform any remaining authorities such as TV licensing and mobile phone providers of your change of address.
• Contact the post office to have your mail forwarded to your new address.
• Shut down all old utilities accounts, and settle any outstanding accounts in local area.
• Make sure you are supplied for your new home with essentials such as toilet rolls etc.
• Empty your fridge.
  
  

The day you move house!

• Take final meter readings for gas, water and electricity.
• Remove your essentials such as bedding and food from your old house.
• Make sure the removals company has a firm brief.
• Check the old house over one last time, and say your goodbyes.