Checklist for Moving House
27 February 2024 | Editor's Pick | Most Popular | Tips and Guides
Author: Parcel2Go.com
Whether you’re looking to upsize, downsize, or get your foot on the first rung of the property ladder, there’s so much to think about when you get the keys to your new home.
Our Checklist for Moving House
Our top tip is to take the stress out of moving with a moving house checklist:
1. Change Your Address
It’s not just friends and family who’ll want your new address, there are plenty of others who’ll need to know. If you’re not sure who to inform when moving house, think of all the services and organisations who use your current address to get in touch with you.
For example, you’ll need to change your address with your GP and dentist, DVLA, TV licensing, bank, employer, and electoral role.
Do I need to change my address with HMRC when I move?
Yes. You’ll need to tell HMRC if you change your address, and if you run a business, you’ll need to update your business address too. You can find details on how to tell HMRC when you change your address on their website.
2. Redirect Post
No matter how nice the new owners of your old house are — you don’t want to risk your private details falling into the wrong hands after you move.
Redirecting your post can help take the stress out of remembering to notify all those services we sometimes forget about.
How much does it cost to redirect your post with Royal Mail?
You can redirect post with Royal Mail from just £36.00. Your post can be redirected for 3, 6 or 12 months. All of which should give you plenty of time to get your addresses changed by the relevant senders.
3. Sort Your House Removal Arrangements
It’s never too early to pack for the big move. You could start by sorting out things you don’t want to take and packing areas of the house like the attic or garage that tend to accumulate more unnecessary items.
If you’re planning on using a removal firm, we suggest booking at least 8 weeks before your moving date.
You can save money by doing some of the moving yourself. Our door-to-door delivery service starts from just £2.25 exc VAT. You can have your boxes collected from your old house and delivered to your new home the very next day.
How much does it cost to move house?
According to Compare My Move, the average cost of buying and selling a house in 2025 is around £12,723.
This figure will vary depending on the value and size of the property you’re buying (and selling), and includes fees such as stamp duty, estate agents, and house surveys.
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Our furniture courier services can help you reduce your shipping costs to your new home. Use our quick quote tool to compare collection services from couriers such as UPS, Parcelforce, FedEx and more.
How long does it take to move house?
Once you’ve agreed the sale, it’s only natural that you’ll want to move into your new house as soon as possible. On average, you can expect to get the keys to your new home in around 12 to 22 weeks.
Be aware that delays are common during the buying process, and it’s rare that a sale will ever be completely plain sailing.
4. Arrange Home Insurance
Home insurance is one of the top things you need on your moving house checklist.
Home insurance comes in two parts — buildings insurance, and contents insurance. You can buy them separately or both together on the same policy. Home insurance will cover you against things like fire or water damage, and can also protect you against theft of your belongings during a break-in.
It’s possible that you’ll need buildings insurance as a condition of your mortgage agreement, so it’s worth checking on that.
And finally,if you’re looking for more inspiration for things to do when moving into a new house, read our blog on how to plan your move with these house moving tips.