The Ultimate Moving House Checklist: How to Prepare for Moving Day
The biggest challenges in moving house rarely come from the obvious tasks, but from the smaller details that get missed along the way. Discover how to stay ahead of them and where experienced domestic
house removals
support can make the process far more manageable.
Choosing your moving date
If you have control over your moving date, choose it wisely. Choosing the wrong day can affect how smoothly the move goes as well as the availability of moving companies and your loved ones.
End of the month, weekends and Fridays are typically the busiest days for moving companies. Picking a weekday can give you more time and attention if you have children but weekends may give you more flexibility in hours. Weekdays might mean there is more parking on the street during working hours and less traffic on the roads, but may incur traffic restrictions if you’re moving to a built up area like a town centre.
Get quotes on removal costs
It is sensible to contact a removals company 6-8 weeks before your move to ensure the date is free and weigh up costs against service. The cheapest option often leaves gaps that become clear on moving day. A thorough quote should take into account:
☑ Volume of belongings (not just number of rooms)
☑ Access at both properties (stairs, lifts, distance from parking)
☑ Fragile or specialist items (pianos, antiques, large wardrobes)
☑ Packing requirements
☑
Waiting time (for example, if keys are delayed)
Working with an experienced domestic removals team means these details are assessed properly upfront and quoted accurately.
Contact your utilities
Before you move, you need to notify utilities companies that you will no longer be living in the property. Leave plenty of time so you are not charged after you vacate the property. These include:
☑ Gas
☑ Water
☑ Electricity
☑ Phone
☑ Broadband
Working with an experienced domestic removals team means these details are assessed properly upfront and quoted accurately.
Change your address on important documents
This is rarely completed in one go, it’s usually done in stages, and things can get missed. Prioritise:
☑ Banking and financial services
☑ DVLA (licence and vehicle registration)
☑ Insurance policies (home, car, life)
☑ HMRC and pension providers
☑ Online shopping accounts
☑ Subscriptions
☑ Medical providers
Redirect your mail
Contact your local post office and have your mail redirected to your new property so you don’t miss any important documents. There may be a small fee for the service but it will save you from incurring a larger fee if any important letters slip through the net.
Packing supplies
Packing tends to expand to fill the time and materials available and then go beyond it. Most people underestimate both how much they have and how long it will take to pack it properly. Having the right materials affects how safely and efficiently everything can be moved.
Essential packing materials include:
☑ Sturdy boxes in a range of sizes
☑ Multiple rolls of strong packing tape
☑ Bubble wrap or packing paper
☑ Protective covers for furniture and mattresses
☑ A good pair of scissors
☑ Marker pens for clear labelling
Packing and labelling boxes
Labelling should be clear enough that someone else, not just you, can understand exactly where each box belongs. This will help your removals team identify where boxes need to go when they are unloaded in your new property and help you find everything you need in the transition days following the move. Practical packing tips:
☑ Pack one room at a time to stay organised
☑ Avoid overfilling boxes; weight matters more than space
☑ Clearly label contents as well as destination room
☑ Use a simple system (e.g. colour coding) for quick identification
☑ Keep screws and small parts with the furniture they belong to
| What to pack first | What to pack last |
|---|---|
| Seasonal clothing and footwear | Everyday clothing |
| Books, trinkets, and non essential items | Toiletries and personal items |
| Spare bedding and towels | Essential kitchen items (kettle, utensils, basic cookware) |
| Items stored in lofts, garages, or cupboards | Work equipment and chargers |
| Non essential furniture | Your emergency kit |
| Artwork and pictures |
Moving day essentials
Even with everything packed, there are certain items you’ll need immediate access to on the day. Keeping these separate avoids unnecessary searching while everything else is being loaded or unloaded. Your essentials should include:
☑ Important documents related to the move
☑ Phone chargers and devices
☑ Snacks and drinks
☑ Medication
☑ Basic cleaning supplies
☑ Packing supplies
☑
Bin bags for last minute clutter
☑ Soap and a hand towel
☑ A small first aid kit
☑ Your toolbox
On the day checklists
Moving day itself can feel disjointed, even when everything has been planned properly. A simple checklist helps keep things on track and remove some of the mental load you may be carrying. Before leaving your old property:
☑ Check every room, cupboard, loft, and storage space
☑ Take final meter readings (with photos if possible)
☑ Ensure appliances are empty and switched off
☑ Make sure there’s no food left in the fridge/freezer
☑ Double check your washing machine
☑ Confirm all keys are accounted for
☑
Clean all surfaces, floors, and cupboards
☑ Conduct a final sweep of the interior and exterior of the property
Food planning
Make sure you have plenty of snacks and easy food ready on the day to keep your spirits up. This could include putting aside a budget for a takeaway or having sandwiches and microwave meals ready to heat up and eat when needed. Keeping your kettle, mugs, milk, sugar, and teaspoons accessible for cups of tea and coffee will make a noticeable difference.
Emergency box checklist
Your emergency box consists of all the things you’ll need if something goes wrong at the new property. Include:
☑ Toilet paper and basic toiletries
☑ Bin bags
☑ Cleaning products
☑ Scissors and tape
☑ Basic tools like screwdrivers and allen keys
☑ Light bulbs
☑
Extension leads
☑ Power pack
☑ Cloths and wipes
☑ Change of clothes
☑
First aid kit
☑ Medication
☑ Bottled water
☑ Candles
Van vs Car boxes
With an experienced moving team, it is unlikely that anything will get lost or delayed, but it is still vital that you plan for this contingency and keep essential items in smaller boxes that fit in your personal vehicle. Keep with you:
☑ Important documents
☑ Valuables and sentimental items
☑ Daily essentials
☑ A change of clothes
☑ Your emergency box
Double check you’ve changed your address
On the day of the move, double and triple check that you’ve changed your address for all important documents.
Cleaning process for moving day
By the time moving day arrives, most of your belongings should already be packed, which makes it the ideal opportunity to clean thoroughly without working around furniture and clutter. Leave additional time in your schedule to return to the property and give it a thorough, deep clean, ready for the new owners/tenants. If you’re using a removals team like Matthews Removals, this can usually be coordinated so you have a clear window to go back through the property once it’s empty. Don’t forget to clean:
☑ Inside kitchen cupboards, drawers, and wardrobes once emptied
☑ Behind large appliances like fridges and washing machines
☑ Skirting boards and corners that are usually blocked by furniture
☑ Kitchen surfaces, worktops, and splashbacks
☑ Floors, vacuuming and mopping once everything has been removed
☑
Bathrooms, including limescale on taps, tiles, and shower screens
☑ Cupboards and storage spaces to ensure nothing has been left behind
☑ Inside ovens, hobs, and extractor fans
☑ Internal windows and sills
Change the locks at your new property
Once you arrive at your new home, changing the locks is a practical step that can give you peace of mind. There’s no reliable way of knowing how many keys are still in circulation from previous owners or tenants so changing your locks provides an added layer of security.
Make moving home simple
Packing is consistently one of the most time consuming parts of moving house, and it’s also where the majority of avoidable problems start. Without proper planning, these issues can quickly slow things down and create unnecessary pressure.
At Matthews Removals, our professional approach to house removals takes these variables into account from the outset. Our Leeds based team carefully plans around property access, loading efficiency, and safe handling techniques, while also allowing for flexibility if timings change so you can focus on the finer details of packing. Say goodbye to your old home and hello to your new adventure without the hassle.
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