Your Universal Moving Checklist: What to Do Before and During Your Move

Moving to a new house can feel like an avalanche of tasks, deadlines, and difficult decisions. Whether you're relocating to a new city or an entirely different country, your success will depend on how well you organise the entire process. That's why you need a clear and practical checklist. With it, your move will be focused and efficient, reducing stress and minimising the risk of costly mistakes.

This universal moving checklist works well for local, long-distance, or international relocations. You will get all the essentials you need to tick off along the way. It acts as a comprehensive guide designed to help you organise your household and manage the entire relocation process confidently.

8 Weeks Before Moving

Planning is often the factor that allows everything else to happen more easily. At this stage, it is important to lay the foundation for your smooth move. Just follow our tips. 

• Notify your landlord if you’re renting. Check your tenancy agreement for notice periods and determine if you have any responsibilities for repairs.
• Start decluttering. Fewer belongings mean fewer boxes and lower moving costs. Start by deciding what is worth keeping and what to sell, recycle, donate, or discard. 
• Book a reliable removals company. Before requesting a quote, read online reviews about the company. Check if they perform moves that match your needs (such as international moves, for example).
• Create a moving binder or digital folder to store quotes, receipts, contracts, and this checklist. Gathering everything in one place contributes significantly to the organisation of the process.

6 Weeks Before Moving

Now it's time to get into the details and begin the actual work of moving into your new home.

• Begin packing non-essential household items such as seasonal clothing, décor, and book collection.
• Arrange for the time of work around moving day – you may include the time to pack, move, and settle in.
• Notify the school and childcare providers. They need to know about the upcoming move. Check if you need to start filling out paperwork related to it.
• Collect and organise all important documents like passports, insurance policies, medical records, vehicle registrations, birth certificates, and moving contracts. Store digital copies for backup.

4 Weeks Before Moving

At this stage, the focus is on preparing the supply and notifying service providers.

• Order or collect packing materials: sturdy boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, zip ties, permanent markers, and labels. Consider eco-friendly alternatives.
• Plan pet and child care on moving day to avoid stress, distractions, and potential injuries.
• Notify utility providers (electricity, gas, water, internet, waste collection). Arrange for the services to be stopped and started for your new home. 
• Start changing your address with this to-do list:
  • Banks and credit card companies
  • Subscription boxes
  • Magazines and memberships
  • Online retailers
  • Government services (e.g., post office, tax authority).

2 Weeks Before Moving

As the deadline approaches, things get more difficult and anxiety builds. That's why it's important to have your universal moving checklist with you at all times.

• Confirm all details with your removals company. This includes arrival time, parking, number of movers, destination address, etc. Don’t forget to share your access codes if any.
• Pack by category or room by room. Group similar items together to speed up unpacking.
• Label each box clearly with the destination room, its contents, and whether it’s fragile or needs to be opened first.
• Take care of hazardous or restricted items that can’t be transported. You can dispose of or donate your aerosol cans, paint, or other flammable substances. 

1 Week Before Moving

Focus on essentials, final checks, and cleanliness.

• Pack an essentials box (your “survival kit”). It should include items like chargers, toiletries, important documents, medications, some snacks and drinks, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. If you have space, add a basic toolbox with a box cutter, screwdriver, zip ties, labelling materials, and a flashlight.
• Deep clean your home or arrange a professional cleaning service. Your starting points are the kitchen, bathroom, and appliances. 
• Empty and clean your freezer and refrigerator. Use the food that can spoil, and you can carefully package the rest.
• Finish packing your last-minute items and do a sweep of storage areas: attic, basement, garage.
• Now it’s time to double-check all arrangements with your movers and provide them with any last-minute instructions.

Moving Day

You've made it this far! There are a few final steps left to make sure everything goes according to plan.

• Double-check all rooms, cupboards, and storage spaces. Ensure no appliances are left on and all windows are closed. If you have children, they may have left something out of place at the last minute.
• Record and photograph meter readings for electricity, gas, and water for your records.
• Oversee the loading of boxes and make sure fragile and high-value belongings are handled with care.
• Keep valuables (jewellery, cash, documents, electronics) with you during the move.
• If applicable, hand over the keys to your landlord, buyer, or property manager.
• Check that everything is off and locked before leaving.