Moving home can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and organisation, the process doesn’t have to be a stressful one.
At GB Liners, we have plenty of experience helping our clients prepare to move to a new home, and over time, we’ve learned what aspects are most commonly overlooked. That’s why we’ve put together this checklist to ensure every aspect of your move is covered and make your transition as smooth as possible. From your initial budgeting through to unpacking your final box, follow the steps below for a streamlined, stress-free experience.
The Preparation Phase
Before embarking on your move, it’s crucial to establish a realistic budget. Consider all potential expenses, including hiring professional movers, packing supplies, and any unforeseen costs. Having a clear budget will help you make informed decisions throughout the moving process.
Budget Checklist
⟤ Calculate your online budget
⟤ Get a quote from professional movers
⟤ Purchases or source packing supplies (We can help supply high-quality packing supplies)
⟤ Put some money aside for unforeseen expenses
⟤ Figure out your total expenses
Once you have your budget in mind, you may want to create a moving binder to provide easy access to important documents when you need them. When moving, it can be easy to misplace critical items, such as paperwork, and having a central hub for all your moving-related paperwork makes it easy to access important information when needed.
What to Include in Your Moving Binder
⟤ Any contracts related to the move
⟤ Moving estimates and quotes
⟤ Inventory lists
⟤ Any other important documentation you don’t want to lose
Declutter and Organise
With your moving date on the horizon, it’s time to organise your belongings, ready for packing and transport. Before you start, however, you may want to take the opportunity to declutter your home of belongings you no longer need and organise the items you’re planning to take with you. Take stock of your belongings and create a detailed inventory. This will not only help you declutter, but also serve as a valuable reference during the packing and unpacking stages to ensure nothing gets left behind.
When it comes to packing, it might be beneficial to go room-by-room. If you don’t want to tackle packing alone, we offer full and part packing services, as well as packing supplies if you do decide to do it yourself.
⟤ Take an inventory of items you’re taking with you
⟤ Sell, donate, or recycle/throw away unwanted items
⟤ Pack your home room-by-room
Setting The Date
When setting your moving date, it’s important to choose a day that aligns with your schedule and allows sufficient time for preparation. However, the reality is this will often rely on coordinating with the timelines of solicitors, other buyers and sellers, and anybody else who may be involved in the process.
Ensure you are in regular communication with your moving team to ensure availability before committing to vacating your current property by a certain day and align all schedules appropriately.
⟤ Check your schedule
⟤ Allow time to prepare
⟤ Check with your moving team to ensure availability
⟤ Finalise your booking with a professional moving team
Taking Care of Admin: Utilities and Services
Before your move, it’s important to inform all your utility suppliers of your change of address. This will help ensure you don’t continue to pay for services you won’t be using, such as council tax or water rates. You’ll also want to arrange to transfer your utility services to your new address, and inform your bank of your change of address to ensure important documentation isn’t sent to your old address.
⟤ Inform all important parties of your change of address, such as your bank, local council, and water supplier
⟤ Transfer utilities to your new home, including gas, electricity, internet and television services
⟤ Set up a forwarding service with the post office to ensure you don’t miss important mail
Moving Day
Prepare for unexpected situations by having an emergency kit on hand. Include essentials such as first aid supplies, important documents, and contact information for key contacts, and ensure you are contactable at all times.
At GB Liners, our moving team will provide you with an “odds box” with any crucial items you’ll need to have on hand. Include your moving binder and any other important documents, but also any items you might need for utility, such as scissors, a Stanley knife, keys and anything else you may need immediately before you begin the unpacking process.
Before you leave, conduct a final walkthrough of your home. This will ensure nothing is left behind. Check every room, cupboard, and storage space to confirm that you haven’t overlooked anything.
Stay in constant communication with your moving team. This will greatly aid in coordination on the day, allowing both you and your team to sync up and allow the day to run far more smoothly.
Before you leave for the final time, take a final reading of any utility meters and coordinate with your estate agents to exchange any keys or provide access to either property.
It may also be a good idea to introduce yourself to any new neighbours.
⟤ Create an odds box of crucial items, such as your moving binder, scissors, or a Stanley knife, screws, and remote controls.
⟤ Conduct a final walkthrough of your old home
⟤ Coordinate with your moving team
⟤ Take your final meter readings
⟤ Swap keys with your estate agent
Settling In
Once your belongings are all safely in your new home, it’s time to begin the unpacking process. GB Liners can also support you with our unpacking services, reducing the time it takes to set up your new home as you’d like it. It can be tempting to take time to relax before beginning to find a place for your items, but the sooner your unpacking is complete, the sooner your new house will begin to feel like home.
Providing your packing materials are in good condition, and your property is located within range of a local depot, GB Liners will collect our packing materials when we have a vehicle in your area. We reuse all boxes until they are no longer in working condition, and then recycle them for you.
Once unpacked, check with your utility providers to ensure all services are in working order and take any necessary meter readings. It can take a few days to get everything up and running, so make sure you receive confirmation from providers of exactly when your services will go live.
⟤ Unpack your belongings
⟤ Return packing materials
⟤ Check your utilities are working
⟤ Update your address on your driving license and official IDs, inform your car insurance of the move, and get in touch with any other important providers.
Get Support From GB Liners
Moving home is a significant life event, and with careful planning and assistance, it doesn’t have to be a stressful one. To get a quote for your upcoming move, contact the GB Liners team, or make use of our online services to arrange a quote.