Moving House Checklist: What to Do Before, During and After Moving Day

Work backwards from the earliest possible move date, but keep bookings flexible until the legal or contractual date is secure. Use this master timeline and open specialist guides only where your move needs them. Everything on this page is free to read and print; no email sign-up is needed.

Provisional or confirmed?

Split your list into two stages. Provisional planning is everything you can do safely while the date might still move: getting surveyed quotes, decluttering, gathering account details and holding a provisional removal date. Confirmed booking is what you lock in once the date is legally secure: the removal date and scope in writing, parking or lift bookings, storage and the dates you give to utilities.

When the date becomes secure depends on where you are buying or selling:

• England and Wales: when contracts are exchanged.
• Northern Ireland: also at exchange of contracts.
• Scotland: once missives are concluded; ask your solicitor when your date of entry is fixed.
• Renting: your notice and tenancy start or end dates, as set out in the tenancy and the rules for your nation.

The eight-week moving house timeline sets out these stages week by week.

Four to eight weeks before

• Build an inventory and identify specialist items.
• Compare surveyed removal quotes and terms; see what happens in a removal survey.
• Declutter with enough time for sale, donation or lawful disposal.
• Check access, parking, lifts and building rules.
• Gather documents and create a change-of-address list.
• Plan children, pets, medicines and accessibility.

Final week

• Confirm addresses, contacts, crew, arrival and payment.
• Label boxes by destination room and priority.
• Separate valuables, documents and items travelling with you.
• Prepare first-night supplies.
• Defrost or disconnect appliances only as manufacturer and mover instruct.
• Photograph valuable-item condition and both properties.
• If your date was only confirmed late and you still need a firm, see last-minute house removals.

Moving day

• Keep keys, phone, charger, medicines and paperwork with you.
• Walk through the property with the crew and identify exclusions.
• Record meter readings at the relevant handover time.
• Check cupboards, loft, shed and outside areas.
• Complete the agreed key handover.
• At delivery, direct boxes and note visible loss or damage promptly.
• If the crew has not arrived by the agreed time, follow what to do if your removal company has not turned up.

After

• Confirm utilities and address updates.
• Unpack safety-critical and essential items first.
• Check the inventory and report issues under the contract.
• Retain quote, inventory, payment and complaint records.

Printable checklist: who does what

Many tasks fail because everyone assumes someone else is doing them. Use your browser’s print option to print this table and write the name of the person handling each task beside it.

FAQs

What should be done before the van arrives?

Clear routes, reserve access, finish agreed packing, separate no-load items and confirm keys/contact/payment.

When should I record meters and hand over keys?

Follow the property transaction or tenancy instructions. Photograph readings at the point responsibility changes and record key receipt.

Can I book a removal firm before exchange or missives?

You can hold a provisional date, but ask in writing what happens to any deposit if the date moves, and only confirm once the date is legally secure.

Suggested component

Offer a printable Moving Timeline Checklist with movable dates and household-specific modules. The download mirrors this page.

Related guides

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