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Moving house is known for being stressful, but by being organised and tackling certain issues beforehand, you will be able to make the move as smooth as possible.

1. Check that your removals company is available before exchange of contracts

It is worth checking before the exchange of contracts that your preferred removals company will be free on the day on which you want to complete, particularly if this is a Friday, as this is the busiest day for house moves. The completion date is fixed when contracts are exchanged, so you need to know beforehand whether the day will work for you. As soon as contracts are exchanged, finalise your removals booking.

2. Arrange buildings and contents insurance for your new home from the date of exchange

Once contracts are exchanged, you are legally required to complete the purchase on the agreed date. You should therefore put buildings insurance in place that would give you cover should the property be damaged in the meantime.

3. Make a list of people to notify and start dealing with utility companies

You will need to tell your utility suppliers, including electricity, gas, water, sewerage, telephone and broadband operators that you are moving.

Other key organisations to notify include:

• Local authority, for Council Tax purposes
• DVLA
• HM Revenue & Customs
• The electoral roll
• Television licensing
• Banks, pension companies, and other financial institutions
• Your employer
• Your children’s schools
• Dentist and GP surgeries
• Insurers
• Car insurers and breakdown cover provider
• Credit and store card providers
• Subscription package providers
• The vet

4. Declutter

This is one to start as soon as possible. As well as decluttering, try to move any items to the room you will want them in. For example, if you have items in the kitchen that you will ultimately want in your new dining room, put them in your dining room now so that they are packed with other dining room items. The more organisation you can do before you move, the faster and easier the unpacking process will be.

5. Get some boxes in and start packing early on

You can start packing items which you don’t use regularly as soon as you know that your purchase will be going ahead. This will reduce the amount you have to do in the last two or three days before your move. By taking your time, you can be more organised over the packing, ensuring that items are in the right boxes and that everything is correctly labelled. Make sure the labels are as clear as possible, listing what is in the box, as well as the room it is destined for.

6. Keep everyday items in a place where they are easy to locate

Make sure that the items you will need on moving day are close at hand. This could include enough food for the day, toiletries, towels, bedding for all of the beds, mugs, plates, cutlery, and the kettle.

Ensure that everything you will need for the first week in your new home is easily available and packed together. This will allow you to leave some boxes of non-essential items to be unpacked at a later date if necessary.

When the removal van is loaded, ask for the items you will need for that day to be put on last, so that you can unpack them first.

7. On moving day, take meter readings

Remember to take meter readings just before you leave your old home and also as soon as you arrive in your new property. Send these to the utility companies to ensure you don’t end up paying for someone else’s energy.

8. When you move in, check that everything on the fixtures and fittings list is at the property

You will have been given a fixtures and fittings list before contracts were exchanged, and this forms part of the contract, meaning you have a right to receive everything on the list. Check that all the items you are expecting to receive remain at the property and, if anything is missing, raise it straightaway with your solicitor.

9. Check that your new property has working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

On a safety level, check that the new alarms work well as soon as you move in and that batteries are replaced as needed.

For further advice or information please contact one of our Residential Property experts.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.