Moving House Checklist

Here at Cambridge Handy Man and Van our aim is to make your moving day as stress-free as possible. But moving home is more than just one day. Ideally you should start the planning process at least a month before your move.

In order to help you we have complied a comprehensive check-list of things you should be doing prior to your move.

This essential guide comes in four parts:

Things to do a month before moving day
Things to do a week before moving day
Things to do a 2 to 3 days before moving day
Things to do on moving day

We will publish this guide over the next four weeks. Please check back to ensure you don’t miss out on this invaluable information. Read on for part one……

Things to do a month before moving day

 

Start Packing and Sorting

If you are doing the packing yourself start as soon as you can, and certainly no later than two weeks before moving day. Start by clearing out the attic and garage or pack up your summer or winter clothes. Pack up kitchen items you rarely use – you can probably live without your fondue set or George Foreman grill for a couple of weeks! You could also pack up your books, DVDs and video games.

This will give you the chance to sort through your possessions and allow you to get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore.

Change of Address

Remember to let businesses you deal with know of your new address. We recommend iammoving.com. This service allows you to notify organisations in one go which is a huge time-saver. They have over 1,500 organisations that accept notifications via the service including: mobile phone companies, loyalty cards such as Boots and Nectar, utilities such as British Gas, Scottish Power, charitable organisations, university alumni offices, as well as TV Licensing, DVLA and all local councils. Notifying your in-laws is entirely optional!

Phone and Internet

Contact your providers and advise them of your change of address and the date that you wish your new service to operate from. Some Internet service providers can take up to a month to connect your home so contact them early to minimise down time. If you are no longer going to use the same service provider then you generally have to give them a month’s notice, sometimes in writing. If you do not then you will be billed for a service that you are no longer using.

Car

Have your car serviced, particularly if you are moving a long distance away.

DVLA

If you have changed address, you must tell the DVLA to update both your driving licence and vehicle registration.

Change the address on your driving licence

Change your name and address on your V5C vehicle registration certificate (log book)

Parking

If you have any parking restrictions at either your present or your new address, you will need to contact the local authorities to arrange for a suspension of the parking restrictions outside your property on moving day. Remember that a removal van can be pretty big and needs extra space to be manoeuvred into position. If in doubt, contact us and we’ll tell you exactly how much space we’ll need.

Bank

Notify your bank of your new address and maybe consider transferring your accounts to a branch nearer to your new home.

Credit Cards and Store Cards

When you receive your statements, fill out the change of address form. This is usually on the reverse of the statement. Don’t forget to notify any card protection insurers that you may have.

Schools

Let your child’s school know when you intend them to be leaving, and advise the new school when you intend your children to start.

Inland Revenue

When you notify your local tax office you will need to quote your reference number. If you are not sure of your reference number, ask your employer.

Insurance and Pensions

Contact your broker or the individual companies for your Life, Motor, Medical, Pet and Contents insurance. When contacting your house contents insurers, check with them to see what cover you have regarding moving house, you may find that you are fully covered for the move.

Medical

If you are moving out of the local area you will have to de-register with your dentist and doctor and register with new ones in your new area. If you have your contact lenses delivered directly to your door it is really important to let your optician know your new address so that your next three month pack arrives in the right place at the right time.

Next week: Things to do a week before moving day

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