Once you exchange contracts, your completion day is fixed. Here’s your checklist for everything you need to do from exchange to moving day:
Confirm Your Removals
- Book your removals company: Contact your chosen removals or storage company as soon as possible. Ensure your possessions will be insured during the move. Confirm the time, emergency contact numbers, parking arrangements, and directions.
Sort Your Utilities
- Energy suppliers: Inform your current energy supplier that you’re moving at least 48 hours in advance, and provide them with your new address. Check who your new energy supplier will be (details usually on the TA6 form from the sellers).
- Water supplier: Notify your water company about your move and provide your new address. If you have a water meter, give at least 5 working days’ notice to arrange a final meter reading.
- Council tax: Let your current council know you’re moving, and register for council tax at your new address.
- Broadband: Review your broadband contract and plan how to transfer to your new home. Do not book the switch until exchange of contracts is complete and your completion day is fixed.
Start Packing
- If you’re not using a packing service, this will be a significant task, so start early. It’s helpful to keep a “moving essentials” box with items like a kettle, cups, milk, and tea, so you can settle in with a cup of tea when you arrive.
Additional Moving House Tasks
- Arrange child and pet care: Inform family or friends as soon as possible if you need help with children or pets on moving day.
- Book services: If your removal company doesn’t handle certain services, book them separately (e.g., house cleaning, dismantling of furniture, plumbing for washing machines).
- Contents insurance: Arrange insurance for your new home and ensure the cover begins as soon as you move in.
- Collect keys: Gather all the keys for your current home, including those with neighbours or friends, and hand them over to your solicitor or estate agent.
- Organise post redirection: Use Royal Mail’s redirection service for mail at your new address, available for 3, 6, or 12 months, from £39.50.
- Cancel local services: Settle any outstanding bills and cancel services such as subscription boxes, milk, newspapers, gardening, cleaners or oil deliveries.
- Run down perishable foods: Use up freezer contents or donate food that won’t transport well.
- Change of GP (if applicable): If you’re moving to a different area, notify your current GP and register with a new one.
- Clean your house: Give your current home a thorough cleaning before you leave.
- Moving Day Checklist (Completion Day)
On completion day, your solicitor will confirm the transaction and handle paperwork, including mortgage completion statements if you’re the seller. Here’s what to do on moving day:
- Take meter readings: Record readings at both your old home (for energy suppliers) and your new house.
- Clean again: Once your belongings are moved out, it’s a good idea to give your old home one final clean.
- Final walk-through: Double-check your old house to ensure you’ve left nothing behind.
- Collect the keys: Pick up keys for your new house from the estate agent.
- Travel with the removals company: Or make sure someone will be there to let them in.
- Check the sale items: Ensure that all items listed in the TA10 form (fixtures and fittings) such as carpets, curtains, and white goods are at your new home. If something’s missing, contact your solicitor.
- Check the property: If you notice any serious faults in your new home that were missed during the survey, alert your surveyor immediately.
- Test utilities: Check that phone lines, the security alarm, smoke detectors, electricity, gas, central heating, and water all work properly.
- Change locks: It’s advisable to change the locks at your new home, as you never know who might have spare keys.
Updating Your Address and Getting Organised
Ensure you are as organised as possible:
- Keep important documents together: Store them in a safe but easily accessible place.
- Prepare a moving day survival kit: Pack essential items you’ll need during the day (snacks, charger, etc.).
- Finish packing: Ensure all boxes are packed and cross-reference them to rooms.
- Keys for your current property: Gather all keys, including spares you’ve given to friends or neighbours.
- Mail redirection: Confirm your mail redirection is set up with the post office.
- Defrost and dry fridge/freezer: Make sure appliances are fully dry before moving them.
- Return borrowed items: Don’t forget to return things like books, tools, etc.
- Change of Address Checklist
There’s a long list of people and organisations to notify of your new address, don’t forget to inform them:
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)
- Electoral Roll (important for your credit rating)
- TV Licensing
- Subscriptions (e.g., TV packages, magazines, etc.)
- Online shopping sites
- Employers
- Schools your children attend
- Friends, family, and colleagues
- Insurance providers (including life insurance)
- GP & dentist
- Banks/Building societies
- Pensions and investment providers
- Utilities (energy, water, broadband, etc.)
With this checklist, you’ll be well-prepared for your move, ensuring everything runs smoothly from exchange to completion. Happy and enjoyable moving!