Guide
Moving house checklist (UK): your week-by-week plan
Moving home has a lot of moving parts — packing, admin, utilities, redirecting post and booking the right help. Miss a step and moving day gets stressful fast. This week-by-week checklist keeps it under control, from the month before to the days after you get the keys.
It’s written for a UK move. Adjust the timings to your situation — but the order is what keeps things calm.
4–6 weeks before: plan and book
- Confirm your moving date (or likely window) and book your removals or man-and-van service early — good slots go fast, especially at month-end and weekends.
- Decide how much help you need: a man and van for a smaller move, or a full removals crew for a house. Get a clear quote based on your inventory and both postcodes.
- Declutter room by room — the less you move, the cheaper and quicker it is. Set aside items to sell, donate or clear.
- Book an end-of-tenancy clearance or rubbish removal if you’re leaving things behind.
- Start gathering boxes, tape and wrapping — or add a packing service to your quote.
2 weeks before: admin and packing
- Notify change of address: council (council tax), bank, employer, GP and dentist, DVLA, TV licence, insurers and subscriptions.
- Set up Royal Mail redirection so nothing is missed.
- Arrange utilities at both properties — gas, electricity, water, broadband — with meter readings on the day.
- Start packing non-essentials room by room. Label every box by room and contents, and keep a “last box / first box” of essentials.
- Book parking or a loading bay if access is tight at either address, and sort any permits.
1 week before: confirm and prep
- Confirm the final details with your movers: time, addresses, access, floors, lift and parking.
- Pack an essentials bag: medicines, chargers, documents, keys, a change of clothes, snacks and basic tools.
- Defrost the fridge/freezer and empty/clean appliances you’re taking.
- Dismantle flat-pack furniture if it’s not part of your service (or ask the crew to handle it).
- Back up important files and keep valuables and documents with you, not in the van.
Moving day
- Take final meter readings and photos at the old property.
- Do a last walk-through — check lofts, sheds, the garden and behind doors.
- Keep your essentials bag and valuables with you.
- Direct the crew on fragile items and which boxes go in which room at the new place.
- Check everything is off the van before it leaves, and hand back keys as agreed.
After the move
- Take meter readings at the new property and send them to your suppliers.
- Unpack the essentials first, then room by room — no rush.
- Check smoke alarms, locate the stopcock and fuse box, and test heating.
- Register with a local GP/dentist and update your address on anything you missed.
- Break down and recycle packing materials — or book a quick collection for the cardboard mountain.
Planning a move in West London?
Tell us your dates, inventory and both postcodes for a clear, no-obligation quote — man and van or full removals, packing optional.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book a removals company?
Aim for 2–4 weeks ahead, and earlier for month-end or weekend moves, which book up fastest. If your date isn’t fixed, you can still get a quote and provisionally plan — just tell us your likely window.
Should I pack myself or use a packing service?
Packing yourself saves money if you have time; a packing service saves hours and protects fragile items. Many people do a mix — pack the easy rooms and have the movers handle the kitchen and breakables.
What should I not put in the removal van?
Keep valuables, documents, medicines, keys and your essentials bag with you. Don’t pack anything hazardous (gas bottles, fuel, paint), and defrost appliances before the move.