Moving Home In 6 Weeks? Your Checklist for Getting Ready Before a Move

Having recently gone through the motions of moving home, I know how busy it can be getting everything organise before moving to the new home… The moving date comes before you know it. Personally, preparing for the moving a few weeks in advance, getting checklists together and a moving team at the ready to help you, has saved a lot of time and well, feeling overwhelmed by it all.

Your 6-week moving home checklist

Luckily, even when there are many things to do, moving can be prepared for way in advance and there are plenty of tips and tricks to make life easier for you. Because let’s be honest,  nobody likes to feel rushed. If there’s a way to lessen the stress and make what is a pretty special day in that you’re starting afresh and moving into a new home, then we’re here to help. Our 6-week moving home guide is a breakdown of everything to consider before your moving day.

Six weeks before moving home

When you’re getting ready to move home, it’s tempting to either bring everything you own with you, or nothing at all. Although having a clear out can be good for the soul, finding the happy middle will mean you’ll be left with your most valuable pieces, while also having enough time to get rid of anything (by donating or selling) that you don’t want.

• Sort everything out and make piles for ‘to keep’ or ‘to leave’. For anything you’d like to get rid of, try marketplaces such as Gumtree, eBay, Preloved, or Facebook to find them a new home.
• Create an inventory of all the items you’ll be keeping, including essential and non-essential pieces. The inventory will be helpful once you’ve moved in to check everything is all there, and it will give the removal company an idea of the amount of items that’ll need to be moved when they arrive.
• Create a separate list of all the items that need to be disposed before you’ve moved and where you’re going to sell or donate them, as well as another you may want to put into storage (outside of the home).

Do you need a removal company?

It’s not essential to work with a removal company every time you move home, however, it can save you a lot of time when it comes to your moving date. It’s once less thing to think about, especially when it comes to moving larger items to your new home. Costs are based the volume of items you’re looking to move; the less you have the less it will cost. As mentioned above, the inventory can help provide an approximate quotation over the phone, or they’ll usually come to visit for a pre-move survey.

One month before moving home

Time flies! With a month to go, it’s a good time to step back from packing. This week is all about getting your legal documents in order, start talking with your solicitors, and finalise your moving in date.

• Once you have the date confirmed, organise the logistics with your removal company; time, day, and accessibility to your new home when they come to deliver your items.
• Get in touch with banks, businesses, and services you have contracts with to make them aware of the address change from next month.
• Let your family and friends know that you’ll have a new address next month (wouldn’t want any birthday cards getting lost!)

Who needs to know you’re changing your address?

Turns out there are a lot of people and services that you’ll need to get in touch with when it comes to moving home and changing your address. Granted it’s an admin task but it could be a good way to see what services you want to keep when you move, redirect anything that’s important, and get in touch with old friends to keep them updated on your latest move.

Download our free Changing of Address checklist to make sure nothing and nobody is missed from the list!

Two weeks before moving home

In two weeks you’ll be in your new home, and you’re well on your way to making the move as smooth as it can be. Now is the time to tie up loose ends and confirm all the important details.

• Make a list all the contact details of your removal company, estate agent, school, etc. in preparation for your move.
• Check in with your removal company to ask if they provide additional services for you such as un-plumbing washing machines, disassembling/reassembling furniture.
• If there’s family or friends near by that could help you by caring for your children and pets on the day of your move, now would be a good time to ask.

One week before moving home

It’s the last week in your home! It’s normal to b nervous and excited at this point. It’s time to finish up any tasks that are left to do.

• Your packing should almost be finished; including all large items of furniture being disassembled
• Make sure you have left out all items necessary for your Moving Day Survival Kit, filled with essentials to get you through your move smoothly.

What to pack in your Moving Day Survival Kit?

• Overnight bag
• Change of clothes
• Toiletries for all the family
• Medication and supplements
• Kitchen essentials (kettle, coffee, tea, prepared food and snacks)
• Phone charger
• Important documents you may need to hand
• Bedtime essentials (incl. pjs, pillows, duvet, and bed linen for the first night)

One day before moving home

Less than 24 hour to go, and you’ll be on your way to your new home. It’s time for a final check of the property to make sure everything is packed and ready for when the removal company (or your moving squad!) arrive.

• Keep your overnight bag (aka Moving Day Survival Kit) separate from all the boxes and furniture that will be going in the removal lorry.

It’s your moving day!

Annnnnd, it’s here! Moving day has arrived and its time to get ready before the removal company arrives.

• Make the removal company aware of an special boxes that need to be handled carefully
• Once everything is packed, take meter reading that you can pass on to your providers
• Dispose of all rubbish
• Leave the keys for the new owners

It’s now time to move to your new home! Have a look around, pack your car with any non-essential pieces and your overnight bag, and you’re good to go.

You’ve arrived at your new home

While everyone is fast walking back and forth from the removal lorry, its worth having someone keep an eye on where boxes are being moved to and if there are any special instructions for specific items that you see being carried into the home.

• Make sure you are happy that everything on your inventory is accounted for before the removal company leaves.

Then, once everyone who has been there to help has left, it’s to get your feet up (at least for the evening!) and enjoy your new home for the busy days and weeks ahead of getting everything unpacked and organised.

Photo credits: Ketut Subiyanto