Check it Out: Your Very Own Moving Home Checklist

All you movers and Rightmove addicts, don’t mean to diss don’t mean to bring static. But moving house is really stressful and you might need some informed help. That’s when it’s time to check out the ultimate moving home checklist, brought to you by none other than the intergalactic Davies and Davies crew. So without further ado, all you movers and shakers in the house, grab your pen and get loud (/make some notes)…

1.Timing is everything

When you rock the mic and when you move house, timing is key. First and foremost, before you start ordering vacuum packs and cardboard boxes, get your moving date nailed down. Once you’ve got the date confirmed, make sure to avoid overlapping rentals where possible, and the rest of your moving plans can begin to snowball.

2. (Don’t) blow your budget off its hinges

Now you know your moving date, you can start looking into removal company costs. Use a price comparison site and check out reviews to make sure they’re not going to ghost you at a critical time, like Terry from plentyoffish.com. This is also a great time to start Marie Kondoing the heck out of your possessions and downsizing as much as poss, for a healthier mind and removal quote. If you decide to pack yourself, your sharpie is your best friend. Label every bag and box, from socks to hot sauce. To save you sleeping under a towel and eating dinner from a mailing bag on your first night.

3. Tell the bees

This one technically only applies to beekeepers. With their age old tradition of telling the bees of any important news in their lives such as a birth or move. But not to worry if you don’t have any bee chums to bore, as there are plenty of other people to inform of your move. The first on the list if you’re renting would be your current landlord. Who can agree on a date which will hopefully coincide with your move in date. Then, renting or otherwise, you need to tell your bank, electoral roll, car insurer, doctor and dentist, snack box subscription, your cat who’d probably like to know and maybe your mum. But that one’s up to you.

4. Fight for your right (to your mail)

For a small fee, you can avoid the tiresome, stressful and frankly, downright embarrassing rigmarole of having to collect your mail from the old address. In advance of your move date, set up a redirect to your shiny new address with Royal Mail. This way, you’ll also body swerve any potential identity theft (scary) and won’t miss out on your scone tasting subscription (delicious). Once you’re all moved in to the new place and desperately trying to befriend the postman against his wishes, if you receive a previous tenant / owner’s mail, don’t scream and burn it. Just scrawl ‘return to sender’ over the back and pop it back in the postbox. Yes, it’s illegal to ‘have a peek’ at someone else’s mail, Kathy.

5. Don’t SABOTAGE yourself

Whether you’re a renter or an owner, a lover or a fighter, don’t shoot yourself in the wallet by forgetting to get home insurance. If you’re buying, you’ll need buildings insurance regardless when sorting your mortgage. So get those earthly possessions covered. You can get insurance up to 30 days before your move date. So get in there early and feel super smug about your life choices.

6. Get in the driving seat

Now comes the time to sort everything out car related, if you drive that is. So dust off your driving gloves and take heed. Firstly, update your driving license so that it will show the new address through the GOV.UK website or by snail mail if preferable. This will avoid a fine and doesn’t cost anything. So put that in big red letters near the top. Then, change your details on your vehicle registration certificate online, to avoid another hefty fine of up to £1,000. Cripes. Lastly, apply for a parking permit before the big move via your local authority and parallel park your Fiesta in style, safe in the knowledge you’re all updated.

7. The final countdown

For your meter, that is. There’s still plenty to do before the big move day. Before you kiss your old flat goodbye, take all the water, gas and electricity meter readings and preferably with a photo that can prove the time and date they were taken. Otherwise, you might end up paying for the next resident’s thrice daily bath addiction and annoying little habit of leaving the lights on all night. If you’re a loyal Larry, you can stay with the same gas and electricity companies when you move if that’s how you roll. Hey, change is scary.

8. All you Trekkies and TV addicts

Now for the slightly more fun part. If you can’t go a night without Gogglebox whilst hate-scrolling Insta, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got your broadband and digital TV subscriptions in place before you move. As well as an updated TV License for the new address. Again, you can usually stay with the same providers if you want. But you might find some nifty deals for new customers elsewhere. We won’t judge.

9. Babies and beasties

Moving is stressful enough as it is without panicking the kids and/or pets with all our shifting and lifting and long, pointed sighs. We’d suggest shielding them from the move day anxiety by arranging for a babysitter / pet sitter. Which also saves you from tripping over a stray dog tail or confused toddler wondering why your face is purple and the toy box has disappeared.

10. Pack up and chow down!

Once you’ve packed all the boring bits and bobs away like the grand piano and the drones. Make sure to sort a box of essentials that you’ll need easy access to. Think passports, mortgage papers, kettle, phone and laptop chargers, loo roll, the dog, Tony’s favourite teddy and a huge bar of chocolate. Speaking of treats, now’s your time to get in training for that competitive eating competition and get eating everything from the fridge/freezer. If you can’t manage (lame) then perhaps a friendly neighbour could store those chicken dippers on your behalf.

11. Stay calm and be nice

To keep your moving house good karma in balance, it’s wise to leave a handy list of essential info for the new residents in your old abode. Things you may have taken for granted, such as where the stopcock is and what day’s bin day, this will be really helpful for the new guys. Of course, they could just use the old t’interweb. But it’s a kind gesture to leave a big list of local numbers, best kebabs in walking distance, boiler instructions etc.

You could always send them a link to our handy Neighbourhoods Guide too. If you’re lucky enough to live in one of the fabulous inner North London boroughs we cover. For any more help and insight to moving homes, don’t hesitate to give us a ring, drop us a line or pop in for a cuppa.

Contact us:

alex@daviesdavies.co.uk – Lettings Director (contact for lettings and property management)

mark@daviesdavies.co.uk – Sales Director (contact for sales, new homes and chartered surveying)

Davies & Davies Estate Agents, 85 Stroud Green Road, London, N4 3EG

Article & images by Barefaced Studios

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