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Hamiltons Removals’ Handy Moving House Checklist

Before you move to a new house, you should notify every person and organisation your move will affect. Hamiltons Removals have created this handy list for you to easily work through to avoid any administrative problems down the line. This list covers all the relevant organisations, from your bank to your children’s schools and is designed to help you create a stress-free and efficient move.

As well as providing a first-class removals service, Hamiltons Removals rent storage space in Norfolk. We have two affordable, secure storage facilities in Harleston and Aldeby for customers who need to store things either short-term during a move or longer-term.

Tell People You’re Moving

It’s important to make a list of everyone who needs to be notified of your move. As well as your friends and family, you need to tell:

• Your employer
• Childrens’ schools
• Your doctor
• Your dentist
• Your bank and/or building society
• DVLA
• Passport
• Car and home insurance companies

Have a good think about all the people who regularly send you post and tell them you’re moving.

Tell Your Landlord

If you’re renting your property, you should let your landlord or property owner know in good time that you intend to move out. Most tenancy agreements stipulate one month’s notice, but it may be longer – so it’s best to check. An official letter or email from you specifying the day you’ll be moving out will be helpful for both parties and should offer you some protection if any dispute arises.

Utility Providers & Subscriptions

It’s important to change your address with your utility providers as soon as possible because you don’t want to pay for services you haven’t used. Take final meter readings for your gas, electricity and water a few days before you move out and let your utility companies know your new address. This will ensure there are no disputes between you and the new tenant.

If you subscribe to any newspapers, magazines or food parcel services, let them know you’re moving too. Arrange the internet for your new place in good time. Being stuck without the internet can be difficult, especially if you rely on it for working – or even for a smart TV.

Remember to take meter readings as soon as you’ve moved into your new place.

Arrange a Mail Redirection

Your utility and service providers will have your new address, but there will inevitably be some companies that still have your old address on file. The easiest solution is to arrange a mail redirect at the Post Office. There is a small fee for this service but ensures you won’t miss any post from the companies you haven’t told about the move and also means the new resident of your old place doesn’t have to do it.

Update Your TV Licence Address

Unfortunately, your TV licence doesn’t automatically update when you move, so it’s important to tell them your new address or you could risk paying a fine of up to £1,000.

Organise Your Belongings & Start Packing

This is a good time to get rid of anything you don’t want to take with you. Sort your things into three categories: Keep, Donate and Rubbish Tip.

For the ‘Keep’ category, sort your things into boxes labelled with the relevant rooms they’ll be going to in your new place. Hamiltons Removals sells all the packing materials you’ll need for your move – from different-sized boxes, to furniture covers, carpet protectors and rolls of bubble wrap.

For the ‘Donate’ stuff, load a car up with things you don’t use anymore or simply don’t want to keep and take them to your local charity shop.

For those items you never got around to throwing out, or are too old or broken to donate, make a quick trip to your local rubbish tip and get rid of them. If you do this part a few weeks before your move, you’ll probably have enough time to sell some of your unwanted things on sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.

Getting rid of a lot of old belongings can be very therapeutic and provides a sense of relief and cleansing. It also allows you to move into your new place and begin your new chapter fresh and clean.

Liaise with The Removals Company

Speak to your removals company as early as possible before your move. If you leave it too late, you may find out they are fully booked for the date you want to move. It’s important to specify the dates and times of your move, the level of service you require and how much stuff you have.

If you’re unsure exactly how much you’ll be taking, removals companies can usually estimate how much you have by knowing how many full rooms you have.

Arrange Storage

For all the things you don’t need right now, but anticipate using in the future, such as garden furniture, seasonal sports equipment or camping gear for example, it may be wise to consider placing those items into secure storage. Hamiltons Removals rent storage space in Norfolk at our two secure Safe N Stored storage facilities in Harleston and Aldeby.

Our Harleston site offers individual storage rooms from sizes ranging from 25-200 ft², while at our Aldeby premises, you can choose from a range of different-sized storage containers. Your possessions will be kept clean, dry and extremely securely both locations, which are particularly convenient for people living in the Diss, Bungay and Stradbroke areas.

If you are planning a house move and need self-storage, speak to us today on 01379 855203 to discuss your requirements, or click here