Moving house without losing everything

Moving is consistently rated among the more stressful common life events, and a substantial proportion of that stress is logistical and therefore addressable.

The sequence

What to do and roughly when.

Six weeks out: declutter, since moving things you do not want is paying to transport them twice.

This is the single most effective thing to do and the one most people skip.

Obtain quotes from removal firms, or book a vehicle.

Start using up food, cleaning products and anything that will not travel well.

Four weeks out: begin packing anything not needed — books, out-of-season clothing, decorative items, spare rooms.

Notify utilities, councils, banks, employers, schools, insurers and anyone with a subscription, and arrange mail redirection.

Two weeks out: pack in earnest, room by room.

Arrange time off, childcare and pet care for the day.

Confirm arrangements with the removal firm.

The last few days: pack the remainder, defrost the freezer, and assemble the essentials box.

Packing

The practices that make unpacking possible.

Label by room in the new property, not by room in the old one.

Adding a brief note of the contents is worth the seconds it takes.

Number the boxes and keep a list, which makes it obvious if anything is missing and allows you to find a specific item without opening everything.

Small boxes for heavy things, large boxes for light things.

A large box of books cannot be lifted safely.

Fill boxes completely, padding gaps, since partially filled boxes collapse when stacked.

Pack plates on edge rather than flat, which is substantially less likely to break them.

Keep screws and fittings from dismantled furniture in labelled bags taped to the item.

Photograph the back of electronics before disconnecting.

The essentials box

Which travels with you rather than in the van.

Kettle, mugs, tea, and something to eat.

Toilet paper, soap, towels and toothbrushes.

Bedding for the first night.

Medication.

Phone chargers.

Basic tools and a torch.

Cleaning materials.

Important documents.

And a change of clothes for everyone.

This box is the difference between a manageable first night and a miserable one.

The day itself

Practical points.

Take meter readings at both properties, photographed.

Check the whole property before leaving, including lofts, sheds and outside.

Keep valuables and documents with you rather than in the van.

Direct boxes to the correct rooms as they arrive, since moving them afterwards is harder.

Assemble beds before anything else, since the day always runs long.

And arrange for children and pets to be elsewhere, which is better for everyone.

The first week in the new place

What matters.

Locate the stopcock, the consumer unit, the gas shut-off and the drains.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries.

Change the locks, which is standard advice and rarely followed.

Unpack the kitchen and bedrooms first, since a functioning kitchen and a made bed transform how the house feels.

Leave the boxes you cannot immediately place, and set a date to deal with them.

And resist arranging furniture permanently in the first week, since how a house is used only becomes clear after living in it.

Renting specifically

Additional items.

Photograph everything at the outset, dated, and check the inventory carefully, since deposit disputes turn on this.

Note any existing damage in writing.

Understand the deposit protection arrangement, which is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions.

And at the end, photograph again and clean thoroughly, since cleaning is the most common deduction.

What to do with what you are not taking

Arranged in advance rather than on the day.

Charity collections for furniture, which many organisations offer free.

Local selling and giving platforms.

Council bulky waste collection, which requires booking.

Recycling for electrical items and textiles.

And leaving nothing for the next occupant that you would not want left for you.

Costs people forget

Which is why moving budgets are routinely exceeded.

Removal firm or vehicle hire, plus packing materials.

Overlap of rent or mortgage where dates do not align.

Storage, if there is a gap.

Cleaning at the outgoing property, which is a deposit condition for renters and a courtesy otherwise.

Redirection of post, which is a paid service in most countries.

New locks.

Curtains, blinds and light fittings, which the previous occupant frequently takes.

Appliance connection, particularly gas, which must be done by a registered engineer.

Reconnection or transfer fees for broadband, which can take weeks to arrange and should be booked early.

And the first shop for a house with an empty cupboard, which is always larger than expected.