Moving house? We’ve got a list of things to do!
Moving house is a big exercise and needs to be planned carefully, here are some tips and tools to help you.
(download our pdf by clicking the image above or here)
Remember to cancel:
☐ Newspaper and/or milk delivery.
☐ Telephone, internet and cable TV.
☐ Gas, water and electricity (arrange a final meter reading).
Organise for moving day:
☐ Obtain supply of boxes (the supermarket can be one supplier).
☐ Get packaging tape and heavy marker pens.
☐ Arrange for furniture removal (get quote, confirm time).
☐ Arrange care of your children on moving day.
☐ Make suitable arrangements for any pets.
☐ Arrange transit insurance and contents and fire insurance for your new home.
☐ Organise shifting times with the purchaser of your old property and the previous owner of your new one.
Notify your change of address to:
☐ Bank, credit card and charge card companies.
☐ Post office for redirection of mail.
☐ Elections Registrar.
☐ Registrar of motor vehicles and drivers license.
☐ Tax department.
☐ Insurance companies.
☐ Hire purchase or finance companies.
☐ Investment companies.
☐ Local council.
☐ Clubs and organisations.
☐ Police (if you own and store firearms).
☐ Friends and relatives.
☐ Magazine subscriptions.
☐ Doctor, dentist, accountant, lawyer.
Don’t forget:
☐ Clean the stove and defrost the fridge/freezer.
☐ Tidy the yard.
☐ Ensure that the chattels that have been sold with the property are not accidentally packed.
☐ Disconnect all appliances.
☐ Disconnect the TV aerial.
☐ Return any borrowed items.
☐ Throw out items that you don’t intend taking with you.
☐ List valuable items for special care when moving.
☐ Advise removal company of dangerous goods being moved (i.e. ammunition, petrol, spirits, chemicals).
☐ Securely pack all jewellery, money, special documents and papers (i.e. legal, tax, insurance etc).
☐ Set aside items you will need on the day of the move so you can take them with you (i.e. food, drinks, cleaning products).
☐ Pack each room leaving the boxes stacked and labelled with the room they are to be moved to. It is a good idea to write on each box a list of its general content.
☐ Clearly label boxes containing breakables as ‘Fragile’ and identify these items to the removal people.
☐ Pot and pack away plants and cuttings you are taking with you.
☐ Explain your packing procedure to the removal people and be at your new home when they arrive.
Do not:
☐ Put breakables or liquid filled containers in drawers.
☐ Overload drawers and make furniture too heavy to shift (too much weight can damage furniture).
☐ Move netting, barbed wire, timber, wood, coal etc without special arrangements being made.
☐ Store perishable goods where they might be overlooked.
Make arrangements to:
☐ See your solicitor to sign transfer documents/mortgage discharge documents.
☐ Enrol children in new school.
☐ Coordinate the forwarding of any files from the children’s previous school to their new one.
Organise for your new home:
☐ Newspaper delivery.
☐ Telephone.
☐ Internet and cable TV connection.
☐ Gas, electricity and water.
The week before moving:
☐ Remind and confirm dates/times/locations for furniture removal company.
☐ Confirm moving in/moving out details and key exchange with your Harcourts consultant.
☐ Say goodbye to neighbours.
One last check:
☐ Nothing left behind?
☐ No clothes at the dry cleaners?
☐ No gear stored away from your property?
☐ Electricity, gas and telephone disconnected?
☐ Water turned off and no taps left running?
☐ Windows and doors latched?
☐ Keys with solicitor (if appropriate)?
After it’s all over:
☐ Have spare keys cut.
☐ Make an insurance claim if any damage has occurred during the move.
☐ Teach children how to get to their new school.
