As everyone knows, moving home can be one of the most stressful life events. Whether you are moving to another Province or just down the road, there will be lots of things to organize. Having a “moving house checklist” is a great way to ensure that you don’t miss anything.

Moving is the perfect time to go through your belongings and get rid of anything you don’t use. There is no point moving items to your new home if they are not needed. Removal companies charge based on the volume of goods they will be required to move. They will also assess how much space will be taken up in a vehicle or a shipping container, should you be moving abroad.

The attic is a good place to start. It’s amazing how much most people tend to accumulate over the years. We often put things into the attic rather than throw them away. A good rule of thumb is if you have not used it in the last year, the chances are you won’t ever use it again. Moving house is a good time to clear the decks!

Once you have been through the house and completed your tidy up, you are then ready to contact a removal company for a quotation.

Moving House Checklist & Choosing the right Removal Company:

Many removal companies are booked up weeks in advance, especially during the summer months. It pays to start looking well before your completion date. Your first task will be to call in some quotations, so that you know exactly what the cost of your move will be.

It is always advisable to arrange for a surveyor to call personally. This gives you the opportunity to ask any questions and for the surveyor to view the access to your property and to see any awkward items that may need special attention.

Moving House Checklist & Packing Guideline

Once you have chosen a removal company, you may find there are items you wish to pack yourself. If this is the case, make sure you allow enough time to complete this before your move. If you have valuable items such as antiques, it is often best to let the experts handle them. They will have specialist packing materials and the expertise to ensure they are properly protected. If you have chosen the option of a full packing service, everything will be wrapped, packed and listed on an inventory before being loaded onto the vehicle.

When the team arrives, it is a good idea to walk them around the property and point out anything, which you feel they need to know. Designating one small room or corner to store things you want to keep close to hand can be useful.

Once you have arrived at your new home, you will need to access certain items such as a kettle, cups, coffee, tea sugar etc. and these should travel with you in your car.

Moving House Checklist - Things to do before the moving day

• Arrange for small children to be looked after, moving can be dangerous and distressing for young children.
• Make necessary arrangements for pets. Some animals find moving very stressful and it is best to have someone look after your pets on the move day.
• Check your home insurance policy to make sure you have cover for your new home from the day you legally take ownership of the property.
• Leave time beforehand to defrost and empty the freezer.
• Forward post to your new address, this can be done on line or at the post office counter.
• Cancel home deliveries such as milk and newspapers.
• Notify everyone of your change of address, this should include family, friends, your bank and anyone else who will need your new address.
• Request final bills for telephone and broadband.
• Inform neighbors that there could be temporary parking problems whilst the removal vehicle is loaded.
• Register to pay council tax for your new home.

Moving House Checklist - Move day final preparations

• Take final readings of gas, electricity and water meters.
• Turn off all appliances.
• Strip beds and make sure clean linen is handy for when you arrive at your new home.
• Have personal possessions to hand such as passports, jewelry, handbag, medication and any important documents you may need.
• Keys such as window safely lock keys and patio door keys should be left for the new occupants.
• Have a bag with all the necessary cleaning materials to hand, so that you can give the house one final clean before you leave.
• Don’t forget to check you have the keys to your new property.
• Finally, take a walk around each room to ensure absolutely nothing has been left behind.