what you need to do when moving house

Things to do when moving house

• 1. Work and schools ...
• 2. Declutter ...
• 3. Book a removals company ...
• 4. Confirm your moving dates ...
• 5. If you’re renting give appropriate notice to your landlord ...
• 6. Make sure you have the right level of home insurance before you move house ...

Full Answer

How to take the stress out of moving house?

Two weeks before the move

• Start packing
• Tell your GP you’re going
• Notify utility firms
• Arrange for post to be redirected
• Cancel milk/newspapers
• Make a list of people to be told
• Finalise removal plans
• Arrange to collect keys
• Inform bank
• Tell council

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How much should you tip professional movers?

• Moving is hard, back-breaking work so it would only be common decency to have cold bottled water, soda or sport drinks on hand.
• Some people prefer to buy the crew lunch in lieu of a tip and this is perfectly fine. ...
• You will hear varying advice on how much to tip. ...
• A tip about tips from movers themselves: Don’t give the lump sum to the foreman or driver. ...

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How to prepare your home for moving?

• Inventory your home
• Declutter your home
• Pack up your household
• Prepare your house for sale
• Prepare your home for movers. You can’t possibly decide what to take to your new home, what to sell, and what to get rid of prior to your move unless ...

What are the tips for moving to a new place?

Interstate Moving Tips for Relocating New Place

1. Know your rights. Moving is never easy, but it gets even harder when movers don’t respect the law. ...
2. Make a schedule. The key to completing your move without any glitches is making a plan of action and sticking to that schedule.
3. Get a jump on moving day. ...
4. Don’t leave valuables behind. ...
5. Know your weight limits. ...
6. Hire the right people for the job. ...

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What are the things you need to do when moving house?

Moving House ChecklistResearch your move.Arrange your home survey.Finalise contracts and pack.Get ready to move home.Update your address and get organised.Prepare to leave your old house.Lock up and move out.Check your new property.More items...

What is the first thing you do when you move into a new house?

First priority should be items completed that week – such as safety concerns, cleaning, unpacking essentials, etc. Priority two should be tasks completed within the next two months – related to organization, maintenance and remaining unpacking.

Who do I need to notify when I move house UK?

Before you move, you'll want to notify a range of companies of your plans. You'll likely need to update addresses, cancel bills or close accounts....Before you moveEnergy, water and internet providers. ... DVLA. ... Local councils. ... Employer and pension provider. ... Banks, lenders and building societies. ... Television licence.More items...

What is the first good luck when moving into a new house?

New home superstitions suggest that you bring bread and salt, as well as honey, wine, and rice, the very first time when you step through the threshold of your new place, so you never know hunger and have a sweet life full of joy and excitement.

What is the best day to move in a new house 2022?

Feng Shui Auspicious Dates For House Moving in 2022 Cheng Day – Best day for all ceremonies. San He Day – A triple harmony day. Horse Day – 6th day of a lunar month. Ecliptic Day – Best day for all ceremonies.

Do I need to tell the DVLA if I move house?

You must update your driving licence, vehicle log book (V5C), Direct Debit for vehicle tax and other details when you move home. You do not need to tell us if you move temporarily (for example you're living away at university) if we can still contact you at your permanent address.

When should I tell my bank I'm moving?

Money. Banks or Building societies - You should let your bank or building society know about your change of address as close to your move date as possible.

Do I need to notify local council when I move?

The easiest way to make the administrative side of moving less stressful is to notify your local council ahead of time. Get in touch with your local council before moving day so that they can stop charging you council tax on your existing home.

Who all needs to be notified when you move?

This change of address checklist will help you figure out who to notify when you need to change your address.The U.S. Postal Service.Tax agencies.Social Security Administration.Department of motor vehicles.Gas and electric companies.Phone, cable and internet providers.Other utilities.Homeowners or renters insurance.More items...•

Who do I need to tell I've moved house?

Contact your gas, electric, water, phone, and broadband suppliers: Tell your utility providers that you're moving and switch services you want to keep to your new address.

Who do I need to alert when I move?

Here's who to notify when moving addresses:Your home or rental insurance company. It's important to notify your home or renters insurance policyholder before you move so your coverage will kick in upon arrival. ... The USPS. ... The IRS. ... Your employer. ... Financial institutions. ... DMV. ... Social Security and other benefits. ... Utilities.More items...•

Who do you need to update when you move?

Royal Mail. Don't forget to redirect your mail when you move house. ... Insurance Companies. There will be a number of insurance companies you will need to contact after moving house. ... Utility Providers. ... The Electoral Roll. ... Schools and Education. ... The Local Authority. ... GP and Other Healthcare. ... The Bank.More items...•

Why are children hospitalized?

Have kids? Every year, millions of children are hospitalized because of accidents around the home, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. So, before your bundle of joy starts toddling around the house, take steps to fully childproof your new home.

What is an energy audit?

An energy audit is a professional assessment of your new home’s overall energy performance. This will show you how to make your house more energy-efficient (think insulating the attic, weatherstripping windows, sealing air leaks in crawl spaces), so it’s best to have one done and make related repairs before moving in.

How much does an energy audit cost?

A home energy audit costs, on average, about $215 to $600, but some utility companies will do them for free. 4. Do a deep clean. “It’s never easier to do a deep clean than when the house is empty,” Beckman says. A cleaning service costs around $150.

How to get a house ready for closing?

1. Turn on utilities. Electric, gas, water—don’t assume they’ll be on and operational when you arrive. Instead, get all your utilities set up ahead of time. “Chances are the seller will be turning them off as of the closing date,” says Greg Beckman, an Annapolis, MD, real estate agent. 2.

Do you have to tiptoe around a construction zone?

The last thing you want to do is have to tiptoe around a construction zone after you move in. So, if you want to repaint the home, resand floors, or make any other renovations, do them in advance.

Does realtor.com make commissions?

The realtor.com ® editorial team highlights a curated selection of product recommendations for your consideration; clicking a link to the retailer that sells the product may earn us a commission.

Can you bring in vendors for quotes?

One caveat: “You have the right to bring in vendors for quotes, but work cannot start until you own the home,” she adds.

How to get boxes from house to moving truck?

Make sure the people helping you move can get the boxes from your house to the moving truck without tripping over things. Check the paperwork. If you hired movers, make sure to ask for official paperwork from the movers to ensure they are who you think and that all the details of your move are what you expect .

What to do when someone else is driving?

If someone else is doing the driving, then this is the time to book your flight, hotel, or rental car. Buy packing supplies. You should have been able to collect quite a few free moving boxes. Now is the time to buy any boxes you still need as well as other moving supplies.

How to save bacon when filing a claim?

Not only will this save your bacon if you have to file a claim, but you can also use it to trim time off the unpacking process. For example, if you take pictures of your electronics, you can easily look up which wires go where when you put everything back together again.

How to save time when moving?

Disassemble big furniture items. It will save a ton of time if you break down large furniture items like bed frames, section couches, and bookshelves before the movers arrive.

How long before moving to a new home?

4 weeks before you move. You’re going to be sleeping in your new home one month from now. From choosing a moving company to filling your prescriptions, your goal for the next two weeks is to book your movers and gather all remaining supplies. Decide on a moving company.

How to get a stomach to thank you?

Your stomach will thank you if you pick up some familiar food and put it in the fridge at your new home.

What to pack for a 24-hour move?

Pack a 24-hour moving kit with other essentials besides your clothes. It’s a great idea to include some healthy snacks, flashlights, and phone chargers. Take pictures or video of your empty home. You want to be able to prove your house was in good condition when you moved out.

What to buy when moving?

Purchase moving supplies including boxes, packing material, tape, labels, and box cutters. Remember to order specialty items like dish boxes, wardrobe boxes, and mattress bags if your mover is not supplying them.

How to transport a family heirloom?

Keep these special items separate from your moving boxes and make a plan for transporting them by hand or via a trackable shipping service with insurance.

What to do after movers leave?

Hire a cleaning company to do a quick clean after the movers leave or schedule a day that you will come back to clean before the new owners arrive.

What to do when moving major appliances?

If you are moving major appliances, make sure that they're clean and ready to go. Remember: Freezers need to be defrosted and you may need a professional to disconnect gas lines on particular appliances. Fill prescriptions and make sure that everyone has packed medications they need in their suitcase.

What to do when you can't transport flammable items?

Dispose of all flammable items that can't be transported, including paint, chemicals, and aerosol cans. Take one last look at the items you're packing. If you have additional items to donate, schedule a pickup by your chosen organization. Back up all computers, if packing.

What to do with unwanted items?

Do a first round of donations of unwanted goods to charity, sell items online, or have a garage sale to help pay for your move.

What to put in a new home owner packet?

Put together a packet for the new owners of your home with any warranties, vendor recommendations, and a note with your contact information in case they have questions or need to forward your mail .

How to get your moving date confirmed?

Get your moving date confirmed by your conveyancer and home seller. The date should have been made available after the exchange of contracts. If you’re at the bottom of a property chain and things are moving slowly, make sure you use this extra time to plan ahead.

How long do you have to give notice of intent?

If you’re renting, you need to give enough notice to your landlord so they can find replacement tenants. Notices of intent are usually 1 - 2 months in standard Agreed Shorthold Tenancy (AST) Agreements, but make sure you know how long yours is. You can find these details in your contract.

What to do before packing everything away?

Before you start packing everything away, go through your belongings and decide what’s actually worth keeping. Letting go of old possessions is hard but it means less hassle in the long run when you’re unpacking.

Why label boxes when moving?

Label your boxes so you know what’s in there. This will help both you and your movers know which box contains fragile items. If you want to be super efficient, label boxes with the rooms their contents belong in.

What to do if something is amiss in a contract?

If something is amiss that was agreed in negotiations, call your agent as soon as possible.

What is the second half of the big day?

The second half of the big day is moving everything into your new home. Get off to a great start by ensuring you take care of the following:

What are the non-essential items?

Start with the non-essential items, like ornaments, games consoles, and specialist kitchenware.

What to consider when moving into a new home?

There is a lot to consider when you’re moving into a new home. And while we often consider moving steps like packing and unpacking to be the only major things standing in the way of fully settling in, it’s actually the things that you do after moving into a new home that make the biggest difference. Getting associated with your house, learning how it functions, and prioritizing what projects you want to tackle is part and parcel of taking on your role as a homeowner—and it’s better to do it all right when you move in, instead of waiting and just assuming you’ll figure it all out later on.

How to child proof a new home?

Check out our article on how to quickly child proof a home on moving day, which includes tips like creating a separate, kid-free zone for discarded packing materials and checking all windows to make sure they’re securely closed and don’t have any long hanging cords coming off of the blinds. And of course, keep anything dangerous—box cutters, cleaning supplies, glassware, etc.—far out of reach of little hands.

Why is it important to meet your neighbors?

And in addition to getting yourself off on the right foot in your new neighborhood, meeting your neighbors is helpful for starting to learn about your community and for getting recommendations for local services ...

What to do after moving?

The last thing you probably want to do after going through the moving process is clean your new home from top to bottom, but right after moving is the best time to do it. Fortunately, we’ve put together a guide on the new home deep clean that can help you out. If you just don’t have the time or inclination to stick on your cleaning gloves ...

Where is the water valve located?

As a rule of thumb, your fuse box will likely be in your basement, garage, or a storage room, whereas you can usually find your home’s water valve located somewhere around the perimeter of your house.

Is it better to walk through a house than to unpack?

There’s no better time to do a complete walkthrough of your new house than when it is completely empty. So before setting up your furniture and getting unpacked (and even better, before unloading the moving truck—if possible), take a look around. Among other things, you’ll want to double check that:

Do you have to go door to door when moving into a new house?

You don’t need to go door to door, but do make a point of introducing yourself the first time that you run into a new neighbor. A little friendliness will definitely go a long way. Moving into a new home is inherently a bit overwhelming, but following the ten steps listed above can help make the transition a bit more seamless. ...

How to protect moving boxes?

Provide maximum protection to your items – reinforce the moving boxes with packing tape, line the bottoms of the boxes with packing paper, wrap every item individually, provide lots of cushioning, do not leave empty spaces inside the boxes to prevent the items shifting during transportation, do not make the boxes too heavy, seal them tightly , etc.;

What do you need to do when moving to a new home?

What you need to do is find out which of your belongings you’ll be able to use in your new surroundings and which ones won’t be worth taking – create a floor plan of your new home to see which of your old items will fit in, set aside everything you don’t like or don’t need anymore, and assess the practical, sentimental and financial value of every individual article. Take with you only the things you really need and love.

What is a moving inventory sheet?

Your moving inventory sheet will help you estimate the cost of your move (based on the weight of your shipment), assess your needs (specialty movers, extra services, etc.), provide proper moving insurance, and keep better track of your possessions.

How to research moving companies?

Research the moving companies that seem to best suit your needs, requirements, and available budget with great care – verify their licensing and insurance information, research their online profiles, read moving reviews left by their previous customers, and check the company’s complain history;

What is moving day?

If moving house is an epic adventure, then moving day is the great culmination of your daring exploits – the single moment that defines your entire moving experience. However, it is not the day itself, but all the preparations and hard work done beforehand that spell success or failure – the meticulous planning and endless chores that need to be completed before the Big Day.

What to include in moving inventory?

Make a detailed list of the items you have for moving – include their types and numbers, distinctive features, estimated value, destination room, and, most importantly, a statement of their current condition together with sufficient evidence (photo s, warranties, quality certificates, appraisal statements, etc.).

How to prevent identity theft?

Retrieve medical records and school records; Make sure you have all the required moving paperwork; Sort out your documents , put them in separate folders or envelopes and label them properly; Make copies of important documents (photocopies and digital copies) and take appropriate measures to prevent identity theft ;

What do I need to do after I've moved?

There are a few loose ends with your new property that usually need to be tied up as soon as you've completed your move.

How long does it take for Royal Mail to redirect mail?

You can make this process easier by using the Royal Mail's redirection service, which takes up to five working days to come into effect and redirects all mail to your new address.

How long does it take to pay stamp duty on a house?

If your property cost more than £125,000 (or £300,000 as a first-time buyer) you'll have to pay your stamp duty bill within 30 days.

What should a briefing sheet include?

This should include how to operate the boiler and alarm, the location of the meters, fuse box and stopcock, and any other useful information about the property.

Why do credit card companies use your address?

This is especially important as current account and credit card providers may use your address as part of their security checks to verify your identity.

How to lessen stress of moving house?

You can significantly lessen the stress of moving house by staying on top of your pre-move admin. Below, you'll find our downloadable moving house checklist, which will help you get prepared.

When to pack furniture for moving?

Begin packing non-essentials a couple of weeks before moving day. It's worth planning where all your furniture will go a few weeks in advance of your move and disposing of any items you don't want to take with you. You may need to order packing cases, and possibly new curtains and carpets for your new property, too.