Moving Into a New House: 10 Things You Must Do

So you’re moving into a new house? Congratulations from us. There’s no better way to get a fresh start. Although moving brings with it a whole checklist of tasks, it doesn’t have to be trying. It can be a breeze if you take the time to prepare.

At Ready Steady Store, we’ve put together this guide designed to make the big move go smooth. From remembering to update your address to ordering packing boxes and more, here’s what to do when you move into a new house.

1. Take a bit of time off work
2. Declutter
3. Book a decent removal company
4. Have any appliances professionally disconnected
5. Pack everything into boxes (and label them clearly)
6. Notify the right people of your change of address
7. Set your new utilities up
8. Keep important documents safe
9. Make sure any essentials are easy to grab
10. Organise a self storage unit (if needed)
11. Last-minute questions that’ll make your life easy
12. Get help with self storage ahead of your move

Tip #1 – Take a bit of time off work

Seriously, there’s no point in burning the candle at both ends; it’ll only end in tears. So make sure to book a bit of time off work. This will give your employer plenty of notice, and you’ll also have the headspace to plan. Moving is stressful enough without having to juggle work as well.

Tip #2 – Declutter

The best thing about moving is a good old clear-out. Especially if you haven’t done it for years. If you’ve ever actually moved to a new home, you’ll know you’ll have enough to sort out. The last thing you need is more stuff. The earlier you can de-clutter, the better and if you can, get selling. Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are great for flogging second-hand wares. Alternatively, you could try your hand at car boot sales to get rid of any unwanted items. A rough guide for pricing is to sell items at 10-15% of the original value.

If you also run your business from home, our self storage can help to get that stock out of your way. Simply store your products with us until they’re ready to go whether that’s via Facebook Marketplace, Vinted or Etsy.

Got a moving into a new house checklist? Stick reading this post on it.

Tip #3 – Book a decent removal company

OK, it’s not essential to do, but it can be a big help, especially since moving is often pretty back-breaking. A removal firm can make moving house easy and take a load off your mind, particularly if you’re relocating to a new city or town. Ideally, you want to book them in around six to eight weeks prior and order some packing boxes whilst you’re at it. If you also need to look at self storage, then do this around the same time. Reserving a unit will ensure you have the space ready when you’re ready to store.

Are you considering a removal van instead? Check out our Enterprise deals here.

Tip #4 – Have any appliances professionally disconnected

This is another vital thing to arrange ahead of your move, and most removal firms offer an appliance disconnect and reconnect service. If your removal company cannot provide this service, make sure to book a tradesman who can. It’ll make the transition much smoother, we promise.

Tip #5 – Pack everything into boxes (and label them clearly)

If you hire a removal firm, they can do the packing for you, although many people decide to do it themselves. In any case, you’ll need to get hold of some cardboard boxes and packing tape – our flatpack boxes are a good option worth checking out. After sealing the boxes, they’ll need labelling up.

Don’t forget to include a brief description of their contents and the room that they’re for. You’ll also want to mark any boxes FRAGILE if needed – you might regret it if not. You don’t want to be replacing high-value items during a house move.

Tip #6 – Notify the right people of your change of address

Out of our new house tips, this one is pretty important – the right people need to know your right address. Use this handy checklist to ensure there’s no one left out. You could receive a fine if you forget to tell DVLA.

• DVLA – this includes updating the address on your driving licence and your car ownership certificate (V5c).
• Insurers and banks – you’ll need to inform your banks and insurers about your house move, and don’t forget any pension providers.
• Royal Mail – if you forget anybody important, then this safety net will ensure your mail will still get to you. Royal Mail’s redirection service is pretty easy to use but remember that it’s temporary.
• Council tax and electoral roll – you’ll need to deregister with the local authority that covered the old address and register for council tax at the new house. Also, make sure anyone over 18 is on the electoral roll under the new address.
• TV licensing – remember to change your address through the TV licensing website. You only need one licence per household.
• Your dentist and GP – If you’ve moved to a different area, you should register with a new dentist. You can also find out about the GP surgeries in your catchment area through the NHS portal.
• Employers – Last but not least, you should tell your employers plus any accountants and solicitors too.

Tip #7 – Set your new utilities up

• Broadband, TV and phone – When you move house you need to consider your TV, phone and broadband services. Now is also a great time to switch; you might get a better deal elsewhere. Bundles are also usually much cheaper too.
• Gas, electricity and water – Getting on top of utility bills before moving will ensure your household costs stay on track. It’s even worth shopping around and potentially switching suppliers. Don’t forget to carry out meter readings for your old and new addresses.
• Switch any light bulbs to LED – Once you’ve settled in your new home, have a quick check of the bulbs; if they are incandescent, then they will need replacing. Small, sustainable changes add up to help with the cost of living. Check out these other ways you could save energy too.
• Check your energy hub settings – Another good thing to check is how your new home is heated. Outdated thermostats suffer from the same problems as most older gadgets. The good news is that a smart system like Hive can make a big difference, especially if you use the Heating Budget Tracker.

Tip #8 – Keep important documents safe

As your move date approaches, you should think about keeping documents safe. A container with a built-in lock is definitely worth buying. Things like birth certificates are a nightmare to replace if they ever get lost, as are pension records and passports.

Tip #9 – Make sure any essentials are easy to grab

Not sure what to do when you first move into a house? Locating the essentials first really helps! You might also want to use an overnight bag while you settle into your home. Here’s our survival kit to see you through the big move:

• Snacks and water (especially for kids and pets)
• Any important documents, cash and cards
• Phone and laptop chargers (along with the actual devices themselves)
• Any medication if needed
• Toolbox, toilet paper and bin bags
• Change of clothes for everyone

Tip #10 – Organise a self storage unit (if needed)

Sometimes when people move house, they can’t take everything. Self storage has many benefits for several reasons. Whether you need to offload a bit of garden equipment or you plan to refurbish a space, sometimes items need a temporary home until you’re ready for them. Choosing your secure storage facility couldn’t be any more simple. And whatever your reason, our different sizes can accommodate any need. Self storage provides a safe and secure way to store your stuff. Our safety features also include:

• Round-the-clock CCTV monitoring
• Your own unique PIN code to access our store
• Our staff don’t have access to your unit. Your unit is locked with your personal padlock and key

Last-minute questions that will make your life easy

To keep life nice and straightforward, it’s best to get as much information as you can about the property first. Things like knowing when the bins are collected might not seem important right now, but trust us, these last-minute questions will be valuable:

• Where is the thermostat?
• What day are the bins collected?
• Where are the gas and electricity meters?
• Do any surfaces need special cleaning products? i.e. natural stone, wood or tiles
• Where’s the main stopcock (to shut off the water)?
• Are there any instruction manuals or warranties on electrical items?

Get help with self storage ahead of your move

Thank you for reading our post – now you know what to do when moving into a new house. If you need help with your storage, we would love to talk more. Especially if you’re running out of room for those sentimental items. We have 23 conveniently located storage facilities across the UK including Nottingham, Doncaster and Wellingborough. So, if you cannot store it, we definitely can – get in touch with our team on 0800 321 3211.