Most moving-day stress does not come from anything going seriously wrong. It comes from small things that were forgotten: a missing set of keys, an unlabelled box of chargers, meter readings nobody thought to note, or a freezer full of food that should have been eaten days ago. This is the checklist we actually run through with our customers, not a generic list copied from the internet. It is built from the mistakes we have seen on real moves, and following it will make your moving day calmer, faster, and far less likely to end with you digging through boxes at ten o'clock at night.
Two to three weeks before
Start by confirming your moving date with your removal company and your solicitor or landlord. Make sure the company has the correct addresses, contact numbers, and any access details like key collection times or parking restrictions. If you are moving into a managed building or a street with permit parking, now is the time to arrange a suspension or reserve a bay.
Redirect your post through Royal Mail's redirection service. This is easy to set up online and means important mail does not keep arriving at your old address for months after you have left. At the same time, start notifying utilities, broadband providers, banks, insurers, and your local council about your change of address.
Begin using up food from the freezer and cupboards so there is less to move or throw away on the day. Start collecting boxes if you are packing yourself, or confirm your packing service with the removal company if they are doing it for you.
One week before
Confirm access arrangements again. If you live in a flat, check lift bookings, loading bay times, and whether the management office needs notice. If you have children or pets, arrange care for moving day so they are not underfoot while heavy items are being carried.
Put together an essentials box or bag that will travel with you, not in the van. It should include toiletries, medication, phone chargers, a change of clothes, important documents, basic kitchen items, tea and coffee, and anything you will need in the first twenty-four hours.
Label boxes by room and add a brief note about contents. Labels like 'kitchen' are better than nothing, but 'kitchen, fragile glasses' helps even more. Mark boxes that should be loaded last and unloaded first, such as bedding and the kettle.
The day before
Pack a first-night box with everything you need for your first evening and morning in the new place. Include bedding, towels, pyjamas, the kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, snacks, basic cutlery, toilet roll, and any medication. Keep this box in your car or clearly separate from the main load.
Take meter readings at your current property and photograph them, including the date. Do the same at the new property as soon as you arrive. This protects you from disputes with utility companies and makes setting up new accounts much simpler.
Make sure everything is packed and labelled by the end of the day. Leave out only what you need for the morning. Defrost the freezer and empty the fridge of anything that will not survive the journey.
On moving day
Be ready when the crew arrives. Make sure access is clear, driveways are not blocked, and pets and children are out of the way. Do a final walk-through of every room, including lofts, sheds, garages, cupboards, and under-stairs storage, before the van leaves.
Keep your valuables, important documents, and essentials bag with you. Do not pack passports, jewellery, or large amounts of cash into the van unless absolutely necessary.
At the new property, check that keys work, take meter readings, and do a quick check of smoke alarms and heating before the unloading starts. Be available to guide the crew on where items should go, but try not to hover over every box. A good crew knows what they are doing.
The first evening
Once the van is empty, do another walk-through of the old property to make sure nothing has been left behind. Check cupboards, the attic, the shed, and behind doors. Then make the beds, put the kettle on, and give yourself permission to leave non-essential unpacking until the next day.
Check that the essentials box is accessible before you go to bed. The last thing you want after a long moving day is to be searching through thirty boxes for a phone charger or toothbrush.
Quick checklist
- Confirm date and access details with the removal company
- Arrange parking suspension or loading bay if needed
- Set up Royal Mail redirection
- Notify utilities, broadband, banks, and council of address change
- Pack an essentials bag for the first twenty-four hours
- Label boxes by room and contents
- Take meter readings at both properties
- Do a final walk-through of lofts, sheds, and garages
- Keep valuables and important documents with you
- Make beds and locate the kettle first
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I start packing?
For a full house, starting two to three weeks ahead with non-essential rooms gives you a much calmer final few days.
What should go in a first-night box?
Bedding, towels, toiletries, medication, chargers, a change of clothes, kettle, mugs, and basic kitchen items.
Do you help with the final walk-through?
Yes, our crews always do a final check of the property before leaving to make sure nothing has been missed.
Should I empty drawers before moving furniture?
Yes, full drawers make furniture much heavier and harder to manoeuvre. Empty contents into boxes labelled by room.
When should I take meter readings?
Take readings at your old property just before you leave, and at the new property as soon as you arrive.
