The Ultimate Moving House Checklist (8-Week Countdown)
This moving house checklist breaks the whole move into a simple week-by-week countdown, so nothing important slips through in the rush. Work through it from eight weeks out to the day you arrive and you will spread the effort, avoid the last-minute panic, and give your removals crew a clean, well-labelled job. It is written for a Sussex move but works anywhere in the UK.
Pair it with our complete step-by-step guide to moving house in Sussex, and if you are still weighing up help, compare a man and van against a full removal company.
8 weeks before: plan and book
This is the calm, high-leverage stage. Confirm your moving date if you can, then get removal quotes in early so the good crews are still free, especially around month ends and school holidays when Sussex movers get busy. Start a moving folder (paper or digital) for quotes, contracts and dates. Book time off work for moving day, and if you rent, check your notice period and give notice in writing.
6 weeks before: declutter and sort
The less you move, the cheaper and calmer the move. Go room by room and sort into keep, sell, donate and recycle. Book any specialist help now, for a piano, large safe, or awkward furniture. If you need storage between completion dates, arrange it. Measure large items and doorways at the new place if you can, so nothing gets stuck on the day.
4 weeks before: notify and organise
Start telling people your new address. The key ones are:
- Employer, bank, building society and pension provider
- GP, dentist and any hospital clinics
- DVLA (driving licence and vehicle log book) and your car insurer
- Council (for council tax) at both the old and new addresses
- TV licence, insurers, subscriptions and online shopping accounts
Set up Royal Mail post redirection so anything you forget still reaches you. Order any packing materials, or confirm what your removal company will supply.
2 weeks before: pack the non-essentials
Begin packing rooms you rarely use, labelling every box with the room it belongs in and a note of the contents. Run down the freezer and food cupboards. Arrange for utilities at the new home to be in your name from moving day, and book meter reading reminders. Confirm the final details with your removal company, including access, parking and timings at both properties.
1 week before: confirm and prepare
Finish the bulk of the packing, leaving out only what you need for the last few days. Pack an essentials box you will keep with you: kettle, mugs, tea, chargers, medication, documents, a few tools, toilet roll and basic toiletries. Defrost the fridge and freezer, and confirm key handover arrangements with your solicitor or agent. Take photos of the condition of a rented property for your deposit.
Moving day: keep it simple
Be up and ready before the crew arrives. Do a final walk of every room, loft, garden and shed. Take gas, electricity and water meter readings and photograph them. Keep valuables, documents and your essentials box with you rather than on the van. Check the new home is clean and empty, direct the crew on where boxes go, and collect or hand over keys as arranged. A calm, well-labelled move is a fast move.
After you arrive: settle in
Check nothing is damaged and note anything for the removal company's insurance while it is fresh. Find the stopcock, fuse box and boiler controls. Register with a local GP and dentist if you have moved area, update your electoral roll, and finish any address changes you did not get to. Then put the kettle on: the hard part is done.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you start your moving house checklist?
Around eight weeks before the move is ideal. That gives you time to book a good removal company before they fill up, declutter properly, and notify everyone of your new address without a last-minute scramble. If you have less notice, work through the same steps faster and prioritise booking removals and telling the essential contacts first.
What should go in a moving day essentials box?
Pack a box you keep with you rather than loading on the van: kettle, mugs, tea and coffee, phone chargers, any medication, important documents, a few basic tools, toilet roll, snacks and toiletries. It means you can make a drink and function the moment you arrive, before you unpack a single other box.
Who do you need to notify when moving house?
Tell your employer, bank, pension and insurers, your GP and dentist, the DVLA, and the council at both addresses for council tax. Add subscriptions, the TV licence and online accounts. Setting up Royal Mail post redirection is a cheap safety net that catches anything you forget.
Should you take meter readings when you move?
Yes, always. Take and photograph gas, electricity and water meter readings at both the old and new properties on moving day, and pass them to the relevant suppliers. It makes sure you only pay for what you actually use and avoids disputes over the changeover.
How far in advance should you book a removal company?
Aim to book your removal company several weeks ahead, and earlier if you are moving at a month end, a Friday or during school holidays, when demand across Sussex is highest. Getting quotes in around six to eight weeks out gives you the best choice of crews and dates.