Moving home is one of life’s biggest milestones, but it can also feel overwhelming. Between sorting through years of belongings, coordinating utilities and keeping on top of paperwork, there’s a lot to juggle. Having helped families across Bournemouth and beyond relocate since 1924, we know that a clear plan makes all the difference.
We break down the moving process into three manageable stages: what to do before moving day, how to handle the day itself, and the essential tasks to complete once you’re in your new home. Whether you’re moving around the corner in Poole or relocating from the other end of the country or overseas, this checklist will help you stay on track.
What Should You Do Before Moving Day?
The weeks leading up to your move are where good preparation pays off. Tackling these tasks early means fewer last-minute scrambles and a much smoother experience when the big day arrives.
Sort Through Your Belongings
Moving is the perfect opportunity to take stock of what you actually own. Go through cupboards, drawers, the loft and the garage, and divide everything into four categories: keep, throw, donate and sell. Not only does this reduce the volume of items you need to transport, it can also put a bit of extra cash in your pocket if you sell unwanted bits on platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Vinted.
Compare Removal Options
If you’re moving furniture, appliances and a household’s worth of belongings, a professional removal team will save you considerable time and stress. Get several quotes so you can compare costs, and check that any company you’re considering is a member of the British Association of Removers for added peace of mind. A good removal firm will offer to survey your home beforehand, either in person or virtually, so the quote accurately reflects the size and complexity of your move.
Gather Packing Supplies
You’ll need a range of box sizes, bubble wrap, packing paper, tape and marker pens. Some removal companies supply these as part of their service, which can save you the trouble of sourcing them yourself. If you’d rather do it independently, supermarkets often have spare boxes, and websites like Freecycle and Freegle are excellent places to find free packing materials.
Start Packing Early
Begin with items you won’t need before moving day. Seasonal clothing, Christmas decorations, books you’ve already read and kitchen gadgets you rarely use can all be boxed up well in advance. A colour-coding system works brilliantly here. Assign a colour to each room in your new home and mark every box accordingly. Add a brief note of the contents on the top and side of each box, so nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
Arrange Your Utilities
Contact your energy, water and broadband providers to let them know your moving date. If you’re on a fixed energy tariff, check whether you can transfer it to your new address, as some providers allow this while others may charge an early exit fee. Broadband can take several weeks to set up, so arrange the connection for your new home as early as possible. Nobody wants to spend their first week without an internet connection.
Use Up Your Food Stores
Take a look through your fridge, freezer and cupboards and try to eat through as much as possible before the move. Frozen food is difficult to transport, and heavy tins add unnecessary weight to your boxes. Planning meals around what you already have will also save you money on food shopping in the run-up.
Order a Food Shop for Moving Day
Rather than dashing to the shops after a long day of lifting and unpacking, order a grocery delivery for the evening of your move. Book a later time slot to allow for any delays, and you’ll have everything you need for that first meal in your new home.
Ask the Seller Key Questions
Before you move in, find out as much as you can about the property. Ask the previous owner where the stopcock is, where the gas and electricity meters are located, what day the bins are collected, whether there are any instruction manuals for appliances or heating systems, and which companies supply the energy and broadband. Having this information to hand will make settling in far easier.
Sort Out Insurance
Building insurance typically needs to be in place from the date of exchange, which is a requirement from most mortgage providers. Contents insurance should start from your actual moving date. Let your existing insurers know about the move too, particularly car, home and life insurance providers, so your policies remain up to date and valid.
How Can You Make Moving Day Go Smoothly?
After weeks of planning and preparation, the day itself can still feel chaotic. A few simple steps will help keep things running to plan.
Prepare a Moving Day Essentials Box
Pack a box or bag with everything you’ll need easy access to on the day. Include your phone and charger, keys, wallet, essential paperwork, toilet roll, hand soap, a basic cleaning kit, bin bags, scissors, tape and a screwdriver. Add a kettle or travel mugs, snacks, water and enough supplies for a hot drink. If you have children or pets, include familiar items for them too, along with any medications.
Label Everything Clearly
Write the destination room and a brief description of contents on the top and side of every box. If you’ve used a colour-coding system, place a matching colour marker on each room’s door in your new home so boxes can go straight to the right place.
Protect Your Floors
Lay flattened cardboard boxes along hallways and high-traffic areas to protect flooring from scuffs and dirt. This is especially important if it’s raining.
Move Large Furniture First
Get the bigger items into position before the boxes start piling up. If you bring boxes in first, you’ll inevitably end up shifting them again to make space for sofas, beds and wardrobes.
Secure Small Hardware
When disassembling furniture, put all screws, bolts and fixings into a small bag and tape it directly to the relevant piece. This saves a lot of frustration when you’re reassembling everything at the other end.
Take Meter Readings
Note down the gas, electricity and water meter readings at your old property before you leave, and do the same at your new home when you arrive. Take photographs for extra security. This ensures you’re not charged for the previous occupant’s usage.
What Do You Need to Do After Moving In?
You’ve made it through the door. Take a moment to enjoy the feeling, then work through these final tasks to get properly settled.
Set Up Your Sleeping Areas First
Before you tackle the mountain of boxes, make up the beds. After an exhausting day you’ll be grateful for somewhere comfortable to collapse. If you have children, getting their rooms set up as a priority will help them feel at home from the very first night.
Redirect Your Post
Royal Mail’s redirection service forwards any mail sent to your old address to your new one. You can set this up for three, six or twelve months, with prices starting from around £39.50. This is a worthwhile safety net, as missed bills can affect your credit score and stray posts could increase the risk of identity fraud. If you do receive a post for former residents, write “return to sender, not known at this address” on the envelope and pop it back in the post.
Update Your Address
This is the task that catches most people out, simply because there are so many organisations to contact. Work through the following:
- Government bodies: DVLA, HMRC, electoral roll, TV Licensing and your local council.
- Financial institutions: Banks, credit card companies, pension providers, loan companies and store cards.
- Insurance providers: Car, home, life, health, pet and mobile phone insurance.
- Utility suppliers: Gas, electricity and water providers.
- Regular services: Broadband, mobile phone, TV subscriptions and any delivery services.
- Health services: GP surgery, dentist, optician and vet.
- Work and education: Your employer, pension fund and any schools or colleges.
- Memberships and subscriptions: Gym, clubs, charities, magazines and loyalty cards.
- Pets: Update microchip databases with your new address.
Register to Vote
You won’t automatically be registered at your new address, and failing to register can make it harder to be accepted for credit in future. Each person in the household needs to register individually through the Gov.uk website.
Update Your Council Tax
Contact your previous council to cancel payments and request a final statement. If you’ve been paying in advance, you may be owed a refund. Then set up payments with your new council. It’s also worth checking whether your Council Tax band is correct, as hundreds of thousands of homes across England and Scotland may have been placed in the wrong band since the early 1990s.
Check Lightbulbs and Test the Boiler
Small things matter on that first evening. Make sure lights work throughout the property, and test the heating and hot water so you’re not caught out.
Planning Your Move with Thomas Pardy Removals
Moving home is a significant undertaking, and having the right team beside you makes all the difference. At Thomas Pardy Removals, our family has been helping people across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and the wider Dorset and Hampshire area move safely and stress-free since 1924. Four generations of the Pardy family have built their reputation on careful planning, transparent pricing and genuine care for every customer’s belongings.
Whether you need a full house removal with packing and unpacking, secure containerised storage, or help transporting specialist items like pianos and safes, our experienced team will handle every detail so you can focus on settling into your new home. We offer free, no-obligation quotes with either an in-home survey or a virtual assessment, whichever suits you best.
Contact our friendly team today to start planning your move.