Martyn Gerrard

Estate Agents

Moving Planner

&

Checklist

First things first:

The key to a stress-free move is to start planning early and know what to do first. Use our

move planner to help ensure a perfectly organised moving experience!

One month before D-Day:

• Order boxes and packing materials.

• Compare quotes from several removal companies and book. Remember to check

their insurance provision and terms of service carefully.

• Tell your bank and credit card providers, building society, insurance companies and

all other relevant companies about your new address, giving them plenty of time to

update their records (some require a month).

• Don't forget your TV license, the Inland Revenue, DVLA, charities, and the delivery

addresses given for any companies you regularly order from on the internet, like

Amazon or grocery shopping sites, Sky needs 3 weeks notice.

Two weeks before D-Day:

• Start eating the food in your freezer.

• Send change of address cards or emails to friends and family.

• If you think you will need to book storage space, organise that now.

• If you are going to have your house professionally cleaned, arrange it now.

• De-register from your doctor, dentist, optician etc if you are moving out of their

catchment areas.

• Check you have insurance coverage for the move and make sure it is adequate for

your needs.

• Prepare labels for each box or item of furniture so that removals know which room

they are to go in.

• Prepare labels for each room so that removals know which room is which when they

get to the new house.

One week before D-Day:

• Arrange parking for the removal vans at the new house, introduce yourself to your

new neighbours and give them your moving-in date.

• Organise your utilities to be switched off at your current house when you move out,

have the meters read, and connected on your moving day at the new house. Don't

forget your phone and internet service.

• Arrange the mail forwarding service through the Post Office.

• Make a list of all important phone numbers like estate agents, solicitors, removal

companies, insurance, utilities along with any account numbers.

• Arrange babysitting for any young children, and pet-sitting if necessary. If any

children may need a day off school, write a letter now.

• Find out your seller's solicitor's contact details, in case of difficulties at the house of the

day of the move.

• Visit your doctor and arrange supplies of any medicines you regularly take, to keep

you going until you can find a new doctor.

• Start running down your freezer, empty and clean and ready for it to be moved.

Two days before D-Day:

• Begin throwing out anything you don't want. Divide rubbish, which can go to your

local dump, and donations, which can go to a charity shop. Don't forget to clear

your loft, shed and garage.

• Cancel your milk delivery and newspapers.

• Take down curtains and blinds; if you will be putting the curtains up at the new

house, drop them in to a dry cleaner's near the new property (if practicable).

• Re-confirm arrangements with your moving company.

• Find out the locations of stopcocks and fuse-boxes at your new house.

• Call the local council and find out when the rubbish collection and recycling days in

your new neighbourhood.

• Send an email to relevant people saying you'll be offline for a few days and pack up

all computers; also pack up stereos and big electrical equipment.

• Pack up valuable, delicate or small items like jewellery and ornaments.

The day before D-Day:

• Collect any medicines, inhalers etc that you will need over the next few days, along

with paracetamol, plasters, contact lens solutions, glasses, razor, toothbrush and a

change of clothes and add to your 'personal luggage'.

• Collect together your keys, paperwork, contract, insurance documents, important

phone numbers, removals paperwork, utilities paperwork, a calculator, an alarm

clock, your cheque book and credit cards, and add to your 'personal luggage'.

• Pack a box containing the kettle, mugs, teaspoons, sugar, teabags, coffee, snacks,

takeaway menus, scissors, a torch, corkscrew/bottle opener, a radio, soap, toilet

paper and towels and mark it clearly. Blue tac for labels for rooms at the new house.

• Pack school uniforms, school bags, PE kits and schoolwork in a separate box and

mark it.

• Fill your car up with petrol and plan your route. Check for roadworks so you can

avoid them.

• Pack a box of basic cleaning equipment for the new house, including a dustpan and

brush, strong bin liners and a toolkit, and mark it clearly.

• Box up things like books and out-of-season clothes.

• Get cash out for last-minute emergencies, basic supplies and tips.

• Recharge your mobile phone and keep charges handy.

On the day:

• Each person should keep their 'personal luggage' on them. Pile them by the door

until you're ready to go - don't leave with boxes where movers may put them in the

van.

• Strip beds, pack bedding separately and mark clearly whose is whose and which

room it is to go in.

• The box containing the kettle, mugs etc should travel with someone in the van who

should then ensure it's put in the new kitchen area.

• Leave a note with your contact details for the new occupants if necessary.

Printable Checklist

Please print off and tick each company as you give them your new details

Financial Ref No/Account No Telephone Tick

Bank or Building Society

Home Insurance

Building Insurance

Inland Revenue

Credit Cards

Rental/Hire Purchase

Pension Companies

Savings/Bonds

Life Policies

Employer - Payroll

Catalogue Companies

National Insurance

N.B Some phone companies require a months’ notice or you may get billed for that period.

Services Ref No/Account No Telephone Tick Electoral Register

Council Tax

Gas

Telephone Land Line

Electric

Mobile

Cable/Satellite/ Internet

Services

Club Cards-

Boots/Tesco/Sainsbury etc

TV Licence 0844 800 6722

Water

Post Office - redirection

Motoring Ref No/Account No Telephone Tick Vehicle Registration- DVLA 08702400010

Vehicle Insurance

Driving License - DVLA 0870 240 0009

Breakdown Services

Health Ref No/Account No Telephone Tick Doctor

Dentist

Optician

Private Healthcare

National Blood Bank 0845 7711711

Others Telephone Tick Subscriptions

School/Colleges/Nursery

Library

Milk Delivery

Gym/Golf Club

Newspapers

Unions

Miscellaneous

Notes

Final preparations:

Task Notes By Whom Done Pets - make moving arrangements

Moving Vehicles - arrange for neighbours to leave

room for you at both ends

Fridge & freezer - defrost two days before move

List everyone who needs to receive a change of

address card

Make a 'Last out - First In' Box.

NB: This box should be filled with the items you need most when you first arrive!

Contents Notes Done Keys (car, home, etc)

Money & Credit Cards

Jewellery

Kettle

Tea

Coffee

Milk

Mugs

Snacks

Basic cutlery & crockery (you may want to

use plastic)

Cork screw

Bottle of Champagne

First Aid Kit

Towels

Toilet Paper

Hand Soap

Toiletries

Scissors

Bedding

Pen

Small Radio

Matches / lighter

Basic Tools

Shower Curtain

Torch