Moving house is a process that can be frustrating, stressful - and at the same time exciting as you start on the next chapter of your life! With so many things to do, bills to be changed and boxes to be lugged from A to B, it can be a difficult time that can test even the very best.
However, while moving itself can be stressful, it’s often the disorganisation that makes everything so much worse.
With that in mind, here’s a simple moving house checklist to help you make sure that no stone is left unturned and no box is left unticked.
1. Plan your next steps
Before you even start the process it’s always worth setting out a plan of how you’re going to move forward. This doesn’t need to be overly complex but should include dates and jobs that need to be done along the way.
Go through each room and make a 'house move checklist' of everything that needs cleaning, repairs etc., then set out a timeline that they can all be done in.
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2. Confirm with your old and new landlords
This might seem a little obvious, but you’d be surprised by what we see. You need to be clear with the old landlord exactly when you’re moving out because some tenancy agreements require different periods of notice, both for you and the landlord.
The same goes for the new house. Even after signing a new lease, it’s always worth confirming with the new landlord closer to the time just to be sure that there aren’t any surprises lurking around the corner.
3. Update your contact information after moving
One of the biggest (and most tedious) jobs about moving house is the need to update your information with the many groups or organisations that you are linked with.
But with quite a few phone calls or hours spent at a computer making all the changes, it can be easy for this step to fall down the pecking order.
Key contacts to notify
- Your employer
- Your utility companies e.g. gas and electricity, household waste
- Your GP & Dentist
- Your phone and internet providers
- Your bank(s)
- The NDLS (National Drivers License Service)
- TV licensing
- Inland Revenue
- Electoral Roll
- Insurance providers
4. Redirecting the mail
Yes, we know that we now live in an email world, but the good fashioned mail isn’t quite dead yet! If you’ve been at your property for several years, your name will have been recorded along with your address countless times and mail will likely continue to arrive at the old address for months after you leave.
Setting up mail redirection
The easiest way of taking care of this is by setting up a mail redirection to your new home, which can be done either online or in-person at a post office. This service costs €35 for a single month of redirection in Ireland and €50 if you’re moving abroad, but gets slightly cheaper if you need to do it for a longer period.
5. Updating home insurance coverage
It’s important to remember your home insurance policy. Unfortunately, unlike car insurance, where an existing policy can often be transferred over when you purchase a new car when moving house, you must cancel your home insurance policy before taking out a new one.
This seems unnecessary, but both steps can be completed relatively quickly. It might be tempting to cancel the existing policy and promise you’ll eventually get around to taking out a new one.
Overlapping home insurance policies
Doing them together gives you that peace of mind that both policies will overlap, and your house and everything you value will be covered at all times. Also, it’s worth considering that if there’s a mortgage on your home, you must have adequate building cover, so really, this is one task you’re best not putting off on the long finger.
6. Declutter and pack
OK, part of this one is optional, but we highly recommend it. Moving house is the perfect opportunity to do some decluttering. Otherwise, you simply move stuff you don’t need or want from one place to another.
If you’re a dedicated hoarder, that might be ideal. Still, for most people, this should be the time to go through everything they own and ask themselves whether they need to make the trip to the new house.
Packing tips for a smooth move
But, of course, that’s just half the process. Packing can take time, but doing it right certainly pays off. You don’t want your valued fragile items smashed to pieces on the pavement because you used an old box and forgot to tape it shut properly during the packing process.
Also, labelling your boxes will help you get settled into your new home faster as you know what is packed where and, crucially, which room to put the box into for when you unpack.
Essentials for moving day
For your moving day, you’ll want a box of all the essentials such as drinks, snacks, loo roll, cleaning products, phones and chargers, light bulbs and essential tools. For extra comfort on a moving day, ensure that the kettle, tea, coffee and milk are easy to access!
Choosing your moving method
Another point to consider is who will be moving everything. Will you undertake the great move yourself, perhaps with a few friends you’re planning to bribe with pizza and beer, or will you hire a removal company to do it for you?
There’s no right or wrong way to do it, but it’s certainly something worth considering early to give you at least some peace of mind.
7. The Pre-move inspection
If possible, try to stop by your new place in the weeks leading up to the move. You might not be able to move things in, but it’s always a good idea to get the lay of the land and ensure the new place is ready for you to move in. Arrange to pick up keys to your new property and get any alarm codes, garage, shed and window keys.
Utility and appliance verification
Check things like taps, toilets and electricity sockets while confirming that what was agreed to remain in the house is still there and what was supposed to be left has been left.
Rarely do landlords go back on their word in this situation. Still, when you arrive with three hungry children and a van’s worth of boxes, the last thing you want is to find essentials missing from your new home.
Safety and emergency measures
Once you have entered your new property, find the gas, water and electricity metres and take a reading. Locate the stopcock and trip switch/fuse box as soon as possible and test just in case of emergencies.
8. Ensure your deposit with a deep clean
And so we come to what must surely be the worst stage - the dreaded deep clean to ensure you get your deposit back!
Nobody likes cleaning a house you are about to leave and never return to, but perhaps even worse is being informed that you won’t get all your deposit back, especially if it’s simply because of cleanliness.
A house should be left in the same state as when you moved in, but consideration must be taken for general wear and tear. A carpet used for five years will never look brand new, but this should certainly not cause you to lose your deposit.
Protecting your rights
There are particular reasons for a security deposit to be withheld, and it’s not unheard of for unscrupulous landlords to take advantage of it. If this is the case, take plenty of photos of the house after it is thoroughly cleaned and seek legal advice through the link above.
Remember to submit a final metre reading of all your utilities before you leave so there are no unwelcome energy bill surprises after you exit your old home.
9. The final walkthrough
It all comes down to a final walkthrough. After years of living somewhere, it’s only natural to have a little lump in your throat as you say your final goodbyes. Still, one last inspection is needed to confirm that everything has been done and cleaned and that the house is officially ready to be returned.
The last thing you want is to forget something important, so double check in cupboards, drawers, etc., before leaving. Then, when you finally swing that door closed for the final time, it will start a new chapter in your life!
