Skip to content

Compare Removal Costs

Save 70% off the cost of your house move today!

Moving House Checklist: Top Tips for a Stress Free Move

Whether you're a seasoned mover or a first-time buyer, there are many factors to consider when moving house. It's important to stay organised to ensure you aren’t missing out on any important steps in the moving process.

By following our moving home checklist, you can break the process down into manageable steps. This will ensure all tasks are completed efficiently, helping you beat the stress of moving house.

Free Moving Checklist

Download our free room-by-room House Viewing Checklist

Compare Removal Company Costs

Save up to 70% on Removal Costs

Used by over 1 million movers in the UK

compare now

1. Hiring A Conveyancing Solicitor

Once you have had your offer accepted on your home, you will want to hire a conveyancing solicitor. They will assist you through the conveyancing process and handle all the legal aspects of your move. They conduct the correct searches and provide you with the relevant documentation to read through and sign.

Decide on your conveyancing fee budget

Compare conveyancers

Supply them with your mortgage documentation

Review the results of the conveyancing searches

Await exchange and completion of documents

Compare My Move can connect you with up to 6 conveyancing solicitors in the local area. You can ‌compare conveyancers and save up to 70% on the overall fees.

2. Arrange a Home Survey

Having a RICS Home Survey will ensure your home is a worthy investment before you complete your purchase. While this isn’t a legal requirement, it’s highly recommended. The surveyor will assess the overall condition of the property.

Compare surveyors

Arrange a time to conduct the property survey

Await house survey documentation

Read the survey report and discuss any issues with your surveyor

Decide if you still want to purchase the property

If there are issues, renegotiate the offer or pull out of the sale

Supply all survey reports to your mortgage lender

Await confirmation that they are happy to lend

We can connect you with up to 6 surveyors in the local area. This will help you to save up to 70% on your surveying fees. Our solicitors can help you decide which type of home survey would be most beneficial for you.

3. Confirm Completion Date

The finalisation and exchanging of contracts is one of the final steps in the conveyancing process. Your conveyancer will handle the legal and important documents on your behalf. Whilst the completion date is not always the same as your moving day, they often occur simultaneously.

Contact your conveyancer about exchanging contracts

Send final legal documents

Sign the contract of sale

Confirm finances and arrange to pay your deposit and legal fees

Arrange building insurance for the property

Agree and confirm the completion date with your solicitor

Transfer your deposit

Compare Removal Company Costs

Save up to 70% on Removal Costs

Used by over 1 million movers in the UK

compare now

4. Choose A Removal Company

When your transaction is nearing completion, you will want to consider hiring a moving company. While you can move items yourself, professional removalists are experts in the field. They will move goods quickly and efficiently.

Calculate your potential removal costs and decide which fixtures and fittings you will take or leave behind. Your removal costs will vary depending on a variety of factors. This includes long-distance moves, the number of removal vans needed, and additional packing services. Take these factors into account when deciding when to book a removal company. Always remember there are options for part load removals or small removals which will be cheaper than tranditonal removal companies.

For unwanted furniture, you can always donate them to charity shops or hire a house clearance company. You can find cheap house clearance companies by comparing quotes through Compare My Move.

Decide what items you want to keep and get rid of

Decide on your moving budget

Compare removal company quotes

Choose a removal company

Arrange a home removal survey

Decide whether you require additional removal services, such as packing or white glove services

Confirm the price and date for your move

Compare My Move can help you to choose the best removal company for you. Simply fill out our removals comparison form to be connected with up to 6 professional moving companies. We work with many companies that are members of the British Association of Removers (BAR). We can also help you to find the cheapest way to move house.

5. Declutter and Pack

Once you’ve arranged your removals service, it’s a good idea to begin the packing process. It’s best to pack most items well in advance of your move. This will help to make the process smooth and as stress-free as possible.

Start cleaning and decluttering to reduce the volume of items that need to be moved. This can also help to reduce your removal costs. You can either purchase packing supplies from your chosen removal company or you may find free moving boxes from local shops.

Declutter your home and clear out any unwanted items

Remove fittings and fixtures

Create an inventory

Start packing room-by-room

Label boxes

Follow our 20 packing tips for moving house

6. Contact Organisations and Companies

Before moving, it’s important to contact the correct organisations and companies and make them aware of this. If you’re renting, you will need to hand in your notice to inform your landlord that you are ending your rental contract. It’s important to notify these organisations and companies of your new address.

Government organisations

Financial institutions (banks, building societies and credit card companies)

Insurance providers

Utility suppliers

Regular bills (phone contracts should also be changed)

Broadband

Health services

Work and education contacts (such as unions and universities)

Leisure and family activities (gyms, libraries, etc.)

Cancel any current parking permits

Send final utility meter readings

Compare Removal Company Costs

Save up to 70% on Removal Costs

Used by over 1 million movers in the UK

compare now

7. Update Your Address

Before your moving day, you will also need to contact relevant companies to inform them of your change of address. This includes subscription services. You need to make them aware of your new and old address. These companies include:

Health services (GP surgery, optician, dentist or private facilities)

Utility providers (water, gas, electricity)

Financial services (your bank, pension services, credit card companies, savings account providers. Your billing address needs to be updated. )

Insurance companies (life insurance, car insurance, pet insurance)

Government bodies (the electoral roll, local authority, DVLA, GOV. UK Vehicle Registration, and HMRC)

TV Licencing

Subscription services (Netflix, Amazon Prime etc)

Friends and family

Place of work or education

When you’re creating an updated address checklist, don’t forget to use a mail redirection service from your previous address. This will ensure you are still receiving outstanding mail you may have forgotten to change the address for. This can be done through Royal Mail Redirect.

8. View Storage Options

If there is a gap between your completion and moving date, you may need to ‌consider using container or self-storage. This is also useful if you’re moving from a larger home to a smaller one.

Research storage costs and options

Decide which type of storage you need

Compare storage providers

Decide which items will go into storage

Pack chosen items

Separate the storage boxes from your moving boxes

9. Final Preparations

As your moving day gets closer, you will want to complete any last-minute tasks on your to-do list. Now is the time to confirm your moving day with your solicitor and estate agent. In addition to this, you will want to prepare your old home for the new owners by cleaning the property.

Finish packing and dismantling furniture

Perform a final deep clean - consider hiring an end-of-tenancy cleaning company

Pay final bills

Check the council tax band

Check your home insurance

Pack an essentials box for your moving day

Arrange care for children or pets

Order a food shop online for the new home

Do a final check around the house

Compare Removal Company Costs

Save up to 70% on Removal Costs

Used by over 1 million movers in the UK

compare now

10. Moving Day

On your moving day, your chosen movers will start loading the removal van. Ask your estate agent for updates regarding the keys. Keep important contact details close at hand in case there are unexpected delays.

When you’re moving, it’s important to keep your essential box with you. This should contain essentials such as your important documents and items with you. This should include the keys to your new home and any ID or completion documents you may need. It helps to ensure nothing is missing when you arrive at the new home.

Greet the movers

Submit final meter readings

Leave a note for the new homeowners

Collect your keys

Instruct the movers

Inspect the new property

Perform a final inventory check

Wipe down furniture as you unpack

11. After Your Move

After you have moved home you will want to begin the unpacking process and settle into the new property. Here are some useful things to do in the first few days:

Turn on utilities and log initial meter readings

Turn on the central heating

Check the appliances and electrics are working efficiently

Begin to unpack your belongings and important items

Check your bin and recycling days

Introduce yourself to neighbours

Compare Removal Company Costs

Save up to 70% on Removal Costs

Used by over 1 million movers in the UK

compare now

Was this article useful?

emoji-happy
emoji-sad

Written by

Reviewed by

Dave Sayce

Last updated

21st May, 2025

Read time

7 minutes

Dave Sayce

Reviewed by

Owner & Managing Director

Dave Sayce is the owner and managing director of Compare My Move and has over 10 years of experience in the house removals industry.

Read our editorial process