Moving day preparation checklist

• First and foremost, confirm the moving date, so you know your exact timescale, then one month before giving your four weeks’ notice to your landlord or letting agent (if necessary)
• Weigh up whether you need to hire a removals firm or whether you could hire a van and move your belongings yourself.  Even if you’re only moving a relatively short distance or if you don’t have too many things, moving your stuff from A to B can be a pain.  It’s still worth considering your removals options, especially if you need to use public transport or rely on a friend or family to help. AnyVan.com cover the whole of the UK and can offer instant quotes from a sofa to a full house move. With no hidden fees and handy functions like the ability to track your driver, using professional removals can help to take the stress out of moving
• Should you need to, remember to book a few days off work around your moving day

• Start sourcing packing boxes and containers. Ask friends and family to borrow theirs for free, or visit your local supermarket and ask for any discarded boxes they have available. Remember, if you’re using a removal firm, it’s quite likely they’ll only take packed boxes with lids on
• Before you start packing, have a clear out. Separate your unwanted items between what can be discarded and what’s suitable to donate to charity. 
• If you have any pets, consider arranging for them to be looked after or put in kennels for a few days covering your moving period
• Based on whether or not the property you’re moving to is furnished, arrange for any new items to be delivered to your current address before you move or after you've moved into your new home
• You should also pre-emptively get your addresses changed on your bank accounts, tax registration, driving licence, vehicle registration, TV licence and credit cards

• Contact your internet, home insurance and utilities providers to inform them of your move. They may offer your discounts to continue using their services
• Start packing, labelling and boxing up your non-essential items
• Try to use up the contents of your freezer to start emptying it
• Contact the Post Office and arrange for your mail to be forwarded to your new address as of your moving date
• Remember to cancel deliveries of any subscriptions to newspapers or magazines

• Move your packed non-essential items into one room and stack these to maximise space
• Defrost your freezer
• Contact your removals/van hire company to check your booking
• Contact your landlord or letting agent for your old and new properties to organise when you can drop off your keys and final meter readings and when you can collect your new keys on the moving day
• Thoroughly clean your property and tidy the gardens in accordance with your tenancy agreement
• Take detailed photos of each room and area, covering any wear and tear you’re concerned might cause issues with your deposit

• Pack an overnight bag of clothes and toiletries to get you through the next few days
• Box up and package any remaining items ready to be moved
• Get some rest, you'll need your energy

• Get up early and pack any remaining essential items
• Disconnect all electrical items and turn off the gas and water before writing down your final meter readings, which you then need to give to your utility companies
• Load your van or wait for the removals to arrive and load all your goods
• Double-check that all windows and doors are shut and locked and that nothing is left behind
• While transporting your goods, stop by your estate agent or landlord to drop off your old keys and final readings
• Collect your new keys from your new estate agent or landlord
• Arrive at the property and unload or supervise having your goods unloaded into the property
• Inspect the property and identify any damage or issues you might need to raise with your new landlord. Take photo evidence if necessary
• Take the meter readings of your new property before contacting your new suppliers to provide them with the data

You do also have the possibility of an overlap between your tenancies; this gives you more freedom during the move to do the following:

• Clean your new property and assess it before you move in
• Have new goods delivered before you move house
• Return to your old property and clean it once the move is completed