Moving House Checklist
It's a fact - moving house can be stressful, which ever removal company you use! Bishop's Move have therefore put together this moving house checklist to help prepare you for the big day, reduce the stress and make your house move easier.
Make sure you are prepared for moving house by downloading our useful Moving House Checklist (pdf).
View online or download any of our free moving guides to help make your move stress-free.
FOUR Weeks before Moving
- Arrange and confirm your house removal date as far in advance as possible.
- Arrange a home survey with your nearest Bishop's Move office to get an accurate removals quote.
- Prepare a list of fixtures you are leaving in the house.
- If you have children, please read our Moving with Kids guide for some helpful information about preparing them for the moving home.
THREE Weeks before Moving
- Sort out the contents of your garage. We can help with storage of this if required.
- Start to clear the loft/attic, unless we have agreed to do this for you.
- Inform medical services (doctors, dentist, vets) of your move if you are moving away from the area.
TWO Weeks before Moving
- Start to dismantle self-assembly furniture, unless we have agreed to do this for you.
- Arrange for professional disconnection of kitchen appliances, including the washing machine to ensure securing of the drum.
- Read your gas, electricity, telephone and water meters and inform these services of your move.
- Start running down freezers so they are empty when you move.
- Empty sheds, greenhouses, etc, and check garden equipment is ready to move. It can help to drain fuel from lawnmowers.
- Start to remove any fixtures that you are taking with you.
- Fabrics that you are placing into store should be given an anti-moth treatment
- If you are moving in or out of a block of flats, arrange to have use of the manual override key or priority use of the lift.
- Prepare plants for transit. View our Moving your Garden Guide for some top tips on moving your garden.
The DAY before Moving Home
- Have TV aerials or satellite dishes taken down if they are part of the move.
- Disconnect any light fittings you are taking.
- Seal packets and tighten jars of food.
- Defrost the refrigerator and freezer. If you do not intend to empty the freezer, please read our earlier advice
- Chests of drawers may be left full depending on the make of your furniture
- Set aside an area marked "DO NOT MOVE" for coats, handbags, kettle, snacks, tools and cleaning materials
- Arrange separate transportation for any dangerous substances.
- The removals crew may arrive to start packing your belongings, if you have opted for this service.
MOVING DAY!
- Keep your valuables (documents & jewelry) safe and carry them personally with you to your new home.
- Keep you pets calm, and ideally in a separate room, so they do not disappear or get in the way. Read our Moving with Pets guide for great advice on making the move less stressful for your pets.
- If your possessions are to be stored, remember to retain important items - passport, driving license, etc. Do not put perishable or flammable items into storage.
- Before the removals team departs, check that nothing has been forgotten. Responsibility is yours to see nothing has been moved in error or left behind.
- Ensure that the removals crew have the correct directions to your new house and a phone number to contact you.
- Arrive at your new property, with the keys, before the removal van so they can start to unpack straight away.
- Start unpacking and settling in to your new home!
If you have any questions about house moving, or would like further house removal advice, please contact your local Bishop's Move.