ESPC guide to moving home

Countdown to moving day -
one month to go
One week to go
On the day
Who to tell you’re moving

Countdown to moving day - one month to go

Book the removal company - or hire a van and rope in some friends
Make arrangements for pets to be transferred comfortably
Start collecting boxes and old newspapers for wrapping breakables
Go through each room of your house in turn, sorting your possessions into "keep" and "dispose of" piles
Clear out your unwanted belongings: sell them through car boot sales, ebay or the local newspaper, or give them away to charity shops
Take down wall lights, shelves, brackets, and pictures
Label all boxes so the removal company will know which rooms to put them in at your new address
Pack all valuable items separately and take care of important documents
Where necessary, contact the local council for a residents’ parking permit
Arrange building and contents insurance for your new home.
run down stocks of frozen food
run down fuel (if applicable)

One week to go

Confirm your booking with the removal firm or the van hire company
Agree a time of arrival with the seller
Pack some clothes separately to see you through the first couple of days
Ask for the seller’s new address and telephone number, in case you have any queries once you’ve moved, and so you can forward any messages
Ask the seller to leave a list of useful information, such as which day the rubbish is collected, the whereabouts of the nearest supermarket, instructions for appliances
Arrange the transfer or reconnection, if necessary, of gas, electricity and water
Arrange for a final telephone bill, make sure the line at your new home is connected and check the new number
Send out change of address cards
Cancel deliveries and pay accounts for milk, newspapers, window cleaner etc.
Begin defrosting the freezer 2-3 days before you move out
Back up your computer if you have one
Arrange for mail to be re-routed by the Royal Mail redirection service
Leave sticky labels with your address on them for new owners to forward any mail that may slip through
Dismantle self-assembly furniture and take down curtains
Make room plans showing where furniture will go and mark the items with coloured stickers to represent different rooms
Tell the police if you need to have the space outside your new home coned off for the removal van
Confirm when and where the hand-over of keys will take place
If you're moving some distance have your car serviced before the journey
Consider hiring a cleaning company to clean your old home after you leave

On the day

Pack one box with essentials: kettle, tea, coffee, milk, sugar, mugs, cutlery, plates, snacks, cold drinks, can-opener, radio with batteries, loo rolls, painkillers, plasters, pen and paper, plugs, torch, basic tools, candles, matches and light bulbs, cleaning materials, rubbish bags, wash bag and towel. Take this box with you in the boot of your car
Clearly mark everything that isn’t to be moved
Read your electricity and gas meters as you leave your old home and move into your new one
Check the windows and doors of your old property are shut and locked
Carry important telephone numbers with you, for example, in case there is a problem with the gas and electricity companies
Give the removal company a map and telephone number for your new home
Find the fuse box and stopcock in your new home as soon as you can; it’s much easier to locate them when the property is empty
Have an adequate supply of cash so you don’t run out and make sure you don’t leave your wallet or handbag lying around
Avoid leaving belongings unattended. The first few hours in a new home are a prime time for theft with doors left open for loading and unloading
Have a bottle of champagne (or whatever your tipple is) on hand so you can toast the future in your new home!